Well Go USA has secured North American rights to The Ugly, the upcoming Korean mystery thriller from director Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan), ahead of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2025. The film will arrive in U.S. theaters on September 26.

Starring Park Jeong-min (Decision to Leave) and Kwon Hae-hyo (Peninsula), The Ugly follows Im Yeong-gyu (Kwon), a blind artisan who specializes in crafting engraved seals. When his son Dong-hwan (Park) learns that skeletal remains discovered by police belong to his mother, missing for 40 years, the two are drawn into an investigation that reopens old wounds. With the help of a documentary producer, Dong-hwan uncovers memories and testimony from his mother’s former coworkers, revealing long-hidden truths about her disappearance.

Written and produced by Yeon, the film is based on his 2018 graphic novel Face. Production partners include WOWPOINT, known for The Bequeathed and Parasyte: The Grey.

Eugene Kim, Head of Content at Plus M Entertainment, noted the significance of the film as Yeon’s first theatrical release in five years and expressed confidence in Well Go USA’s ability to bring the story to North American audiences.

Yeon’s career spans award-winning animated features such as The King of Pigs and The Fake, acclaimed live-action films like Train to Busan and Peninsula, and globally recognized streaming series including Hellbound and Parasyte: The Grey.

The Ugly promises a blend of mystery, emotional depth, and character-driven storytelling, marking another notable chapter in Yeon Sang-ho’s celebrated body of work.