Initially set to be released on Netflix in 2023, The Match has finally been revealed to be coming to the streaming service in May 2025. But what took so long? A controversy surrounding one of the lead actors in the movie resulted in the movie being delayed for years, but after its success in Korean theatres, The Match is finally making its way to Netflix.
The Match is an upcoming South Korean sports biopic directed by Kim Hyung Joo (KUNDO: Age of the Rampant) and written by screenwriter Yoon Jong Bin (Narco Saints). The film’s distribution rights in South Korea switched hands from Acemaker Movie to Bypoem Studio.
When is the Netflix release date for The Match?
The Match was released in Korean theatres on March 26th and has been incredibly successful, with over two million people attending the cinema to watch the film.
Netflix has since readded the film’s landing page on the app, where it has listed May 7th, 2025 as the release date!
Why has The Match been delayed for so long?
The reason for the delay is due to the controversy surrounding lead actor Yoo Ah In, who in October 2023 was charged by South Korean authorities for drug use.
South Korea has a zero-tolerance policy on drug use, and using drugs recreationally is a criminal offense. Yoo Ah In was charged with the use of propofol, committing fraud to buy sleeping pills, and smoking marijuana. The controversy surrounding the actor resulted in him losing his role in Hellbound, and his scenes in Goodbye Earth were dramatically reduced in the editing room. In September 2024, he was sentenced to one year in prison. However, his ruling is scheduled for February 18th, 2025.
What is the plot of The Match?
The synopsis for The Match has been sourced from Kobiz:
It is the story of two legendary players of Go, Cho Hun-Hyun and his protege and future rival Lee Chang-ho.
Who are Cho Hun Hyun and Lee Chang-ho?
Cho Hun-hyun is a South Korean politician and world-famous Go player. Highly considered one of the best Go players of all time, Cho had reached a professional level at the tender age of 9. By 1995, Cho had amassed 1,000 career wins, won 11 international titles, and amassed over 150 professional titles. In his later years, Cho became a politician and was a member of the National Assembly as recently as May 2020.
Cho Hun-Hyun (left) and Lee Chang Ho (right)
Lee Chang-ho, is also a South Korean Go player and also considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He is the protege of Cho Hun-Hyun, and a 9-dan rank. He is the second youngest professional in South Korean history after Cho, and the only player to have won all international competitions at least once.
Who are the cast members of The Match?
Lee Byung Hun will play the role of Cho Hun Hyun. While his face was covered for the majority of the season, Squid Game fans will recognize Lee Byung Hun as Hwang In Ho aka The Frontman. He will be returning to reprise his role in the second season of Squid Game.
Lee Byung Hun
Yoo Ah In will play the role of Lee Chang Ho. One of South Korea’s most talented male actors, The Match was his fifth Netflix k-drama project. Netflix subscribers should recognize him from the movies Alive and Seoul Vibe and for starring in the horror drama Hellbound. He was also seen on Netflix in 2024 in a leading role in the K-drama Goodbye Earth.
Yoo Ah In
Moon Jung Hee will play the role of Jung Mi Hwa. This will be the third Netflix project for the actress after previously starring in the k-dramas Vagabond and Mystic Pop-Up Bar. Outside of Netflix, she has starred in movies such as Pandora, Dad for Rent, and Deranged.
In the supporting roles of The Match are the following;
- Kim Kang Hoon (Racket Boys) as Lee Chang Ho (young)
- Ko Chang Seok (The Good Detective 2)
- Hyun Bong Shik (Narco Saints)
- Byun Hong Jun (Under the Queen’s Umbrella)
When and where was The Match filmed?
Filming took place between December 16th, 2020, and April 6th, 2021.
Multiple locations across South Korea were used for filming.
- Daegu, South Korea
- Ulsan, South Korea
- Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
- Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
- Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
- Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Busan, South Korea
The Match
Are you looking forward to the release of The Match on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
