Selected theaters around the country will screen “Dong-ju: The Portrait of a Poet” with English-language subtitles, starting Thursday.

The subtitled film will be shown at 12 theaters. In Seoul, it will be shown at Yeongdeungpo Lotte Cinema; Megabox cinemas in Coex, Central, Sinchon and Dongdaemun; and CGV cinemas Yeouido, Yongsan and Sinchon. Elsewhere around the country, it will be shown at CGV Cinema Centum City in Busan and Megabox theaters in Busan, Suwon and Ilsan.

Directed by Lee Joon-ik, who was also behind “King and the Clown” (2005), “Dong-ju” is the first biopic to highlight the life of celebrated Korean poet Yun Dong-ju, played by Kang Ha-neul. 

Best known for his posthumous collection of poems titled “The Heavens and the Wind and the Stars and Poetry” (1948), Yun is heralded in Korean literature for his lyric poetry.

The film, set during the era of Japan’s colonialization of Korea, centers on the friendship and rivalry between Yun and his independence activist cousin Song Mong-kyu, played by Park Jung-min.

Since its theatrical release on Feb. 16, “Dong-ju” has attracted over 1 million viewers. It currently ranks No. 7 at the box office.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)