Culture 3 min read By Mason Emerson
Barunson E&A to Launch Sales for Indonesian 'Descendants of the Sun' Film at Busan Market
Seoul-based studio Barunson E&A, known for 'Parasite,' will launch international sales for a two-part Indonesian film adaptation of the 2016 Korean drama 'Descendants of the Sun' at the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan, running Oct. 10-13. The film, starring Reza Rahadian and Dian Sastrowardoyo, is currently in post-production.
Barunson E&A is bringing a big-screen Indonesian adaptation of the landmark Korean drama «Descendants of the Sun» to the international market. The Seoul-based studio will launch worldwide sales for the two-part feature film at the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan, which runs from Oct. 10 to 13.
The project is a localized retelling of the 2016 Korean series that became a global phenomenon. It stars Indonesian actors Reza Rahadian and Dian Sastrowardoyo, two of the country's most recognizable screen talents. The film is currently in post-production, with Barunson E&A handling international distribution rights.
Barunson E&A is best known for producing Bong Joon Ho's «Parasite,» which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020. The company is making the Indonesian adaptation alongside Dapur Films, a Jakarta-based production outfit. The collaboration marks another step in the growing exchange between Korean and Southeast Asian entertainment industries.
The original «Descendants of the Sun» aired on KBS in 2016 and starred Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo. It followed a South Korean special forces captain and a surgeon who fall in love while serving in a fictional war-torn country. The series became a ratings juggernaut in South Korea and a massive hit across Asia, helping fuel the global spread of Korean pop culture.
Adapting such a well-known title for Indonesian audiences is a significant move for Barunson E&A. The company has been expanding its international footprint beyond Korean-language productions, seeking to capitalize on the worldwide appetite for Korean storytelling while tailoring it to local markets.
The Asian Contents & Film Market, held alongside the Busan International Film Festival, is one of Asia's largest industry events for film and television content. It draws buyers, sellers, and producers from across the region and beyond, making it a strategic venue for launching a high-profile adaptation with cross-cultural appeal.
The two-part structure suggests the filmmakers intend to give the story a broader canvas than a single feature would allow. Further details about the cast, release date, and distribution territories have not yet been announced.
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