A Wild Road Trip Before Duty Calls
What’s more precious than one last hurrah before military enlistment? For Cha Eunwoo, Kang Haneul, and the rest of the all-star cast, it’s a road trip gone hilariously wrong in the upcoming comedy ‘First Ride’, hitting Korean theaters on October 29. Directed by Nam Daejoong, the film follows a group of chaotic yet lovable friends taking their first international trip in 24 years of friendship—and yes, it’s as gloriously unhinged as it sounds.
The Squad: One Trip, Five Types of Chaos
Kang Haneul plays Taejong, “the serious one” who’s all brains and no brakes. Picture a Valedictorian-turned-politician trying to survive group travel. As he jokes, “This face doesn’t scream ‘intellectual,’ which somehow makes it funnier.”
Kim Youngkwang joins in as Dojin, a purely optimistic soul who barrels ahead without overthinking—aka the friend who loses the itinerary five minutes in. “We had crazy good chemistry off-screen too,” he shared. “And it shows in every scene we shot.”
Then there’s Cha Eunwoo as Youngmin—the ridiculously handsome guy completely unaware of how handsome he is. Sounds familiar?
Completing the crew are Kang Youngseok as Geum-bok, who (we’re not kidding) sleeps with his eyes open, and Son Naeun (formerly of girl group Secret) as Okshim, the bull-headed sweetheart who only has eyes for Taejong.
LOL Moments: Pick One, We Dare You
Each actor pulled out their personal pick for the film’s funniest scene—and spoiler alert: they all think someone else is the hilarious one. Kang Youngseok praised the supporting cast, including Go Kyupil, for bringing next-level laughs, while Son Naeun called the cast combo the ultimate “laugh activation button.”
Cha Eunwoo, who previously worked with director Nam on Love Reset, said, “He came up with such off-the-wall ideas on set. It was seriously fun.” The good news? That madness translated perfectly to screen.
Kang Haneul’s Real-Life Travel Fiasco
To add more heart—and hilarity—Kang Haneul revealed that he once had his own wild college trip, just like in the movie. “It was spontaneous, a bit forced, and completely unforgettable,” he admitted. So yes, the chaos is rooted in real memories.
A Comedy Gift Box for K-Movie Lovers
If K-dramas are your thing but you’re craving big-screen belly laughs, First Ride might be your perfect detour. Brimming with brilliantly mismatched characters, offbeat charm, and just the right dose of chaos, this is friendship comedy with a side of Seoul-style madness.
‘First Ride’ lands in Korean theaters on October 29. Seatbelts off, expectations high.
