| Meet the In-Laws | |
| Director: | Kim Jin-young |
| Producer: | Lee Seo-yeol |
| Starring: | Song Sae-byeok Lee Si-young |
| Cinematography: | Jeong Jin-ho |
| Editing: | Moon In-dae |
| Music: | Oh Jun-seong |
| Distributor: | Lotte Entertainment |
| Studio: | The Pictures With a View |
| Country: | South Korea |
| Language: | Korean |
| Runtime: | 118 minutes |
Meet the In-Laws is a 2011 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kim Jin-young, starring Song Sae-byeok and Lee Si-young.[1]
The Korean title literally translates to "Dangerous Formal Greeting Between Families of the Bride and Bridegroom," hence the alternate English titles Clash of the Families and Dangerous Meeting.[2]
A comedic take on star-crossed lovers set after the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the film explores the deep-rooted regionalism that has dogged various aspects of Korean society, particularly the antagonism between people from southeastern Gyeongsang and people from Jeolla.[3]
Naive, pure-hearted Hyun-joon writes romance comics under the pseudonym "Hyun-ji." He becomes pen pals with Da-hong, and the two fall in love and begin dating. When Da-hong reveals that her father is forcing her to go on matchmaking dates with other men, Hyun-joon impulsively decides to propose to her. But Hyun-joon hails from humble roots in South Jeolla Province, and the couple knows that Da-hong's wealthy Gyeongsang family will instantly disapprove of him because of this. Unbeknownst to them, their respective fathers were also bitter rivals in high school baseball. So when Hyun-joon goes to Busan to ask for Da-hong's hand in marriage, he hides his accent and pretends to be from Apgujeong, the ritziest area in Seoul. As her relatives scrutinize, intimidate and spy on him, Hyun-joon is determined to overcome all their obstacles and marry Da-hong.
Meet the In-Laws was the ninth best-selling Korean film of 2011, grossing (or) with 2,595,625 tickets sold.[4] [5] [6]
See main article: Enemies In-Law. Kim Jin-young directed a spin-off in 2015, Enemies In-Law. Though not technically a sequel given its different characters, the film's plot is also about an engaged couple facing familial disapproval, this time because the woman is from a family of police officers and the man's parents are criminals.