---
title: "Heartbeat by Lee Chang-dong: November 2 Release and Cast"
locale: en
category: news
category_name: "News"
translation_status: reviewed
license: cc_by
author: "Injoys Editorial Team"
source_url: https://injoys.com/en/articles/heartbeat-lee-chang-dong-november-2-netflix-release-cast
published_at: 2026-11-01T20:22:38+09:00
---

# Heartbeat by Lee Chang-dong: November 2 Release and Cast

> Lee Chang-dong's short film Heartbeat will be released worldwide on Netflix on November 2, 2026. First shown at a film festival in 2022, it stars Kim Geon-woo and Jeon Do-yeon, with Sol Kyung-gu voicing the father.

## Key Points

- Heartbeat will be released on Netflix on November 2, 2026. The official announcement does not specify a release time.
- This is the streaming release of the short film, which premiered at the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival in 2022.
- Kim Geon-woo plays Cheol, Jeon Do-yeon plays the mother, and Sol Kyung-gu provides the father's voice.
- The San Sebastián International Film Festival's 2022 entry for the film lists a runtime of 28 minutes.
- Netflix announced subtitle support in multiple languages, including English and Spanish.

The film found under the search term ‘Heartbeat Lee Chang-dong’ will be released on Netflix on **November 2, 2026**. It is director Lee Chang-dong’s first short film. This marks the worldwide streaming release of the film shown at festivals in 2022.

The release schedule is based on Netflix’s announcement dated October 30, 2026.

## Release schedule and basic film information

The release platform is Netflix, and the announcement does not specify an exact release time. Festival records list the film’s year as 2022. The runtime follows the San Sebastián International Film Festival’s record from that year. (Verified runtime: 28 minutes, 2022 festival record · Source: sansebastianfestival.com · Checked on 2026-11-01)

| Item | Confirmed information |
| --- | --- |
| Title | Heartbeat |
| English title | Heartbeat |
| Director | Lee Chang-dong |
| Film year | 2022 |
| Runtime | 28 minutes, based on the 2022 festival record |
| Premiere | 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival |
| Netflix release date | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Release scope | Worldwide |
| Release time | Not specified in the official announcement |
| Original language | Korean |

The schedule is confirmed in the [Netflix release announcement](https://about.netflix.com/ko/news/heartbeat-arrives-netflix-november-2). The runtime and original language are listed in the [San Sebastián International Film Festival’s film record](https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/2022/sections_and_films/zabaltegi_tabakalera/7/703441/in).

## The difference between the 2022 premiere and the 2026 release

The 2026 date marks the start of the existing short film’s availability on Netflix. The Jeonju International Film Festival presented the film as a world premiere in 2022. The retrospective at the time was titled ‘Lee Chang-dong: The Truth of the Invisible’.

| Category | Date | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Festival premiere | 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival in 2022 | The screening that first introduced the film |
| Streaming release | November 2, 2026 | The scheduled worldwide release on Netflix |

Changing the film’s year to 2026 would therefore obscure its premiere history. Film information should list 2022, with the streaming availability date noted separately. The festival history can be checked in the [Jeonju International Film Festival’s retrospective announcement](https://2026archive.jeonjufest.kr/community/news/view.asp?idx=7223&reUrl=%2Fcommunity%2Fnews%2Flist.asp%3FsType%3D%26sText%3D%26Page%3D24).

## Heartbeat cast and roles

Kim Gun-woo plays the lead character, Cheol, and Jeon Do-yeon plays his mother. Sul Kyung-gu provides the voice of his father. Below are the main roles announced by Netflix.

| Actor | Role | Type of participation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kim Gun-woo | Cheol | Plays the boy at the center of the story |
| Jeon Do-yeon | Cheol’s mother | Plays the mother |
| Sul Kyung-gu | Cheol’s father | Voice role |

The types of participation follow the [role descriptions in Netflix’s announcement](https://about.netflix.com/ko/news/heartbeat-arrives-netflix-november-2).

## Plot summary without the ending

The story centers on eight-year-old Cheol, who worries about his mother. His mother has depression. Worried about her being home alone, Cheol runs home during class.

This summary is based on the [San Sebastián International Film Festival’s official synopsis](https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/2022/sections_and_films/zabaltegi_tabakalera/7/703441/in). The child’s anxiety sets the events in motion. The major scenes that follow and the ending are not covered here.

## What to watch for

One point to watch is how the camera follows Cheol’s face. Netflix explains that the film follows the boy’s face from beginning to end. With this in mind, viewers can focus on the changes in his expressions.

- The character’s perspective: Notice what the child sees and reacts to as he worries about his mother.
- The performance: Consider both the dialogue explaining the situation and the emotions shown on his face.
- The production’s starting point: According to Netflix’s announcement, WHO and BCAF proposed making the film on the subject of depression.

These viewing suggestions are based on [Netflix’s introduction to the film](https://about.netflix.com/ko/news/heartbeat-arrives-netflix-november-2). They are not an assessment based on having watched it. A short runtime need not be taken to mean light subject matter.

## How to watch and a comparison of viewing options

Netflix is the viewing option announced for Korea this time. Past festival screening records do not indicate screenings that can currently be booked. The confirmed schedule and items requiring separate checks are as follows.

| Viewing option | Confirmed schedule | Items to check separately |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Netflix | Worldwide release on November 2, 2026 | Title listing, playback availability, subscription fees |
| Festival screenings | Premiere history from 2022 | New screening announcements and booking dates |

Check the film’s page on Netflix to see whether it is available to watch on release day. For pricing, refer to Netflix’s membership information for your region. This [release announcement](https://about.netflix.com/ko/news/heartbeat-arrives-netflix-november-2) does not include pricing or an end date for availability.

## The difference between subtitle support and dubbing

The language support confirmed in this announcement is subtitles. The listed languages are English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, French, and German. The announcement does not list dubbing languages.

| Category | Meaning | What this announcement confirms |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subtitles | Displaying dialogue and other content as text | Subtitle support in the languages listed above |
| Dubbing | Providing dialogue as audio in another language | Supported languages are not specified |
| Accessibility features | Features such as captions for deaf viewers or audio description | Specific availability is not stated |

[Netflix’s information on multilingual support](https://about.netflix.com/ko/news/heartbeat-arrives-netflix-november-2) describes subtitles. Subtitle support alone does not establish that dubbing is available in the same languages. The actual options can be checked on the playback screen after release.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is this a newly made film?

It is an existing short film shown at festivals in 2022. The November 2026 date refers to its Netflix release.

### How long is the film?

The San Sebastián International Film Festival’s 2022 record lists it as 28 minutes. The same record lists Korean as the original language.

### Does Sul Kyung-gu also appear?

He provides the voice of Cheol’s father. His type of participation should be distinguished when reading the general cast list.

### Can I watch it from midnight on release day?

The official announcement alone does not establish a midnight release. It gives the date but does not specify an exact time.

### Is it available on other streaming services?

Netflix is the service confirmed by this announcement. Availability on other platforms should be checked in each service’s official title catalog.

### Until when can I watch it?

Netflix’s announcement does not give an end date for availability. The release date should not be interpreted as a viewing deadline.

## FAQ

### When will it be released on Netflix?
Monday, November 2, 2026. Netflix announced a worldwide release.

### Is this a new film premiering in 2026?
It is a short film that premiered at the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival in 2022. This release brings an existing film to Netflix.

### What roles do the main actors play?
Kim Gun-woo plays Cheol, and Jeon Do-yeon plays Cheol's mother. Sol Kyung-gu provides the father's voice.

### What is the runtime?
According to the San Sebastian International Film Festival's official 2022 film record, it is 28 minutes.

### What is the story about?
It is about Cheol, an eight-year-old boy worried about his mother, who has depression. Cheol runs home during class.

### Has an exact release time also been announced?
Netflix's announcement on October 30, 2026 does not include a release time. We cannot say for certain that it will be available to play from midnight or any specific time.

### Which subtitle languages are supported?
The languages listed in the announcement are English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, French, and German. You can check the actual options on the playback screen.

### Will dubbing in multiple languages also be available?
This announcement does not specify which dubbing languages are supported. Support for multilingual subtitles and the availability of dubbing must be distinguished.

### Is there a set date for it to leave Netflix?
The release announcement does not include an end date. November 2, 2026 is the date it becomes available.

## Sources

- [Netflix, announcement of Heartbeat's worldwide release on November 2, October 30, 2026](https://about.netflix.com/ko/news/heartbeat-arrives-netflix-november-2)
- [Jeonju International Film Festival, announcement of a special retrospective on director Lee Chang-dong at the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival](https://2026archive.jeonjufest.kr/community/news/view.asp?idx=7223&reUrl=%2Fcommunity%2Fnews%2Flist.asp%3FsType%3D%26sText%3D%26Page%3D24)
- [San Sebastián International Film Festival, Heartbeat film information, 2022](https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/2022/sections_and_films/zabaltegi_tabakalera/7/703441/in)

## Images

![A woman in a rust-orange sweater sits on a sofa, resting her chin on her hand as she watches television.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzY1MzMsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--27e4bb7966b73f71c978f36faea942dba6920d87/ai-f290922b.webp)
![A silver-haired woman in a blue cardigan sits by a window, watching a tablet with wired headphones on.](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzY1MzksInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--7c1afc7ab6a4e2a414074fdec07e3cdf2c8a0d96/ai-f176c0a8.webp)