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.
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. The runtime and original language are listed in the San Sebastián International Film Festival’s film record.
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.
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.
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. 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. 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 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 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.
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