My Daughter is a Zombie

"My Daughter Is a Zombie" (native title: "좀비딸") is a 2025 South Korean comedy‑drama directed by Pil Kam‑sung, from Studio N, and distributed by Next Entertainment World.

Adapted from the hit Naver webtoon by Lee Yun‑chang, it previously received an animated series in 2022 before being reimagined in live action.

Plot Synopsis

A zombie virus ravages the world, and Soo‑a – teenager and daughter of Jung‑hwan (Jo Jung‑suk) - becomes infected. Unlike typical survivor tales, Jung‑hwan takes refuge in his mother’s seaside village with his zombified daughter. Using his unique skillset as a tiger trainer, he begins a bizarre “training” regimen: teaching Soo‑a human etiquette, memory cues, and even dance, in the hope she can retain her humanity – or at least fragments of it - as society hunts her down.

Cast & Characters

Main Cast

• Jo Jung‑suk as Lee Jung‑hwan, a loving but unconventional father.
• Choi Yoo‑ri as Lee Soo‑a, a conflicted zombie teenage daughter who still yearns for human connection (and churros!).

Supporting Cast

• Lee Jung‑eun as grandmother Kim Bam‑soon, whose back‑scratcher discipline becomes a comedic weapon and emotional anchor.
• Cho Yeo‑jeong as Shin Yeon‑hwa, Jung‑hwan’s ex‑flame turned zombie hunter - posing emotional and ideological dilemmas.
• Yoon Kyung‑ho as Jo Dong‑bae, the loyal and humorous friend who helps train Soo‑a.

Fun Facts & Highlights

Casting that nailed it

Fans hailed the casting as “uncanny,” noting that actors closely mirrored their webtoon counterparts.

Lee Jung‑eun’s portrayal of Bam‑soon especially drew praise: “Lee Jung Eun is Bam Soon” was a common sentiment online.

Performance & dedication

Choi Yoo‑ri underwent 10 months of zombie training and spent two hours in FX makeup for each shoot to fully embody Soo‑a’s dual nature – “disarming cuteness and subtle sadness”.

Genre‑bending tone

Rather than pure horror, this film combines family drama, comedy, heartfelt emotion, and zombie fantasy to create something unique: a walker story about love, empathy, and resilience.

Unexpected star: the cat

The family’s tabby cat, Aeyongi, was played by a real feline – “Geumdongi” – whose natural performance impressed the production so much they dropped planned CGI. Even the director joked that without the cat, filming would’ve dragged longer.

Why It Stands Out

Fresh Zombie Premise

Instead of fear, this is about maintaining humanity through love and training.

Deep emotional core

A father refusing to give up on his daughter – despite apocalypse.

Spot‑on casting

Actors are faithful to webtoon design, amplifying authenticity.

Humor + Heart

Comedic setups alongside tender family moments surprisingly effective.

Production quality

Carefully planned adaptation by Studio N, known for strong webtoon-to-screen efforts.

Final Thoughts

"My Daughter Is a Zombie" offers a refreshing twist on zombie cinema: it's not about survival or gore, but about trying to save love and humanity amid chaos. With its strong performances, emotional resonance, and clever genre mash‑up, the film captures a father’s unwavering devotion in the most unconventional scenario. If you’re curious how a zombie film can also be a moving family dramedy – this one’s for you.

Where to Watch

Theatrical Release

South Korea Premiere

It premiered on July 30, 2025.

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