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Film

Sugar (2026 South Korean Film)

Sugar is a 2026 South Korean drama film directed by Choi Sin-Choon. The narrative is inspired by the real-life experiences of Kim Mi-Young, a prominent advocate for the Type 1 diabetes community in South Korea.

Poster for the film Sugar
Promotional poster for the film Sugar.

Plot

The film follows Kim Mi-Ra (played by Choi Ji-Woo), a working mother and software engineer whose life changes when her son, Jung Dong-Myeong (Ko Dong-Ha), is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Faced with the reality of lifelong insulin dependency and her son's distress regarding blood collection, Mi-Ra utilizes her technical background to source continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) from abroad, as they were not readily available in the local market at the time.

As she begins assisting other parents in the Type 1 diabetes community by importing and setting up these devices, Mi-Ra faces legal challenges, including accusations of importing unauthorized medical equipment without proper customs clearance or tax compliance.

Cast

Choi Ji-Woo
Choi Ji-Woo as Kim Mi-Ra.
Min Jin-Woong
Min Jin-Woong as Jung Joon-Woo.
Ko Dong-Ha
Ko Dong-Ha as Jung Dong-Myeong.
Kim Young-Sung
Kim Young-Sung as Lee Cha-Seon.
Kim Neul-Mae
Kim Neul-Mae as the baseball coach.
Kim Sun-Young
Kim Sun-Young as Kim Yoo-Jin.
Im Woo-Cheol
Im Woo-Cheol as the physician.
Lee Hyun-Seo
Lee Hyun-Seo as the school nurse.

Production

The film was directed and written by Choi Sin-Choon. It was produced by Shin Chang-Hwan and Kong Ji-Young, with cinematography by Jang Myeong-Gong. The film was released on January 21, 2026, with a runtime of 106 minutes.

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