Copenhagen-based REinvent International Sales has picked up international sales rights to the major arthouse feature “Hana Korea,” based on the true story of a North Korean young defector who tries to carve herself a new life in South Korean society.

The hybrid project, produced by Sonntag Pictures’ Sara Stockmann with Seesaw Pictures’ Heejung Oh (“Pearl of the Desert”) is due to start lensing in August on location in Korea.

Danish documentary filmmaker Frederik Sølberg (“Doel”) has partnered with some of Korea’s biggest talent on both sides of the camera to bring authenticity to his fiction debut.

In a major coup, writer-director Sharon Choi, the famous interpreter of Bong Joon-ho who first appeared by his side when he landed the Cannes Palme d’Or for “Parasite” in 2019, has boarded the project as co-writer.

First A-list Korean acting talent on board include Minha Kim from Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” and the seasoned Kim Joo-ryung,...