CJ Entertainment has sold The Host director Bong Joon Ho’s upcoming Mother to Bitters End for Japan.

The $6m thriller is aiming for Cannes and a June 2009 release. Hot interest from Japanese buyers got the film a significant pre-sales price, according to CJ.

The film stars young, popular actor Won Bin (Taegukgi) with TV veteran Kim Hye-ja who plays a mother on a desperate mission to prove her naïve son’s innocence when he’s accused of murder.

Bitters End previously co-produced Tokyo! the city-themed triptych in which Bong participated.

CJ also sold romantic drama My Wife Got Married and period piece The Divine Weapon to Rose Media for Thailand and Hwa Yea for Malaysia. Innoform for Singapore also picked up My Wife Got Married.