Discoveries from South Korea World Cinema

Having never been involved in a long-term relationship, Ha-yoon was hoping that her current boyfriend, Nam Tae-ryeon, would be the one to change all of that. But when he announces he wants to break up with her before they even reach their 100th day, Ha-yoon refuses to accept her fate without a fight. Determined to make this relationship last, Ha Yoon suggests a month-long “break-up grace period” in which she and Tae-ryeon are allowed to spend as much time apart as they want, without calling things off completely. Agreeing to her terms, Tae-ryeon and Ha-yoon draw up a contract in which the terms of their grace period are clearly stated. While Tae-ryeon goes about his life, Ha-yoon somehow finds herself signing an entirely different contract with her best friend and college colleague, Kang-jin.

After serving his military duty, Jung-hoon, who has never had a girlfriend, returns to college. He has a secret crush on Eun-ji, a member of the school's paranormal activity research club called Mysteria, in which he also belongs. One day, Jung-hoon meets Ji-sun, a virgin ghost, by chance, and Ji-sun asks him for help with her Scare tests, the exams that she needs to pass in order to be reborn. In return, Jung-hoon makes an arrangement with Ji-sun to help him score points with Eun-ji. While trying to help each other's problems, the two run into disagreements, but their feelings for each other grow deeper as time passes.

A love story between a man and a woman who become closer through communication through the fictional music in the novel.

Sang-woo is suffering from erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, because he is worn out from Ji-eun's strong sexual desires. Then, one day, Ji-eun sends him to a treatment center and the specialist is no other than his ex-girlfriend, Hye-ran. They bicker about past things, but in the end agree to start treatment. Hye-ran manages to bring back Sang-woo's sexual desires with lower body exercises, massages, sexy dances and mental therapy. On the day he is discharged from the center, Sang-woo and Hye-ran share a last kiss, but end up wanting each others' bodies...

The church is the body of Christ. In Greece, the church embodied a philosophy. Then in Rome, it became an institution. Spreading throughout Europe, it became one with the culture there. Traveling to the US, the church became a business. And when it arrived in Korea, it became a conglomerate. The top five largest churches in the world are located in Korea. However, Christ has long been absent in the nation. So then, what is the church? Who is Jesus Christ? What kind of world do Christians want? If the church is indeed the body of Christ, then we must ask the questions point-blank. Where do we stand in all this? And where exactly are we headed? Korean churches—“Quo Vadis?” Korean society—“Quo Vadis?”

Stories about the late President ROH Moo-hyun and BAEK Moo-yun - a man who once lost a congressional election - are intersecting and touching each other. This documentary tells a story about two men that dreamed about living in a country where the people come first.

A boy who enjoys surfing under the hot sun, meets Haena, a girl who sings under the dark moonlight with her guitar in tow.

When a young girl has her nervous, romantic advances spurned because she cannot find the words to express her feelings, she takes a dejected walk through a wooded area. Finding an abandoned guitar, she begins a surreal journey of the imagination to glimpse the loving relationship she longs for and prove she is not the only one who finds words hard to say.

Jang-Soe is the stepbrother of Jang-Hwa and Hong-Ryeon. Jang-Soe's mother kills two sisters to take all properties from their father. Later Jang-Hwa and Hong-Ryeon become resented spirits. They appear to their father Mr. Bae and the chief of district to tell that their stepmother Mrs. Heo killed them. The honorable chief of district knows the truth and arrests Mrs. Heo and Jang-Soe to punish them. Jang-Hwa revives from death and marries to her beloved Mr. Jeong.

Middle-class housewife Ae-soon is excessively vain and neglectful of her duties as a homemaker. Unable to tolerate her any longer, Ae-soon's husband kicks her out, and she leaves him and their daughter Jeong-hee to take up with her lover in a hotel.

In around the 1950s. A man in charge of a guerilla unit is hiding in the Masingryeong Mountains. On the other hand, his brother, a high government official in the North Korean Ministry of Defense has his father killed blaming him a reactionary. He suffers greatly from the guilt of killing his father and finally decides to give himself up to his brother's guerilla unit. Tragically, however, he is shot to death on his way to the unit to surrender. At his last breath, in his brothers arms, he gives his brother the logistics secrets of the North Korean army.

Dowoo runs an old motel – adjacent to a lake with thousands of Korean War victims at its bottom – as well as caring for his mother who has dementia. One wintry day she disappears without a trace. In her stead, a cute little dog appears. Everyone helps kind-hearted, somewhat shy Dowoo search for her. However, when his mother isn’t found, rumours arise that he may have killed her. Has he started having doubts himself? It doesn’t help that he swallowed her tranquillisers on the day she went missing, and can’t remember a thing.

This program features three digital short films by Asian filmmakers. Singapore veteran filmmaker Eric Khoo's NO DAY OFF (39 min) records the life of a maid who leaves her husband and baby for Singapore. Darezhan Omirbayev's ABOUT LOVE (38 min) is a bitter love story based on Anton Chekhov's novel, in which a lonely math teacher falls in love with her married university classmate. Pen-ek Ratanaruang's TWELVE TWENTY (30 min) depicts the encounters of a man and a woman on a long haul flight, where they spend the next twelve hours and twenty minutes reading, drinking, eating and watching movies and sleeping by each other's side, as if they are a married couple.

An omnibus queer movie about three fathers with families. Part 1: ‘My Father’s Desire’ is about a father who feels desire because of his son. Part 2: ‘My Father’s Truth’ is about father and son, who are drawn to one man. Part 3, ‘My Father’s Secret’ talks about a father who finds a gay magazine in his kindergartener son’s bag.

It was one day after summer vacation, in 2008. Sojeong, a senior high school student, lives with her sick mother, but dreams to live alone and be a musician though the reality is frustrating. Just listening to music on MP3 and writing down the lyrics of the songs she wrote on her mini-homepage is Sojeong´s only escape.

There is a serious problem with getting a job among young people in Korea. A young man in Korea named Doo-soo is lying to his parents while working at a market, because most Korean people don't want to a blue-collar job. But suddenly he has something important he has to do -- betting on Jang-gi (Korean chess). Would it be possible to change the world with a bet?

A man who can't even grasp his reality and just flirt with it. a woman who struggles gently to marry him. Why, on earth, is she obsessed with him?

Ha-Yoon, who works at the rich mansion, hates Ji-Yeon, who just arrived. The boss suggest to go out for the hunting game, and each person's hidden desires begin to appear in the forest.

Dawn to Dawn

Byung-tae who has cerebral paralysis goes to the wrong destination and then meets Min-wu and suicidal Chun-ja in the station office and joins their journey. Chun-ja causes a lot of trouble such as stealing Byung-tae's wallet and running away. Chun-ja, who is pregnant, gives birth in a barn. Min-wu and Chun-ja hold a small wedding in a church. The trio arrive in Chun-ja's hometown and Byung-tae heads alone for Kyung-ju, his destination. There he does plenty of sightseeing.

Since 2 years ago, Haneul has been teased by Chiwoo who is a delinquent in his school. In the opening day of third grade, Haneul meets his middle school friend Myeongho who was moved from other high school. From that time, his school life had changed. He gets close with new friends, goes out with a girlfriend, draws cartoons, and enjoys summer time. While he enjoys a new happy life, things are suddenly getting wrong. Chiwoo prepares revenge on Myeongho and Haneul’s other friend Minsik who falls in love with Myeongho’s girlfriend. They provoke Hanuel into a fight because he is an easy mark.

Tansil, a native of Hwajeongol in the back of Jirisan Mountain, goes to the house of President Woo Man-chan in Anguk-dong, Seoul, as introduced by his relative. President Woo, who had been away from home for a long time, returns and begins to approach Tansil, who was listening to the remnants of the disabled wife. The wife, who did not notice this, intentionally forces Tansil to take care of Woo in order to catch Woo, who returned. Tansil, who was pregnant due to his relationship with President Woo, was confined to a remote apartment, eventually gave birth to a son, and returned to his hometown after losing his son to his wife.

Four middle school students, who are the members of a photography club receive an old-fashioned analog camera from their teacher. The teacher asks them to take pictures of 'the end of the world' during summer vacation. While they discuss where would be the end of the world, as one of the girls suggests, they just get on the subway to go to the very last station.

Geon-woo used to be a promising taekwondo athlete, but quit after kicking an unfair judge in the face. On his first day at Deoksang High, he gets involved in a fight with the school bullies, but defeats them and becomes the subject of school gossip. While Geon-woo was previously tired with everything in his life, he slowly finds interest after his fight with the bullies. In the end, he takes over the school by defeating Deok-soo, the school's best fighter. However, Sang-goo, the best fighter of Dae Jin High, asks him for a bribe, but Geon-woo declines him. Sang-goo is not happy and wants to break Geon-woo.

Having the perfect face and the perfect figure, Yun-Bin is a super star loved by the country. One day, a suspicious girl kidnaps the nation's star and demands 1 million dollars in exchange. The CEO of Yun-Bin's management company, HAN Chul-Ho, tries every means to save his actor, hiring gangs and using GPS, but fails. Meanwhile, a reporter who's been digging Yun-Bin's drug scandal is also captured by the same kidnapper. Will the two, so to speak, enemies be able to collaborate and escape from this weird girl?

After a photoshoot in a secluded, forested area, all five band members are told to rest in the house they are staying at. Xiah, who desperately wants to play football, drags Max outside to play with him. Both get hurt and are rescued by a mysterious girl, who provides a place for them to heal from their injuries. However, they soon discover that she will not let them leave. Back at the main house, Micky is in his own world, extremely worried about his lost band-mates. Hero, after reading a fanfiction about his supposed romantic relationship with U-Know, becomes anxious about why U-Know is suddenly being extremely nice to him.

The third and final installment in BTOB's Ballad Trilogy, "Remember That" tells the story of a man reminiscing his past love.

In the near future of 2019, all artistic activities that are not aimed at creating money for the state are legally prohibited. Fate of pure art expression is inevitably pursued by the institution, and fatefully at the moment of drama.

Two people who don't seem like identical twins, with both having love lives going nowhere. Yet, Gae-ddong suffers from a traumatic childhood experience and is introverted with low self-esteem. Meanwhile, his friend Changsoo is proud and boisterous. As Gae-ddong finds happiness, troubles reoccur, building to a final crescendo.

It's a story of a waitress who was suffering from domestic violence; she eventually finds her true self by meeting a student.

Film director Geum Tae-kyung always thinks of films. Even now, his mind is full of cinematic thoughts.

Siwoo, a high school student, is timid and fragile. His only hobby is taking a picture of his daily life with a camera. However, Ha-joon and his hobby, motorcycle, come to Siwoo, who nobody is interested in. "Break" begins to occur in Siwoo's daily life.

1. Just married couple Mun-Su and Yeon-Yeon happened to meet a bandit when they are walking in a mountain. Mun-Su runs away alone and Yoen-Yeon bits her tongue to death in danger of rape. Meanwhile the bridegroom finds a deserted house where he stays that night. Yeon-Yeon's resented spirit changes into a girl and tempts him to go to dead world together. 2. A rich nobleman Mr. Kim is eager to have a baby when he meets Kong-Nyeo. Soon she becomes his concubine and is pregnant. Mr. Kim's wife is madly jealous of Kong-Nyeo and locks her in a separate house. As soon as Kong-Nyeo gives birth to a baby, Mrs. Kim kills Kong-Nyeo and pretends the baby is hers. Resented and sad spirit of Kong-Nyeo drives Mr. Kim's house in fear.

Hee-kyung and Seung-ah are cosmetics shop employees. One day, a customer demands a refund, saying she developed more eye wrinkles after using an anti-wrinkle cream she bought from the store. Will the two sales clerks be able to keep their cool with the customer’s groundless claims?

A pirate ship arrives at the Porong Porong Forest. Realizing that they weren't on Treasure Island, and they kidnap everyone except for Pororo and Eddy to recoup their losses. Will they be able to rescue their friends safely?

This documentary is about musician Jang Beom-joon from the band Busker Busker, Superstar K second runner up and hit maker of its 1st and 2nd albums.

KIM-GUN searches for the whereabouts of a young man whose identity has sparked a national controversy over the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Uprising. Starting with the vague memories of those who had crossed paths with him during that time, the film tracks down those who participated in the Uprising as “Citizen Soldiers.” It also traces KIM’s final steps, based on photographic clues found in the firearms he carried and the “Surveillance Truck No. 10” in which he rode. By identifying KIM-GUN, we believe that we can find valuable leads to resolving the ongoing controversy over May 18. Why did a nameless young man join the Uprising? Why did he take up arms? Where has he gone afterwards? It is the answers to these questions that the film seeks.

The last thing Jiyeon remembers is being carried to somewhere on a bed. She can’t tell if it’s a dream or reality and finally wakes up in a strange room. There is a mysterious lady in the room and she says that this is a rehabilitation center. The lady also says that Jiyeon has to go through a life-threatening rehabilitation process in order to live. Will Jiyeon be able to survive rehab?

Do-yeon, an Internet installer, meets a young girl who is guarding her house alone at an applicant's house. Do-yeon could not leave her alone

Yeong-cheol, at only 13, is the head of his family and takes care of his mentally incompacitated father and 2 younger brothers. The neighbors take pity on the family and arrange for a young woman to marry Yeong-cheol's father so the children can have a legal guardian.

A high school student, Ho-jin (17 years old), is shocked when her boyfriend, Young-ho (32 years old) who is a teacher at her high school, suddenly breaks up with her. Yong-jin (17 years old ) who has a crush on Ho-jin, always stays near her and waits for her call. Chan-soo (17 years old) likes Yong-jin and tries to win his affection. Ms. Park, a gym teacher, calls on the heart-broken Ho-jin for afterschool dance practice. Ho-jin lies to Young-ho to avoid the break-up. However, Young-ho is gone without a trace afterschool, and Ho-jin finds the body of Ms. Park who has killed herself. On the way home, she sees a puddle, filled with rainbow color grease.

A young couple live together, but they have a strange hobby.

On their second anniversary of marriage, Kang Nam-dae and Jang Young-mi get bored with their routine sex. They visit a motel to re-live their first night and record it on a video camera. Nam-dae spoils the moment by bringing up their mutual friend Jae-guk whom Young-mi had dated previously. After reading Jae-guk's book and realizing he truly loved her, she leaves Nam-dae. Two years later, they meet again and go to see Jae-guk.

A man travelling to Seoul to find his lover becomes a phony detective and pickpocket and goes on some wacky adventures.

A North Korean general visits his talented daughter at a prestigious Swiss school to test her loyalty towards her motherland. An outstanding singer, with a promising future, she dreams of studying in America. But her dream will be at the cost of her father's life if she doesn't return.

In 1985, Tae Nam works as a teacher at an all-girls high school in the country. The students there do not like him, because he keeps shouting at them. In fact, Tae Nam has never had a date in his life. One day, he finds a banned erotic book at the book store. The novel, which spreads among the girls at the high school, ends with "to be continued." The students become curious about the second volume. Soon Duk decides to write the second volume for her friends.