The Ugly Korean movie tops the box office

The Korean mystery thriller "The Ugly" has had a strong start in Korean theaters, surpassing one million views in its first few days. The film's cast celebrated the milestone with a video clip thanking the audience for their overwhelming support and remarkable engagement.

This early success was no coincidence, but rather a reflection of viewers' interest in the mysterious story that blends psychological drama with philosophical questions about beauty and human acceptance.

A story that delves into the essence of beauty and cruelty

Directed by Yoon Sang-ho, a director known for his work blending realism and fantasy, the film is based on his graphic novel Face. In this work, Yoon poses a bold question about the meaning of beauty: Is it in appearance, in intention, or in the way we treat others? The story revolves around Dong-hwan, who finds his mother's remains after four decades, embarking on a journey to uncover a past filled with painful secrets. Through this journey, the film sheds light on society's harsh judgments and unjust standards of beauty and dignity.

The story of "Young Hee"... the face that the world punished

On the other side of the story, the threads intersect with journalist Soo-jin, who is working on a file on the famous blind craftsman Im Young-kyu, Dong-hwan's father. During her research, she discovers the story of his wife, Young-hee, who was known as the "dirty ogre" because of her different appearance. The story reveals a series of insults and bullying she suffered inside the garment factory, during which she was forced to conceal her pain even in her most human moments. Despite all the cruelty she faced, Young-hee held a purity within her that no one saw—later revealing that the true ugliness resided in the souls of others, not in her own features.

The message of the film and its heroes

The Ugly offers a harsh and honest vision of a society that judges people by their appearance rather than their essence, proving that beauty is not measured by the eye, but by compassion and honesty. Starring Park Jung-min, Kwon Hye-hyo, Shin Hyun-bin, Im Sung-jae, and Han Ji-hyun, the film delivers masterful performances that convey human tension in every detail. It's a film that doesn't just tell a story; it re-raises a painful question about the limits of beauty and when someone truly becomes "ugly."