An Indiscreet Wife, A Checkered Husband And A Taekwondo Girl (2002) Movie Review

『A Peculiar Friendship and Family Landscape Woven by Triple Desires and Responsibilities』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: An Indiscreet Wife, A Checkered Husband And A Taekwondo Girl (2002)
🌍 Country: 🇰🇷 South Korea
🎞️ Genre: Comedy / Drama / Fantasy (elements)
🗓️ Production & Release: Produced by Egg Film Co., Ltd.
⏳ Runtime: 92 minutes
📢 Director: Lee Mu-yeong
🖋️ Screenplay: Park Chan-wook, Lee Mu-yeong

👩‍💼 Cast: Gong Hyo-jin – Hwang Geum-sook
Jo Eun-ji – Bae Eun-hee

🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers)

🔗 Friendship Between Eun-hee and Geum-sook

The story begins in high school when Eun-hee, tormented by delinquents due to her beauty, is saved by Geum-sook, a Taekwondo black belt. From that moment, the two become inseparable close friends. Geum-sook is devoted to Eun-hee, always standing by her and helping her through any predicament.

💔 Marriage, Jealousy, and Moments of Crisis

When Eun-hee marries comedian Oh Du-chan, cracks appear in their friendship. Oh Du-chan’s success and married life seem stable on the surface, but his suspicion and jealousy expose the intimate emotions between Eun-hee and Geum-sook. The narrative unfolds through the buildup and eruption of jealousy and doubt, pressuring each character to make critical decisions.

🌀 Destruction and Reconstruction: Unconventional Resolution

Geum-sook accepts Eun-hee’s request and enters Oh Du-chan’s house, beginning the peculiar cohabitation of the three characters. Geum-sook dedicates herself to preserving Eun-hee’s married life. The story focuses less on dramatic events like revenge or pregnancy, and more on the everyday comedy and conflicts arising from the coexistence of three very different people.

🦋 Emotional Resonance and Meaning of the Work

🎬 Direction and Mise-en-Scène — Irony and Distancing

Director Lee Mu-yeong does not exaggerate comedic situations or consume them in a clichéd manner; instead, he reveals the characters’ emotional dissonance through his direction. The camera sometimes observes the characters coldly, while at other times it humorously exaggerates situations, highlighting the gap between social perception and private desire.

🏳️‍🌈 Social Context — Taboo, Acceptance, and Discourse

In early 2000s South Korea, handling homosexual and polyamorous relationships was controversial, and this film sits at the center of that debate. It intersects queer elements, pop culture celebrity, and family structures, raising questions about identity and social acceptance. For these reasons, critics have regarded the work as both unusual and sometimes provocative.

🔍 Production Background and the Creators’ Position

Park Chan-wook is credited as a co-writer, suggesting that the film intended to go beyond simple comedy toward genre experimentation and narrative variation. Technical choices in music, editing, and cinematography support comedic, melodramatic, and fantastical scene transitions, ultimately leaving the audience with an ironic emotional spectrum.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥♥
⭐ Overall Rating: ★★☆