Film 'Journey to Kyongju' explores mother's revenge plot

Kim Mi-jo's debut commercial film, "Journey to Kyongju," opens on the 26th, presenting a revenge narrative centered on a mother's quest for justice. The film, starring Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon, delves into the story of Ok-sil, a mother who runs a sewing shop and cares for her four daughters. Her youngest, Kyung-ju, was murdered eight years ago during a school trip to Kyongju. When the killer is released after serving his sentence, Ok-sil, along with her three remaining daughters, embarks on a journey to Kyongju, not for sightseeing, but for revenge.

The film distinguishes itself by weaving the revenge thriller genre with the intricate fabric of family life. The mother, Ok-sil, is haunted by the day her daughter left for the trip, constantly questioning what went wrong. She concludes that revenge is necessary to restore her shattered family. Despite the somber purpose, the family dons matching t-shirts and poses for photos at Kyongju's landmarks, creating a facade of a typical family trip while subtly establishing an alibi.

However, the path to vengeance is fraught with unexpected complications, deviating from typical revenge dramas. The narrative unfolds with a series of mishaps, including a botched attempt to subdue the killer and the surprise arrival of the eldest daughter's husband with their child. The family even faces mistaken identity as grave robbers while attempting to bury a body. These chaotic events, unfolding on roads less traveled than a GPS route, inject unpredictable humor and chilling suspense into the cold pursuit of revenge.

“

Many people say 'you should forgive,' but does it truly end if you forgive? I was curious about what the face of a person who has to go to the very end would look like.

Director Kim Mi-jo explained her motivation, stating, "Many people say 'you should forgive,' but does it truly end if you forgive? I was curious about what the face of a person who has to go to the very end would look like." She envisioned Lee Jung-eun for the role of the mother, a character who carries the weight of her child's death but harbors a deep, resolute anger. The supporting cast, including Gong Hyo-jin as the eldest daughter torn between her mother's pain and her own family, Park So-dam as the cynical second daughter, and Lee Yeon as the youngest, contribute to the film's realistic portrayal of family dynamics. Kim's own experience as the youngest of four sisters informed the relatable division of roles within the family.

The film promises a journey that, despite the characters' mistakes and poor decisions, remains unwavering in its commitment to seeing things through to the end. Kim stated, "I tried to make the audience feel like, 'I would make the same choice as that family.'" The film aims to resonate with viewers by portraying a family's raw, uncompromised pursuit of justice.

“

I tried to make the audience feel like, 'I would make the same choice as that family.'