New Folder

New Folder Kim Je-Gyu's 2004 South Korean film explores themes of identity, societal pressures, and the transformative power of love in "New Folder." The movie follows the life of Ji-Hoon, a successful businessman in his thirties, played by Lee Byung-hun. Ji-Hoon is a stunningly handsome individual with a chiseled face, athletic build, and effortless charm, making him the epitome of masculinity in modern Korea. However, behind this façade, he is disillusioned and unhappy, as he finds himself in a string of meaningless relationships with women who value material possessions, social status, and physical appearance over genuine emotions and meaningful connections. The film's narrative takes off with Ji-Hoon's decision to undergo plastic surgery to enhance his already impressive physical features. This decision sets off a chain of events that prompts him to re-evaluate his life choices, values, and relationships. He encounters various women who embody the societal expectations of beauty and success that he has been chasing all his life but ends up feeling empty and unfulfilled. Through these failed relationships, Ji-Hoon meets two women who will shake his world and make him question everything he thought he knew about love and himself. The first woman is a stunning beauty named Soo-Ah, played by Ha Ji-won. Soo-Ah embodies the very qualities that Ji-Hoon has always sought in a partner: beauty, poise, and sophistication. However, beneath her polished exterior lies a sense of numbness and emptiness, stemming from her own insecurities and feelings of disconnection. The second woman is an awkward and quirky individual named Soo-Young, played by Shin Min-a. Soo-Young is a free-spirited woman from a lower social class who works as a waitress and has a charming innocence to her. Unlike the women Ji-Hoon has previously encountered, Soo-Young is genuine, kind, and has a true sense of self, despite her physical appearance not being society's definition of beauty. Ji-Hoon finds himself drawn to both women's different qualities, yet he struggles with his own insecurities and inability to open up fully, which creates tension and confusion within him. As Ji-Hoon navigates his relationships with Soo-Ah and Soo-Young, he starts to gain insight into what truly matters in life. He comes to realize that his desire for physical beauty and social status has led him down a path of superficiality, leaving him feeling disconnected from his own emotions and the people around him. The film beautifully illustrates the themes of identity, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love. Ji-Hoon's relationships with Soo-Ah and Soo-Young serve as a catalyst for his growth, forcing him to confront his flaws and insecurities, ultimately leading him to a more authentic and meaningful life. Ji-Hoon's journey is not a linear one; it's a gradual process of self-discovery, where he confronts his ego, learns to open up to others, and develops a sense of self that is not bound by societal expectations. In a poignant twist, Soo-Ah becomes pregnant but has an abortion due to Ji-Hoon's inability to commit emotionally. This revelation sparks an emotional response from Ji-Hoon, who begins to realize how his own fear of intimacy and love has held him back. He decides to take a leap of faith, leaving the comfort zone of his high-society world to pursue his true love. Ji-Hoon chooses Soo-Young, despite societal pressures and expectations to maintain his image. Soo-Young, too, makes a difficult choice: she leaves her family and everything she has ever known to be with Ji-Hoon, showing that she values their love more than material comfort. Ultimately, Ji-Hoon finds his true love in Soo-Young, a woman who accepts him for who he truly is, beyond his physical appearance. The film concludes with Ji-Hoon and Soo-Young starting their new life together, having overcome the societal pressures and internal insecurities that once held them back. "New Folder" presents a powerful exploration of identity and the transformative power of love. Through Ji-Hoon's journey, the film delivers a thought-provoking commentary on the superficiality of modern Korean society, encouraging viewers to reflect on the values they place on physical appearance, material possessions, and social status.