Popular Internet Comic Is Made Into Film

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

Love and sex in unconventional relationships and settings has been the main motifs of director Lee Jae-yong's films.

His 1998 film "An Affair" told the story of a tragic love between a married woman and her sister's fiancee. His 2003 hit historical piece "Untold Scandal" set in the Choson Kingdom revolved around a playboy from a noble family who meets a fatal love.

His favorite theme has gotten more experimental and twisted and contains wackier elements in his upcoming film "Dasepo Naughty Girls (Tasepo Sonyo)" ("Dasepo Girl"). Set in a high school, the film tells a story of students and teachers who enjoy free sexual relationships.

"I followed my instinct in making this film", the director said Wednesday during a news conference after the preview screening of his new film at Seoul Theater in downtown Seoul. "Ever since my 20s, I dreamed about making this kind of challenging film, full of free spirits".

The film is based on an Internet comic created by Chae Jung-taek, better known by his penname B-rate Dal-gung. It was a hit, drawing some 3 million fans in cyber space for its wacky, satirical views on society.

"There are some bold parts that are exaggerated far from reality, but it will be fun as there are also morals such as `don't have prejudices', `don't be ashamed of being poor' and `don't discriminate against minorities"', E said.

The film retains much of the core elements of the comic series, without many changes in the storyline.

It takes place in Museulmo High School, whose tradition allows its students and teachers to enjoy free sexual relations.

When a substitute teacher announces that their original English teacher is off school early for treatment of a venereal disease, he kindly advises a student to go see a doctor, and other girls in the class suddenly urge him to let them see a doctor for the same reason.

The film is full of unrealistic and naughty jokes, created from the strange setting. It doesn't follow the usual steps of a story's development, but focuses on each character's story.

Starring young actors such as Kim Ok-bin, Park Jin-woo and "Lee Kyeon", the film has peculiar characters including a virgin girl, who is seen as strange by her schoolmates, a boy who enjoys wearing woman's clothes, and a rich student from Switzerland who is bullied by his friends.

"When I read the original comic, I laughed mindlessly", said Kim Ok-bin, who plays a virgin girl from a poor family. "But when I thought about it more and more, I had more fun".

Since there are some explicit scenes in the original, she was initially hesitant to star in the film, worried the it would stir up controversy. But his previous works gave her faith in the director, Kim said.

In the film, Kim shows off superb dance skills just as she does now in MBC's new mini-series "Over The Rainbow - Drama", a story about love and ambition of young talented dancers.