In his debut feature "
The Unforgiven" (2006), director
Yoon Jong-bin showed us a side of men and masculine codes in the Korean military with honesty and sensitivity. Now YOON is back with his sophomore effort, a film which shows another side of men, this time male hosts who serve female clients in discreet salons tucked into the affluent fashion districts of southern Seoul. Opening April 30, "
The Moonlight of Seoul" (titled Beastie Boys in Korean) stars the talented and now famous
Ha Jeong-woo (
"The Chaser") along with
Yoon Kye-sang ("
Flying Boys").
The story centers around Seung-woo (played by YOON), who, was once quite wealthy but after a turn in fortunes, joins a 'host bar' to make ends meet, and Jae-hyeon (played by HA), a partner and manager at the host bar, living a reckless life. Seung-woo falls in love with a client (played by
Yoon Jin-seo), one of many females hostesses who frequent the place to let off steam from their own line of work and but the couple are plagued by mistrust of each other, a result of the trade they both ply.
Director YOON won many accolades and prizes for his first film, "
The Unforgiven", which premiered at the 2006 Pusan International Film Festival and won the NETPAC award. It went on to travel to a number of festivals, winning awards and international critical acclaim. His latest film is a Wire to Wire production.
Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)
