Synopsis Korean Movie Mr. Butterfly

Native Title: 나비
Also Known As: Nabi
Genres: Action, Romance

Mr. Butterfly (2003) Marc Kim (a.k.a. Kim Hyeon Seong) grabbed the attention of the international film audience in 2003 with his directorial debut feature, Mr. Butterfly, which screened in the Critics Week section at the 60th Venice Film Festival. The writer/director assembled an A-list cast with Kim Jung Eun ( Marrying the Mafia, Lovers in Paris) and Kim Min Jong ( Windmill Palm Grove, Guardian Angel) in the leading roles. Kim Jung Eun took on a weighty role as a disheartened woman in a bold attempt to shed her comedic, girl-next-door image. It was a risky choice for the actress given the phenomenal success of her previous comedy Marrying the Mafia which attracted over five million moviegoers nationwide. Kim Min Jong, who reached fame and popularity through his TV drama appearances, stars as the male protagonist.

Set in the 1980s during the military dictatorship of Chun Doo Hwan, Mr. Butterfly portrays a gloomy picture of two young people struggling to find each other in the midst of the country's democratic movement. Min Jae (Kim Min Jong) promises Hae Mi (Kim Jung Eun) that he will return within a year. Hae Mi looks on with tears rolling down her face as his train destined for Seoul pulls away. Their matching butterfly tattoos serve as a constant reminder for his return, but five years roll by with no sign of Min Jae. One day, fate reunites Min Jae, now a nightclub gigolo, with Hae Mi, now the kept woman of a high-ranking military officer. Tragedy befalls the two lovers when suspicious soldiers drag Min Jae off, leaving Hae Mi tormented and helpless.