Han Gong-Ju: A Haunting Reflection on Victim Blaming in Society

Eun Hee: Why do you swim so hard?"

Gong Ju: In case I want to start over. Because my mind could change.

Recently, I came across the tragic Miryang Gang Rape Case of 2004, which led me to discover the film Han Gong-Ju. Inspired by the harrowing events of this case, Han Gong-Ju delves deep into a societal issue that resonates universally: the tendency to shame victims rather than hold perpetrators accountable. The film offers an unflinching portrayal of the emotional and mental struggles that rape victims endure in a world that too often turns a blind eye to their suffering. Despite being innocent, victims are frequently subjected to pain, public humiliation, and taunts, while the criminals either roam free, serve minimal sentences, or are released after paying a fine. Han Gong-Ju powerfully captures this harsh reality, forcing viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths about how society treats those who have already endured unimaginable trauma.

Han Gong-Ju has garnered critical acclaim, winning multiple awards on the festival circuit and becoming one of the most commercially successful Korean independent films ever made. It also won the top jury prize at the Marrakech Film Festival, awarded by none other than Martin Scorsese. The film's success speaks not only to its artistic merit but also to its urgent and poignant message. It is a film that compels us to rethink our attitudes toward victims and to question the systems that allow perpetrators to evade justice.

Cast: Chun Woo-hee, Jung In-sun, Kim So-young, Lee Young-lan, Jo Dae-hee ,Choi Yong-joon, Kim Hyun-joon 

Director: Lee Su-jin

Synopsis:

The story centres on Han Gong Ju, a troubled adolescent who relocates to a new city with only a small bag, aided by her former teacher, Mr. Lee. He arranges for her to attend a new school, where she is haunted by fear, flinching at even the slightest noise. Mr. Lee pleads with his mother to let Gong Ju stay with her for a week. Initially reluctant and suspicious of the girl’s past, his mother eventually agrees.

At her new school, Gong Ju is withdrawn, often lying on her desk, until she notices a group of girls singing in the cappella club. This moment stirs something in her, reminding her of a close friendship with Hwa Ok at her previous school. Through flashbacks, we see Gong Ju working as a cashier at a convenience store. Her classmate Dong Yoon, the store owner's son, enters one day, visibly beaten, grabbing some goods before returning to his friends. In the present, Gong Ju has joined swimming lessons, though the reason behind this decision is revealed only later in the film. Her new classmate, Eun Hee, becomes captivated by Gong Ju's voice after hearing her hum in the changing room at the pool. Intrigued, Eun Hee invites Gong Ju to join their cappella club—the same one Gong Ju had noticed when she first arrived at the school. Initially, Gong Ju is alarmed when she discovers that Eun Hee has recorded her voice without permission, triggering memories of past trauma. However, she eventually agrees to join the club with Eun Hee and her friends.

As time passes, Gong Ju slowly begins to open up to the other girls, revealing that her goal is to swim at least 25 meters. The relationship between Gong Ju and her guardian, Mrs. Lee, also begins to soften. Gong Ju becomes quietly sympathetic towards Mrs. Lee's struggles, particularly her relationship with a married man who continually breaks his promises. Meanwhile, Gong Ju's alcoholic father had visited her some time ago, and through deceitful manipulation, he convinced her to sign a petition without fully understanding its implications.

In an attempt to help, Gong Ju's friends decide to post a video of her singing, along with details about her, online, hoping to start a fan club for her. However, when Gong Ju finds out, she becomes furious and demands that they remove the video immediately. Her friends are confused by her intense reaction, leading to an argument. Shortly afterwards, a group of angry parents storm into the classroom, accusing Gong Ju of being responsible for their son’s imprisonment. They believe she is trying to extort money from them and demand she signs a petition to release their sons. Overwhelmed, Gong Ju flees and hides in an empty room.

Another flashback reveals a harrowing incident from Gong Ju's past. When she arrives home, she finds Dong Yoon, Hwa Ok, and at least 15 other guys hanging out and drinking in her house. Disturbed by their presence, Gong Ju demands that they leave immediately. However, Dong Yoon, who had previously been depicted as a victim of bullying, insists that if Gong Ju drinks a beer, the group will leave. Unbeknownst to her, Dong Yoon had spiked the drink with a drug. Desperate to get them out of her house, Gong Ju reluctantly drinks the beer. Under the influence of the drug, she is brutally gang-raped. The gang’s leader, Minho, forces Dong Yoon to rape her as well, but before he can, Dong Yoon’s father arrives and takes him away. Despite witnessing the ongoing assault, the father chooses to ignore it and leaves Gong Ju to her fate. Shortly afterwards, Hwa Ok, devastated by the trauma, commits suicide by jumping off a bridge.

The scene shifts back to the present, where Gong Ju sits with the principal of her current school. He expresses regret for enrolling her without knowledge of her past and tells her that he will have to discuss the situation with the school board. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lee’s boyfriend questions Gong Ju's character because of the rape, pressuring Mrs. Lee to kick her out of the house. However, Gong Ju leaves willingly before anything can be decided. Later, Gong Ju's friends at school discover the truth about the rape. They send her messages of support, assuring her that it wasn’t her fault. But when they come across a video of Hwa Ok's rape, where she can be heard screaming in agony, they are horrified. Eun Hee, once close to Gong Ju, is now too frightened to even answer her calls.

In the end, Gong Ju follows the same tragic path as Hwa Ok, jumping into the water. She had wanted to learn to swim, believing that if she ever decided to end her life like Hwa Ok but changed her mind halfway, she would be able to save herself. However, as she struggles to swim, it becomes clear that despite her fight for survival, she ultimately succumbs to the water. The movie closes with the haunting audio of her friends cheering for her in the past, celebrating the moment she was selected by an agency for her singing talent.

Review:

The movie closely follows the events of the Miryang gang rape case, delivering a subtle yet powerful condemnation of a society that unjustly pressures victims of sexual assault to feel ashamed for the heinous actions committed against them. It’s challenging to capture the deep psychological impact that an extreme synthesis of these urges can have on an abandoned soul, but this movie does it remarkably well. It exposes the disturbing reality of how the parents of the perpetrators, rather than acknowledging their children’s crimes, shift the blame onto the victim. A chilling example of this societal attitude is reflected in the reported statement of a police officer from Miryang, who allegedly said, "You went there because you liked it. You girls have now destroyed my town's reputation." This statement reveals a troubling lack of empathy, showing that the authorities are more concerned with protecting their town's image than with safeguarding the innocent. The film also portrays a similar police officer who dismissively remarks, "Her friend committed suicide. If she's innocent, why...?" This callousness towards a victim who took her own life under the weight of unbearable pain underscores the film's critique of a legal system that fails to protect the vulnerable. Through this portrayal, we can feel the director's anger towards an unjust system that protects perpetrators rather than victims. 

The most heartbreaking scene in the movie is when she finally reveals why she wants to learn how to swim. She has always wrestled with the urge to give up on life, yet at the same time, she also longs for a chance to start over. The first hint at the horrors Gong-ju is hiding emerges during a painful-to-watch visit to the gynaecologist. As the male doctor examines her, we can sense Gong-ju's profound unease. Chun Woo-hee, who portrays Gong-ju, conveys her character’s embittered and humiliated silence with a retrospective heartbreak that is truly devastating. Her performance is pitch-perfect. Tackling such harrowing subject matter as gang rape was never going to be easy or uplifting. As the story's dark secrets gradually unfold, the film demands a patient and attentive viewer.

South Korea is a highly developed country, renowned for its technological advancements, leadership in the water sector, high-income levels, and impressive literacy rates—not to mention the global popularity of K-pop. However, the protection afforded to women remains alarmingly inadequate, a stark contrast to its progress in other areas. Every country has its dark, hidden corners, and this is a harsh reality that cannot be ignored.

The movie isn’t without flaws but some can be forgiven, given that it’s a directorial debut. The script occasionally drifts when it shifts focus from Gong-ju’s life to offer insights into the middle-aged Ms. Lee. While the friendship between Gong-ju and Eun-hee risks slipping into the realm of a typical Korean cutesy drama, the emotionally draining third act ultimately holds everything together. Some of the visuals, especially towards the end, may come across as slightly exploitative or overly detailed, serving more to shock than to enhance the narrative. Some viewers might find the central horrific incident implausible or reminiscent of a home-invasion horror movie. However, the real-life 'Miryang gang rape case' of 2004, on which the movie is loosely based, was even more brutal and infuriating. Despite its imperfections, this is an absorbing, character-driven film that tackles its thorny subject matter with sensitivity and fragmented grace.