Flower Island (2001 Film)

Flower Island (Korean: 꽃섬; RR: Ggot seom) is a 2001 South Korean drama film directed by Song Il-Gon. The film explores themes of trauma, loss, and the search for redemption through the journey of three women who cross paths.

Promotional poster for the film Flower Island

Plot

The narrative centers on three women, each burdened by personal tragedy, who embark on a trek to find the mythical "Flower Island," a place rumored to offer relief from sorrow. Hye-Na (Kim Hye-Na), a 17-year-old who has recently undergone a self-induced abortion, leaves home to search for her estranged mother. At a bus station, she encounters Oak-Nam (Seo Ju-Hie), a middle-aged woman abandoned by her husband after a scandal involving her past work. They are later joined by Yu-Jin (Lim Yu-Jin), a former opera singer who is suffering from cancer.

Actress Seo Ju-Hie — Seo Ju-Hie, who portrays Oak-Nam

Development

The feature film originated from a one-minute short film titled Flush, which director Song Il-Gon created for the 2000 Media City Seoul video exhibition. Flush depicted the scene of a teenage girl's abortion in a public restroom, which served as the thematic foundation for the expanded narrative of Flower Island.

Actress Lim Yu-Jin — Lim Yu-Jin, who portrays Yu-Jin

Cast

Actress Kim Hye-Na — Kim Hye-Na, who portrays Hye-Na

Seo Ju-Hie as Oak-Nam
Lim Yu-Jin as Yu-Jin
Kim Hye-Na as Hye-Na
Son Byung-Ho as Du-sik
Park Kil-Soo
Jung Seung-Gil as Park Hee-Jin
Choi Min-Geum as the bar owner

Scene from the film Flower Island — A scene from the film Flower Island