Fly Penguin (2009 Film)

Fly Penguin (Korean: 날아라 펭귄; RR: Nalara Penggwyn) is a 2009 South Korean drama film directed and written by Yim Soon-rye. The film premiered at the Jeonju International Film Festival, running from April 30 to May 8, 2009, before its general theatrical release in South Korea on September 24, 2009. With a runtime of 110 minutes, the film examines various facets of contemporary South Korean society through a series of interconnected character studies.

Promotional poster for the film Fly Penguin — Promotional artwork for the 2009 film Fly Penguin.

Plot

The film presents an anthology-style narrative focusing on the pressures of modern life and traditional expectations. The plot follows several characters navigating personal and social challenges:

Seung-yun: A young student struggling under the weight of excessive private education and the high expectations of his mother.
Ju-hun: A new employee at a company who faces workplace friction due to his vegetarianism and refusal to consume alcohol, which deviates from conventional social norms.
Su-hyeong: A man living alone after his wife and children depart for overseas education, highlighting the phenomenon of 'goose fathers' in South Korea.
Ms. Song and Mr. Gwon: An older couple whose long-term marriage reaches a breaking point, as Ms. Song seeks independence from her authoritarian husband, leaving him to confront his inability to manage daily life alone.

Scene from the film Fly Penguin — A scene featuring characters from the film.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast, including:

Moon So-ri
Park Won-sang
Son Byung-ho
Choi Kyu-hwan
Jung Hye-sun
Park In-hwan
Kim Do-yeon
Kim Ye-ryeong
Oh Yong
Kim Jong-eon
Ahn Do-kyu (as Choi Seung-yoon)
Baek Seung-do (as Sang-woo)
Jin Kyung