The Taste of Money (2012 Film)

The Taste of Money (Korean: 돈의 맛; RR: Donui Mat) is a 2012 South Korean drama film directed and written by Im Sang-soo. The film examines the lives of a powerful chaebol family, focusing on themes of greed, moral decay, and the influence of extreme wealth.

Plot

The story follows Joo Young-jak (Kim Kang-woo), a man who has served as the private secretary to CEO Yoon (Baek Yoon-sik) for a decade. CEO Yoon is married to Baek Geum-ok (Youn Yuh-jung), the daughter of one of South Korea's wealthiest men. The family maintains immense influence, though their internal dynamics are marked by manipulation and emotional detachment. Their daughter, Na-mi (Kim Hyo-jin), stands out as the only family member who openly challenges their actions.

CEO Yoon, having married into the family for status rather than love, eventually seeks to escape his life of subservience. He attempts to leave his wife to pursue a relationship with their Filipino housemaid, Eva (Maui Taylor). Following his departure, Young-jak assumes his former responsibilities, finding himself increasingly drawn into the corrupt lifestyle of the family.

Production and Connections

Filming for The Taste of Money took place in South Korea and the Philippines, beginning on October 26, 2011, and concluding on January 22, 2012. The film shares thematic and creative connections with director Im Sang-soo's 2010 film The Housemaid. Several actors appear in both productions, including Youn Yuh-jung, who plays the head housemaid in The Housemaid and the mother in The Taste of Money, and Hwang Jung-min, who appears in both films in different roles. Additionally, the film includes meta-references to The Housemaid, such as a scene where the family's home theater system is shown playing the earlier film.