The Ugly (2025 South Korean Film)
The Ugly (Korean: 얼굴; RR: Eolgul) is a 2025 South Korean drama film directed and written by Yeon Sang-ho. The film explores themes of memory, family history, and the search for truth, centered on a man investigating the long-unsolved death of his mother.
Plot
The story follows Im Dong-hwan (Park Jeong-min), whose father, Im Young-kyu (Kwon Hae-hyo), is a visually impaired master craftsman of traditional seals. Dong-hwan's life changes when he receives notification from the police that the remains of his mother, Jung Young-hee, have been discovered. She had been missing for four decades.
Having never known his mother's face, Dong-hwan begins an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death, which police suggest may have been a murder. He is joined by Kim Su-jin (Han Ji-hyun), a documentary producer who had been filming a project about his father. Together, they interview former colleagues of Jung Young-hee, who worked at a clothing factory in the Cheonggyecheon district during the 1980s, to piece together her final days.
Cast
- Park Jeong-min as Im Dong-hwan
- Kwon Hae-hyo as Im Young-kyu
- Shin Hyun-bin as Jung Young-hee
- Han Ji-hyun as Kim Su-jin
- Im Sung-jae as Baek Ju-sang (young)
Production and Release
The Ugly had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025, followed by a theatrical release in South Korea on September 11, 2025. The film was distributed by Plus M Entertainment.
Reception
At the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards held on May 8, 2026, Park Jeong-min received the award for Best Actor for his performance in the film.