Three Friends (1996 Film)

Three Friends (Korean: 세친구; RR: Sechinku) is a 1996 South Korean film directed by Yim Soon-rye. The film examines the lives of three young men as they navigate the rigid expectations of South Korean society, including the pressures of university entrance examinations and mandatory military service.

Promotional poster for the film Three Friends — Promotional poster for the 1996 film Three Friends.

Plot

The narrative follows three friends, each dealing with distinct personal and social challenges. Kim Tae-moo is an aspiring comic book artist who faces repeated humiliation in his academic, professional, and military life. Cho Se-in, who aspires to be a hairdresser, struggles with a difficult home life involving an alcoholic father and experiences discrimination and harassment. The third friend, Gong Seung-ho, is characterized by his passive nature and preoccupation with food and home entertainment. The film depicts their shared experiences and the broader societal constraints that limit their prospects.

Production

Three Friends was directed by Yim Soon-rye, with a screenplay written by Yim and Park Kyung-hee. The film features a runtime of 92 minutes and was released in South Korea on November 2, 1996.

Cast

Hyun Sung as Kim Tae-moo
Hee-suk Jung as Cho Se-in
Jang-won Lee as Gong Seung-ho
Young-soo Kim as Cho Se-in's father
Hwa Young Kim as Cho Se-in's mother
So-hee Cho as Cho Se-in's sister
Jin Soo-Hyun as Mi-Kyung
Sang-kyu Choi as Gong Seung-ho's father
Hyun Jung as Kim Tae-moo's father
Sun-hee Lee as Gong Seung-ho's sister
Sang-hyun Kim as Gong Seung-ho's brother
Ung Heo as Gong Seung-ho's brother
Young-sook Lee as Flower-shop proprietor
Jin-kwan Cho as Video shop owner
Jeong-sik Kim as Comic-magazine editor
Yoo Yeon-Soo as Drill instructor