Next Sohee (2022) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A critique of corporate exploitation and systemic negligence leading to tragedy.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Toxic Onboarding

Sohee enters a call center training program that emphasizes appearance over skill. She quickly learns the company's unethical goal of stalling customers rather than providing support.

Key Events

• Externship Offer — Teacher secures Sohee an externship at Human and Net. Location: School Office
• Toxic Training — Trainees endure makeup lessons and body shaming. Location: Training Room
• Call Center Reality — Sohee learns the goal is to stall customers, not help them. Location: Call Center
• Customer Abuse — A customer threatens sexual assault, causing Sohee to yell back. Location: Call Center
• Manager's Support — Junho shows understanding and tries to protect workers. Location: Office

Cracks in the System

Sohee faces customer abuse and financial exploitation while Junho attempts to protect workers. His whistleblower efforts are ignored, leading to his tragic suicide.

Key Events

• Manager's Support — Junho shows understanding and tries to protect workers. Location: Office
• Whistleblower's Guilt — Junho files complaints about labor exploitation but is ignored. Location: Office
• Manager's Suicide — Sohee discovers Junho dead in his car from carbon monoxide poisoning. Location: Parking Lot
• New Leadership — A new manager takes over, prioritizing sales over ethics. Location: Office
• Forced Complicity — Sohee is pressured to sign a form denying Junho's claims. Location: Office
• Intern Conflict — Sohee fights an extern who blames her for increased team pressure. Location: Dinner

Breaking Point

A ruthless new manager takes over, forcing Sohee into complicity and mocking her struggles. Sohee defies company policy, leading to a violent confrontation and disciplinary leave.

Key Events

• Intern Conflict — Sohee fights an extern who blames her for increased team pressure. Location: Dinner
• Pay Dispute — Sohee receives partial pay despite hitting sales targets. Location: Office
• Defiant Action — Sohee processes cancellations instead of upselling, angering her manager. Location: Call Center
• Manager's Mockery — Manager mocks Sohee's poverty, prompting Sohee to strike her. Location: Office
• Disciplinary Leave — Sohee is placed on unpaid leave and struggles with guilt. Location: Home
• Suicide Attempt — Sohee cuts her wrists during a drunken night out. Location: Bar

Tragic End

Isolated and guilt-ridden, Sohee attempts suicide and is hospitalized. Despite her request to quit, her teacher orders her back, pushing her to jump into a reservoir.

Key Events

• Suicide Attempt — Sohee cuts her wrists during a drunken night out. Location: Bar
• Hospitalization — Sohee is hospitalized and requests to quit her internship. Location: Hospital
• Teacher's Rejection — Teacher scolds Sohee and orders her to return to work. Location: Hospital
• Final Descent — Depressed and intoxicated, Sohee jumps into a reservoir. Location: Reservoir

Unseen Aftermath

Detective Yoojin investigates the suicide and uncovers systemic labor violations. Bureaucratic pressure forces her to drop the case, leaving the institutions unaccountable.

Key Events

• Final Descent — Depressed and intoxicated, Sohee jumps into a reservoir. Location: Reservoir
• Detective's Arrival — Yoojin begins investigating Sohee's suicide. Location: Crime Scene
• Institutional Blame — Institutions blame Sohee's temper for her death. Location: Police Station
• Case Suppression — Superior reprimands Yoojin and forces her to drop the case. Location: Police Station
• Dance Video — Yoojin watches Sohee's last dance recording and breaks down. Location: Evidence Room

Story Breakdown

• Corporate Exploitation — The call center's unethical sales-driven culture.
  • Sales Pressure Tactics — Employees forced to stall customers instead of helping.
  • Whistleblower Suppression — Management ignores complaints about labor violations.
• Systemic Negligence — Institutions prioritize metrics over student welfare.
  • School Placement Failures — High school arranges unsafe internships for employment rates.
  • Institutional Cover-ups — Companies and schools blame the victim to avoid liability.
• Managerial Dynamics — Contrasting leadership styles within the workplace.
  • Supportive Leadership — Junho attempts to protect workers from exploitation.
  • Toxic Succession — New manager enforces ruthless sales targets and mockery.
• Psychological Toll — The mental and emotional breakdown of the protagonist.
  • Customer Abuse Trauma — Sohee endures verbal and sexual threats from clients.
  • Financial Desperation — Underpayment and debt push Sohee to her limits.
• Investigative Pursuit — A detective uncovers the truth behind the suicide.
  • Detective's Dedication — Yoojin investigates labor violations and institutional blame.
  • Bureaucratic Obstruction — Superior forces the case to be dropped to avoid trouble.
• Tragic Resolution — The protagonist's final descent and aftermath.
  • Suicide Attempt — Sohee cuts her wrists after being forced to return.
  • Final Descent — Depressed Sohee jumps into a reservoir, ending her life.

Directed by

July Jung

Key Cast

• Kim Si-eun — So-hee
• Bae Doona — Yoo-jin
• Jung Hoe-ryn — Jun-hee
• Kang Hyun-oh — Tae-joon
• Bahk Woo-young — Dong-ho