Because I Hate Korea (2024) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Joo Kye-na leaves Korea to seek an independent life, only to discover that freedom abroad brings hardship, insecurity, and no simple answer about where she belongs.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Leaving the Familiar Life

Joo Kye-na feels exhausted and directionless in Korea. She ends her relationship with Song Ji-myoung and boards a plane for New Zealand.

Key Events

• Exhausting Korean Routine — Kye-na feels trapped by exhausting commutes and an office job without a visible future. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Korea
• Decision to Leave Korea — Kye-na decides to leave Korea because she feels adrift and dissatisfied. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Korea
• Airport Breakup — Kye-na formally ends her relationship with Ji-myoung before departure. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Song Ji-myoung Location: Airport
• Farewell and Warning — Ji-myoung asks Kye-na to care for herself and return if life abroad becomes difficult. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Song Ji-myoung Location: Airport
• Flight to New Zealand — Kye-na boards the plane and begins her uncertain new life abroad. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Airplane

Struggling to Start Again

Kye-na arrives with little money and takes cleaning work while studying English. The demands of survival make her new beginning physically and emotionally difficult.

Key Events

• Flight to New Zealand — Kye-na boards the plane and begins her uncertain new life abroad. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Airplane
• Hard Start Abroad — Kye-na discovers that starting over is more difficult than expected. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: New Zealand
• Cleaning Work — With little money, Kye-na takes cleaning work to support herself. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: New Zealand workplace
• English Class Struggles — Kye-na studies English while struggling to balance classes and long shifts. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: English classroom
• Meeting Park Jae-in — Kye-na meets fellow student Park Jae-in and begins growing close to him. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Park Jae-in Location: English classroom

Closeness and Wounded Pride

Kye-na grows close to Park Jae-in, but his family's gift card makes her feel pitied. Her angry reaction exposes the insecurity beneath her attempt at independence.

Key Events

• Meeting Park Jae-in — Kye-na meets fellow student Park Jae-in and begins growing close to him. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Park Jae-in Location: English classroom
• Family Gift Card — Jae-in's family offers Kye-na a gift card for necessities. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Park Jae-in Location: New Zealand
• Pity Misunderstood — Kye-na interprets the gift as pity and lashes out at Jae-in. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Park Jae-in Location: New Zealand
• Fear of Being Looked Down — Kye-na reveals how strongly she fears being treated as inferior. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Park Jae-in Location: New Zealand

A Fragile Sense of Progress

Kye-na receives reassurance from her father and continues working toward a new life. She completes her studies, celebrates with friends and restaurant staff, and considers permanent residency.

Key Events

• Father Gives Permission — Her father tells Kye-na to live as she chooses and not worry about her parents. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Kye-na's Father Location: Korea
• Completing Her Studies — Kye-na completes her studies after continuing work and English education. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: New Zealand
• Restaurant Graduation Celebration — Friends and restaurant staff celebrate Kye-na's graduation. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Restaurant
• Uncertain Happiness — Kye-na admits she is unsure whether New Zealand makes her happy. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Restaurant
• Residency Plans — Kye-na plans to find a job and apply for permanent residency. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: New Zealand

Disaster and an Open Horizon

An earthquake strikes Auckland, bringing tsunami warnings and evacuation orders. A later return to Korea leaves Kye-na's final settlement and next step deliberately unresolved.

Key Events

• Auckland Earthquake — A powerful earthquake strikes Auckland, followed by tsunami warnings and evacuation orders. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Auckland
• Unconnected Death Report — News reports say three people were found dead in a home, without linking them to Kye-na. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Auckland
• Return to Korea — Kye-na appears back in Korea as people ask about Park Kyung-yoon and her family asks her to bring lunch. Characters: Joo Kye-na, Park Kyung-yoon, Kye-na's Father Location: Korea
• Open-Ended Next Step — The ending leaves Kye-na's future home and next decision unresolved. Characters: Joo Kye-na Location: Korea

Story Breakdown

• Korean Discontent — Kye-na's exhausting routine and lack of direction create the emotional foundation for her departure.
  • Office Exhaustion — She feels adrift after years of exhausting commutes and an office job with no visible future.
  • Desire for Escape — She describes herself as having no particular advantage and says that she hates Korea.
• Airport Separation — Kye-na closes her previous romantic life before committing to an uncertain future abroad.
  • Formal Breakup — She ends her relationship with Song Ji-myoung at the airport.
  • Boarding the Plane — Despite Ji-myoung's concern, she boards the plane for New Zealand.
• New Zealand Hardship — The promised fresh start becomes a demanding struggle for money, language skills, and stability.
  • Cleaning Shifts — Kye-na takes cleaning work because she has little money.
  • English Studies — She studies English while trying to endure long work shifts.
• Jae-in Connection — Kye-na forms a close relationship with Park Jae-in while adapting to her new environment.
  • Fellow Student — They meet through English study and gradually grow close.
  • Emotional Vulnerability — Their connection becomes strained when Kye-na reacts defensively to help from his family.
• Pride and Pity — The gift card confrontation reveals Kye-na's fear that independence can be mistaken for weakness.
  • Gift Card Offered — Jae-in's family gives Kye-na a gift card to help with necessities.
  • Defensive Outburst — Kye-na interprets the gesture as pity and lashes out.
• Family Reassurance — Her father's words reduce the pressure Kye-na feels to remain responsible for her parents.
  • Father's Encouragement — Her father tells her to live as she chooses.
  • Permission to Continue — He tells her not to worry about him or her mother.
• Earned Progress — Kye-na achieves visible progress without becoming certain that New Zealand is her permanent home.
  • Study Completion — She completes her studies after balancing work and education.
  • Graduation Celebration — Friends and restaurant staff celebrate her graduation.
• Uncertain Belonging — Kye-na plans a future abroad, but disaster and a later return to Korea reopen the question of where she belongs.
  • Residency Ambition — She plans to find a job and apply for permanent residency.
  • Open Ending — After the Auckland earthquake and a later appearance in Korea, her next step remains unresolved.

Directed by

Jang Kun-jae

Key Cast

• Ko Asung — Joo Kye-na
• Kim Woo-kyum — Song Ji-myoung
• Joo Jong-hyuk — Park Jae-in
• Park Seung-hyun — Park Kyung-yoon
• Lee Sang-hee — Kye-na's Father