1. After watching ‘The Chaser’
I saw the movie ‘The Chaser’ when it was released. That time I was a middle school
students so the impression about the movie was just horrible. After watching it twice, I could
see other factors and techniques used in the movie and also a few of flaws. ‘The Chaser’ is a
kind of thriller movie. ‘The chaser’ shows the characteristic and attraction of a basic thriller
which is difficult to represent in the Korean movie market. Many thrillers in the Korean
movie market have failed in the last 30 minutes because the end of an incident is improbable
or a plot stresses too much in reversal so that other subplots are disregarded. In this sense,
‘The Chaser’ has many interesting factors which make this movie more attractive.
The director of the movie, Na Hong Jin, was not famous until ‘The Chaser’ has
released. ‘The Chaser’ is the first full-length film in his career. Despite a lack of experience,
he is acknowledged for his good production ability through this movie. His great potential is
revealed in every scene. He avoids displaying the murder scene plainly by cutting to the
close-up of the murderer’s face or inserting proper background sound. However, without any
cruel scenes, he leads audiences to feel fear even after the film finishes.
The main actor, Kim Yoon Suk also contributes to the completeness of this movie.
He always had a supporting role before this movie. In this movie, as a former detective, he
moderates his emotions. At first, he doesn’t have any guilt or sense of justice. He just follows
what he wants; money. He doesn’t think Ha Jung Woo is the killer. But when he sees nephew
of Ha Jung woo, he perceives intuitively a strong chance of Seo Young Hee’s death, who is
forced to go to work by him. Seeing Ha Jung Woo’s nephew gives chaser Kim, an important
motivational factor. It makes him both feeling guilty to Seo Young Hee and her daughter.
Although ‘The Chaser’ is loved by many Korean audiences including those who do
not enjoy thrillers, it has a shortage of logicality. The supermarket scene is so impressive that
this part becomes a talking point by many people. Some says it’s so far from the reality and
has many contradicting points; why does supermarket owner call 112 not 119, why does the
female detective who follows killer near the supermarket not question why the killer takes so
long to buy cigarettes. The owner of supermarket just wait sleeping police officers and give
an ax to the killer who seems reliable to her eyes. Instead, she can call 119 for instant help.
Be that as it may, the female officer does not catch the killer’s act which may take substantial
amount of time. Also, during those short hours, the killer covers up the traces of a crime. This
leads to the confrontation between only two, the chaser and the killer. I agree on this point,
but rather I believe these parts which seem unreal and illogical make the overall film’s plot
progression more intense. When the director creates unreasonable circumstances beyond the
character’s control, audiences’ empathy in characters can be maximized.
The implications this film gives to me changed when I saw it once and twice. I
focused on the character, Seo Young Hee. For whatever the reason or background, it is certain
that she is a prostitute raising one little daughter without a husband. In the scene which Seo
Young Hee’s daughter weeps sadly in Kim’s car after overhearing her mother’s in danger, it

2. seems that Seo Young Hee’s daughter also may follow her mother’s footsteps; being a
prostitute, being excluded in social concern. Her unfortunate childhood may be that of her
mother, the victim. Then who cares for the left child? The director Na Hong Jin’s sequel,
‘Hwang Hae(2010)’ also focuses on marginalized people, ethnic Koreans living in China. The
prostitutes and ethnic Koreans have much in common in that majority of people generally
don’t consider people who need social care. They are treated as if they are born just like that
and there is much to be said for their life. See Seo Young Hee’s daughter crying. There’s no
reason why the killer should murder her mother. It means Seo’s daughter also could be in
danger. This is why we have to embrace them in the protection of our society.