Released on November 13, 2008, Portrait of a Beauty quickly captured the attention of both domestic and international audiences, selling over 2.3 million theater tickets in South Korea. Jeon Yun-su Based On Painter of the Wind by Lee Jung-myung Starring
The x new in the filename suggests a re-encoding, a second-generation reproduction. This mirrors the film’s plot: Yoon-jeong eventually paints her own masterpiece—a self-portrait as a liberated woman. But even that is a reproduction of her stolen identity. In the digital age, her rebellion is futile. Her self-portrait can be ripped, torrented, and turned into a wallpaper. The beauty is no longer a person or even a painting; it is data.
Due to strict patriarchal norms, women were not allowed to be court painters. Following her brother’s suicide, Yun-bok assumes his identity, dressing as a man to carry on the family legacy.
This film is a significant entry in modern Korean period cinema. For those interested in viewing it, checking major international streaming platforms or local digital libraries that specialize in Asian cinema is recommended.
Watching a high-definition radically alters the viewing experience in several ways:
Released in South Korean theaters on , the film was distributed by CJ Entertainment and had a runtime of 108 minutes . It was a major box office success, ranking as the 8th most attended domestic film of 2008 with 2,364,482 tickets sold. It achieved a box office gross of US$11,848,017. The film is rated 19+ in South Korea, acknowledging its mature thematic content.