Portrait of a Beauty

"Sensational secret from the history gets revealed."

2008 1h 48m KO

😐

6.2

MID

⭐

6.3

IMDB

★6.2TMDB · 40★6.3IMDB · 1,292

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Yun-jeong, a skilled painter, disguises herself as a man in court to continue her family's legacy. Circumstances become difficult when her relationship with Kang-mu draws jealousy from the others.

“Sensational secret from the history gets revealed.”

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Cast

Kim Gyu-ri
Shin Yun-bok
Kim Young-ho
Kim Hong-do
Kim Nam-gil
Kang-mu
Choo Ja-hyun
Seol-hwa
Han Myung-goo
Jeong-jo
Park Ji-il
Sin Han-pyeong
Kwon Byung-gil
Kim Geo-sang
Choi Gyu-hwan
Artist Choi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jeon Yun-su
Writers: Han Su-ryeon, Jeon Yun-su
Languages: Korean
Countries: South Korea

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 18 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hwang Sang-jun. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Park Gok-ji shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Kim Gyu-ri and Kim Young-ho and Kim Nam-gil carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Sensational secret from the history gets revealed.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1330206 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 40 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jeon Yun-su directs. Hwang Sang-jun scores. Park Gok-ji cuts. Produced in South Korea. Dialogue in Korean.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 18 years ago.
2Original score by Hwang Sang-jun. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
3Editor Park Gok-ji shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Kim Gyu-ri and Kim Young-ho and Kim Nam-gil carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "Sensational secret from the history gets revealed.".
6IMDB entry: tt1330206 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 40 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Original score: Hwang Sang-jun
Editing: Park Gok-ji
Production design: Lee Ha-jun
Costume design: 이유숙
Runtime: 108 min · 1h 48m
Status: Released
Original language: KO
Certification (US): 19
IMDB: Portrait of a Beauty (2008)
IMDB rating: 6.3/10 · 1,292 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

2 wins & 10 nominations total

Also by

Jeon Yun-su

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Alunauwie2025-09-29
★ 8/10
Portrait of a Beauty, adapted from Jung Myeong Kee’s novel The Painter of the Wind, offers a compelling tale about Yun Jeong, a female painter who disguises herself as a man in the rigid art world of 18th-century Korea. Through sensual and symbolic artworks, she explores her identity and the hidden truths behind beauty, all portrayed with aesthetic direction, strong character arcs, and emotionally resonant performances. While the film is visually and narratively rich, its frequent explicit scenes may not suit all audiences. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)

Production companies