Brave Citizen

Once a celebrated boxing champion who was expelled from the sport, So Si-min has reinvented herself as a high school teacher and keeps a deliberately quiet life. When she witnesses escalating violence against students and community members that authorities shrug off, she throws her first punch to stop it. To protect her identity she dons a mask and starts taking direct action outside school hours. The story follows her efforts to shield vulnerable people while juggling lesson plans, parent meetings and the expectations of colleagues. As she moves between the ordinary rhythms of school life and risky acts of retaliation, the film raises questions about justice, ethical limits and the personal cost of standing up.

Brave Citizen premiered in 2023, directed by Park Jin-pyo. The screenplay and series concept come from Yeoh Gee-na, Hyeon Choong-yeol and Kim Jung-hyun. The production emphasizes practical stunts and a grounded urban setting, highlighting genre mixing in contemporary Korean cinema.

Box office figures for Brave Citizen are not widely reported. The film had a mainly domestic release in South Korea and a limited overseas run. It found additional viewers through streaming and festival screenings rather than blockbuster theatrical returns.

The image of a masked teacher stepping into the role of protector resonated with viewers online, prompting discussion about vigilantism, school safety and civic responsibility. Shin Hye-sun's performance inspired social media conversation and fan tributes, and certain action sequences became shareable clips among fans of genre-blending Korean films.

Audience ratings average 7.481 out of 10 from 107 votes, showing generally positive viewer reaction. Reviewers and audiences noted how the film balances humor with moral tension, focusing on themes of justice, institutional failure and personal responsibility, while relying on a solid central performance to carry tonal shifts.