Next Sohee

An intrepid female detective sews together clues after a high school girl's death, only to realize the case runs deeper than a single tragedy. So-hee reaches out to students, teachers, and parents, peeling back layers of fear, secrecy, and competing loyalties that haunt the school and its wider circle. As she follows a tightening trail of witness testimonies and suspicious patterning, the investigation tests her instincts and the boundaries of authority. The film unfolds with a clinical, restrained tempo that heightens the pressure as new discoveries threaten reputations and livelihoods. It becomes less about punishment and more about accountability in a community that prefers silence. The score tightens the tension and the cold lighting mirrors the detective's mounting pressure.

Directed by July Jung and released in 2022, Next Sohee adapts a story by Kim So-ryeong. The Korean drama thriller stars Kim Si-eun as So-hee with Bae Doona among the cast, delivering precise character work and a tight, anxious atmosphere.

Box office figures show a worldwide gross of $1,350,266, reflecting a modest but steady release that found an audience among thriller and drama fans. It has drawn attention in several international markets where genre enthusiasts gravitated to its tense atmosphere.

Reception notes the film's restrained pacing and sharp focus on power and gender dynamics. Critics highlight its clean procedural approach, layered revelations, and the way it probes accountability in institutions, relationships, and what people endure to keep secrets. The approach is sparing with exposition, inviting viewers to piece together the connections themselves.

Cultural conversations around Next Sohee have centered on its portrayal of a determined female investigator and the costs of speaking out within a rigid social system. Some viewers see it as part of a broader trend in Korean thrillers that foreground female agency. Its atmosphere and moral questions linger after the credits.