Scarlet Innocence

Professor Hak-kyu is a respected academic whose sight is failing, and when he meets a mysterious younger woman he becomes consumed by an obsessive romance that spirals into danger. The woman, known as Deok-ee and later Se-jung, arrives under uncertain circumstances; she shifts between charm and menace, pulling Hak-kyu into a relationship marked by desire, betrayal and power imbalance. As their affair intensifies, past grievances and secrets surface, changing how each character acts and who holds control. This contemporary take on a classic Korean fairy tale turns the gentle story into something darker and more adult, focusing on desire's costs without revealing the story's final turns. His failing vision erodes his confidence and heightens story's tension between trust and suspicion.

Scarlet Innocence was released in 2014, directed by Yim Pil-sung and written by Jang Yoon-mi, adapting a traditional Korean tale. Jung Woo-sung and Esom lead the cast in the central roles. Premiering in South Korea, it screened at select festivals.

The film had a primarily domestic release and drew modest box office attention, gaining a following among genre fans but not achieving major commercial success internationally. It appealed mainly to arthouse and thriller audiences, with steady home-market returns as well.

By reworking the Chunhyang legend into a darker, erotic thriller, Scarlet Innocence prompted discussion about gender roles, obsession and morality in modern Korean cinema. It's cited for mood and imagery, especially among Korean thriller fans.

Critics were split, reflected in a 6.1/10 user vote average from 67 votes; reviewers praised Jung Woo-sung and Esom for risky performances and the film's moody atmosphere, while others found its plot choices and tonal shifts uneven. Themes include obsession, loss of control and the corrosive side of desire today.