An Affair is a 1998 South Korean romantic drama that remains a cornerstone of the country’s late-90s cinematic renaissance. Directed by E J-yong, the film explores the quiet, devastating erosion of social boundaries through a forbidden romance. For those searching for this title on platforms like LK21, it is essential to understand why this specific film continues to resonate decades after its release.
The narrative of An Affair centers on Seo-hyun (played by Lee Mi-sook), a 38-year-old housewife living a comfortable, predictable life in Seoul. Married to a successful architect and raising a young son, her existence is defined by routine and societal expectations.
Believe it or not, the Korean Film Archive (Korean Film Council) has uploaded many restored classics to YouTube on their channel. Search for "An Affair 1998 Korean Film Archive." You will find an official version with English/Indonesian subtitles.
In 1998, South Korea was still emerging from a deeply patriarchal society. Divorce was scandalous, and extramarital affairs were the stuff of hushed gossip, not art house cinema. An Affair dared to: an affair 1998 lk21
An Affair is not a feel-good movie. It is a study in loneliness. It asks us what we would risk to feel something real, and whether the price of that feeling is worth paying.
The story follows , a 38-year-old housewife living a comfortable but monotonous life with her successful architect husband and young son. Her routine is disrupted when she is asked by her younger sister, who is living in the U.S., to help her fiancé, Woo-in , find an apartment in Seoul before their upcoming wedding.
In the United States, you can watch the film for free via The Roku Channel . Key Information & Cast Specifications E J-yong (Lee Jae-yong) Release Date October 3, 1998 Runtime 108 minutes Main Cast Lee Mi-sook (Seo-hyun), Lee Jung-jae (Woo-in) Genre Erotic Drama, Romance Accolades An Affair is a 1998 South Korean romantic
Rather than focusing on sensationalism, the film is described as a meditation on the impermanence of love and the conflict between societal duty and personal desire.
: Seo-hyun (Lee Mi-sook) is a 38-year-old housewife living a comfortable, upper-class lifestyle in Seoul. She is married to a highly successful architect and has a loving 10-year-old son. Despite her material privilege, she suffers from a profound, unexpressed inner emptiness.
through mutual sympathy and the escape from a monotonous everyday life. Visual Style: The narrative of An Affair centers on Seo-hyun
The film was written by Kim Dae-woo and director E J-yong, produced by Oh Jeong-wan and Lee Se-ho, and featured cinematography by Kim Young-cheol. The music was composed by Jo Seong-woo. The minimalist direction and restrained visual style were widely praised. A Far East Film Festival review described it as "a simple, novelettish tale elevated by poised, almost minimalist direction," calling it an "arresting debut" that blends genre conventions. The style was often compared to the work of legendary filmmaker Douglas Sirk. The cinematography by Kim Yeong-cheol was lauded for its "immaculate, precision lensing," using sterile, antiseptic spaces to mirror the emotional barrenness of Seo-hyun's married life.
The story follows (played by Lee Mi-sook ), a woman in her late thirties whose life is defined by the comfortable but hollow routines of her upper-middle-class existence. She is married to a successful architect and has a ten-year-old son, but she feels an unspoken inner emptiness. Film Review: An Affair (1998) by Lee Jae-yong