Sex Is Zero

Not only famous for tear-jerking romantic dramas, since the 2000s, South Korean cinema has been gradually developing the 18+ genre, and the grand opening could not have been more impressive with the “Sex Is Zero” series, starting with its first part released in 2002.

Sex Is Zero 2002 directed by the renowned filmmaker and producer JK Youn. The film quickly became a phenomenon across Asia, grossing up to $24 million – an unexpected figure for an 18+ movie at the time. The difference with “Sex Is Zero 1” lies in its extremely creative humor, interspersed with bold and daring scenes that satisfy the viewers.

In Sex Is Zero 1, Jang Eun-Sik (played by Im Chang-Jung), 28 years old, is a freshman university student. He is also a member of the school’s Chayon Ryu club – a martial art where members endure painful endurance training. Jang Eun-Sik falls in love with the beautiful university student Eun-Hyo (played by Ha Ji-Won), although she doesn’t return his feelings. Meanwhile, Eun-Hyo falls for the rich playboy Ham Sung-Ok (played by Jung Min), who seems interested in Eun-Hyo despite already dating the famous Kim Ji-Won (played by Jin Jae-Young). Not long after, Eun-Hyo becomes pregnant with Sung-Ok’s child, but when she tells him about the pregnancy, the rich playboy quickly disappears, giving her money to “take care” of the baby herself. Eun-Sik finally gets close to his dream girl by pretending to be the “father” of the baby when she goes to the hospital…

Despite playing the lead female role, Ha Ji-Won did not participate in any explicit scenes, maintaining her “pure” image, which she had already established before this time, and before she rose to become an A-list star in South Korean cinema.

• Sex Is Zero