Penny Pincher! 2016

Chun Ji-woong is an unemployed college graduate who keeps bombing job interviews and lives largely on his mother’s small-country restaurant income. Despite his unflagging optimism, money problems cramp his dating life to the point where he can’t even afford a pack of condoms. He dwells in a tiny, shabby apartment in a low-income neighborhood and—on the brink of eviction—faces a harsh turn when his mother suddenly cuts off support and he can’t cover the rent.

Across the hall, Gu Hong-sil lives a starkly different life. She is extremely frugal, turning savings into a daily mission: she collects recyclables, rummages through abandoned homes, and even steals sugar from coffee shops. She is willing to walk long distances to shave costs and refuses to engage in activities she deems wasteful, including church, hospital visits, and even dating. Romance, for her, is a luxury and not a priority.

The spark between them comes when Hong-sil learns she needs a separate bank account under someone else’s name to reach her lofty goal of ₩200 million (about US$200,000). It’s a hurdle she won’t clear alone, so she proposes a bold, two-month plan: she will teach Ji-woong the art of penny-pinching and invite him to join a short-term moneymaking scheme if he follows every rule she gives him for the next sixty days.

As their plan unfolds, the two unlikely partners confront their own habits and priorities. Ji-woong’s hope and goodwill meet Hong-sil’s ironclad thrift, creating a dynamic where every penny saved or spent becomes a test of trust, practicality, and endurance. Their days become a careful balancing act of budgeting, risky choices, and the tension between securing a comfortable future and maintaining personal autonomy.

Throughout the journey, the story stays grounded in everyday realities—the pressures of rent, the pull of family expectations, and the constant calculation of whether a small sacrifice today can translate into a larger reward tomorrow. The contrast between Ji-woong’s optimistic persistence and Hong-sil’s relentless frugality drives the narrative, painting a nuanced portrait of two people who must decide how far they are willing to go for money, security, and a chance at change.