Seong Chun-hyang 1961

On Dano Day in Namwon, Namwon magistrate Lee Do-ryeong, Kim Jin-kyu, visits the scenic Gwanghallu Pavilion and spots Chun-hyang, Choi Eun-hee, swinging. He orders his servant Bang-ja, Heo Chang-kang, to summon her, but Chun-hyang—the daughter of Wolmae Han Eun-jin, a former gisaeng and whose late father was a high-ranking official—refuses. Instead of following her mother’s profession, she devotes herself to reading, painting, and calligraphy, shaping a quiet, defiant identity.

That night, Lee visits Chun-hyang’s home and swears before Wolmae that he will take her as his wife. The two share a night of happiness as newlyweds, a small sanctuary of love before looming consequences. Soon after, Lee must depart Namwon to accompany his father, who has been reassigned to a new post in Hanyang. Chun-hyang yearns to join him, but Lee leaves alone after receiving a harsh rebuke from his father for visiting a gisaeng house. He promises to return.

In Lee’s absence, Byun Hak-do, Lee Ye-chun, is appointed as the new magistrate. Captivated by Chun-hyang’s beauty, he orders her to come to him. She refuses, declaring that though she is the daughter of a gisaeng, she will not dishonor herself. Enraged, Byun has her imprisoned, where she endures severe hardships.

Meanwhile, Lee passes the civil service examination with the highest score and is secretly appointed as a royal inspector. Disguised as a beggar, he returns to Namwon and secretly meets Wolmae. When he encounters Chun-hyang in prison, she remains steadfast, even urging Wolmae and her maid Hyang-dan, Do Kum-bong, to show him kindness despite her own suffering.

At Byun Hak-do’s birthday celebration, Chun-hyang is brought out to be executed for her continued defiance. At the last moment, Lee reveals himself as the secret royal inspector. He exposes Byun’s corruption, orders his dismissal, and rescues Chun-hyang, reuniting with her in triumph.