Sex Is Zero 2002

The plot centers on college student Eun-shik Im Chang-jung and his earnest, often awkward, efforts to win over his junior, Eun-hyo Ha Ji-won. After completing a mandatory two-year military service, he transfers to the National University with plans to study Law. He shares a cramped dorm with three roommates who are typical incoming freshmen, adding a sense of bustling campus life to his already self-conscious journey. Right from their first encounter, Eun-hyo’s presence shakes up his world, even as his own nerves tend to get the better of him. The movie follows how a series of clumsy, well-meaning gestures gradually pull them into a web of feelings neither fully understands at first.

Eun-hyo, an aspiring national aerobic athlete, first notices the quirky, sometimes lingeringly awkward attention from Eun-shik in the college canteen. He stares, almost absentmindedly, at her tightly clasped thighs visible under a short skirt, and she responds with a provocative, taunting display that catches him off guard. This awkward dynamic becomes the spark for a pattern of unintended closeness and misread signals, as they navigate the line between admiration and irritation in crowded halls and late-night conversations. Despite her initial sympathy for his one-sided crush, Eun-hyo ultimately becomes involved with another widely admired student, Sang-ok, who embodies a flashy confidence that appeals to her in the moment.

Sang-ok’s behavior complicates everything: he spends a night with Eun-hyo and leaves her with an unplanned pregnancy. True to his spoiled upbringing, he offers money to terminate the pregnancy and shows little remorse or responsibility. Shocked and insulted by his attitude, Eun-hyo feels betrayed and decides to take control of the situation, opting to pursue the abortion. Struggling with fear and uncertainty, she seeks support for what’s a deeply personal and painful choice, but the clinic’s request for someone to accompany her highlights how isolating the moment feels. Desperate for companionship, she turns to Eun-shik, who initially misreads the situation as a date but, moved by her vulnerability, chooses to stand by her side through the procedure and the long recovery that follows.

In the days after the abortion, Eun-shik becomes a steady presence: he cooks meals, tends to her post-operative fever, and offers quiet companionship as she processes the breakup with Sang-ok. He also helps her cope with the emotional aftermath, even as she wrestles with the sense of loss and confusion that accompanies such a life-altering sequence. The national aerobic competition looms large, and Eun-hyo fights through the exhaustion and heartbreak to step onto the stage with determination, delivering a performance that is both technically proficient and emotionally charged. The moment underscores her resolve to pursue excellence even amid personal pain, and it marks a turning point in how both characters confront their feelings.

After the performance, the fallout hits hard. Eun-hyo retreats to a restroom, where she cries and experiences a physical reminder of her abortion. Eun-shik discovers her missing and acts quickly, rushing her to the hospital to ensure she receives care. Consumed by a mix of anger and protective instinct, he locates Sang-ok in a post-competition celebration and confronts him with the truth of Eun-hyo’s tragedy, ending the confrontation with a punch that signals how deeply the events have affected him. The film closes on a tentative note: Eun-hyo is discharged from the hospital, and she asks whether Eun-shik’s feelings for her remain, leaving their future open to interpretation but rooted in the bond that formed through hardship, care, and the messy complexities of love.