What Is Introduction About?
The premise of Introduction in 279 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet hum of everyday routines, Youngho feels a restless pull toward deeper connections. A modest visit to his father in Seoul becomes a catalyst, prompting a spontaneous trip to Berlin where his girlfriend awaits. The film opens with the delicate choreography of farewells and waiting rooms, hinting at the fragile bridges between duty, ambition, and longing. The city’s cool, measured streets mirror his internal search for intimacy, while the lingering presence of a celebrated actor he briefly meets suggests that unexpected mentorship can stir hidden aspirations.
Berlin itself is painted as a canvas of soft shadows and fleeting moments, a place where strangers become temporary allies. There, Juwon, a fashion‑studying student, navigates the metropolis alongside her mother, finding refuge in the loft of an old family friend who is an artist. Their interactions are laced with quiet generosity, underscoring how shared spaces can nurture unspoken bonds. The subtle interplay between the creative world of art and the practical concerns of study adds layers to the film’s atmosphere, inviting viewers to sense the unvoiced conversations that shape each character’s path.
The tone remains tender and introspective, focusing on the power of silence as much as on spoken words. Through lingering glances at seaside cafés and hushed exchanges in cramped apartments, the story explores how love, family, and personal ambition intersect in ordinary moments. Every scene feels like a whispered invitation to contemplate the spaces between people, where a simple gesture can resonate far beyond its brief appearance. As Youngho continues his journey, the film gently posits that the most profound discoveries often arise not from grand events, but from the quiet, lingering connections we allow ourselves to nurture.
What Happens in Introduction?
The complete story of Introduction, from the first scene to the last, in 289 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Youngho Shin Seokho sees off his girlfriend in the opening moments, then enters the waiting room of a traditional Korean doctor’s office where a famous actor Ju-bong Gi has dropped by unexpectedly. In a quiet exchange with the nurse Ji-won Ye, we learn that Youngho is there to see his father not for an appointment but to fulfill a personal request, hinting at a hidden history that ties the characters together.
Two years later, in Berlin, Juwon Mi-so Park is a student who travels with her mother Yunhee Cho to study fashion. There, she meets an artist Min-hee Kim, an old friend of her mother, who offers to put Juwon up at her apartment while she searches for her own place. Juwon then leaves them to surprise her boyfriend Youngho, who hopes to secure money from his father to study in Germany with her, signaling the start of a new chapter across borders.
Two years on, back in Korea, Youngho travels to a seaside restaurant with a friend at his mother’s request to meet the famous actor [Ju-bong Gi], a friend of his mother. This actor was also acquainted with Youngho’s now estranged doctor father [Young-ho Kim], a connection recalled from the opening clinic scenes where the actor had temporarily interrupted Youngho’s planned meeting with his father and, in a sense, helped ignite Youngho’s own wish to become an actor. The dinner is interrupted by a heated dispute over Youngho’s choice to leave acting, underscoring the tensions between family expectations and personal ambition. On the beach, Youngho experiences an imagined encounter with Juwon before waking in the car and heading into the water for a swim, leaving the story open to memory, dream, and the pull of both paths.
Introduction Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Youngho says goodbye to his girlfriend” to “Youngho goes for a swim at the seaside”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Youngho says goodbye to his girlfriend
Youngho parts from his girlfriend in a quiet moment that begins in the waiting area. The scene unfolds in a traditional Korean doctor’s office, setting an intimate tone before any revelation about his family. A famous actor, Ki Joobong, drops by, hinting at film-world connections that thread through his life.
When:Opening scene Where:Traditional Korean doctor's office waiting room
- 2
Nurse fills in Youngho's true purpose
In conversation with the nurse Ye Ji-won, it’s revealed that Youngho is there to see his father by his own request, not for an ordinary appointment. The doctor’s staff sense the tension of a son seeking reconciliation while a larger family saga circulates in the background. The moment foreshadows the fragile ties that shape his future.
When:Opening Where:Doctor's office/waiting room
- 3
Actor Ki Joobong's visit postpones the meeting
Ki Joobong’s unexpected drop-in interrupts the planned meeting with Youngho’s father, delaying their connection. The encounter reveals a bridge between medicine, fame, and family that informs Youngho’s path. The actor’s presence seeds Youngho’s own interest in acting.
When:Opening Where:Doctor's office/waiting room
- 4
Juwon travels to Berlin with her mother
In Section 2, Juwon arrives in Berlin with her mother to study fashion. The move plunges her into a foreign city’s artistic circles. Her mother's connections begin to pull Juwon toward new possibilities as she starts to find her footing.
When:Section 2 Where:Berlin, Germany
- 5
Juwon is hosted by an artist friend of her mother
Juwon meets an artist who is an old friend of her mother and who offers to put her up at her apartment until she finds her own place. The artist, played by Kim Minhee, becomes a mentor and a shelter in Berlin. This arrangement introduces new confidants and opportunities into Juwon's journey.
When:Section 2 Where:Berlin – artist's apartment
- 6
Juwon plans a surprise visit to Youngho
Juwon leaves the artist’s place to meet Youngho, who hopes to borrow money from his father to study in Germany with her. The moment underscored unresolved family finances and shared dreams of advancing abroad. Their meeting links Juwon’s path to Youngho’s ambitions in a way the film will later reflect.
When:Section 2 Where:Berlin
- 7
Two years later: Youngho seeks the actor in Korea
Back in Korea, two years have passed and Youngho travels to a seaside restaurant with a friend at his mother’s request to meet Ki Joobong, a famous actor. The actor is a friend of his mother and recalls a past relationship with Youngho’s estranged father. The dinner becomes a crossroads for tangled histories and future choices.
When:Two years later Where:Seaside restaurant, Korea
- 8
The actor recalls his connection to Youngho's father
During the meal, the old actor remembers knowing Youngho’s father and the earlier visit that postponed their meeting. The memory deepens the sense of a hidden past that continues to shape Youngho’s life choices. The revelation foreshadows how acting connects generations in the story.
When:During dinner Where:Seaside restaurant
- 9
Dispute over leaving acting interrupts the dinner
The conversation about Youngho’s future escalates into a dispute over his decision to leave acting. Family pride, artistic ambition, and unresolved ties collide in the moment. The argument strains the relationships and adds tension to the evening.
When:During dinner Where:Seaside restaurant
- 10
Youngho has an imagined encounter with Juwon on the beach
On the beach, Youngho experiences an imagined encounter with Juwon that blurs memory and desire. The moment feels like a possible alternate path as memories and wishes collide in the salt air. The scene shifts between dream and reality, signaling a shift in his inner life.
When:After dinner Where:Beach
- 11
Youngho wakes in the car
The imagined moment ends when Youngho wakes up in the car, unsettled by what he has felt. The abrupt shift pulls him from fantasy back to present concerns and decisions. He then heads toward the water, choosing to swim as a way to process what he has experienced.
When:Immediately after beach scene Where:Car
- 12
Youngho goes for a swim at the seaside
With the memory of the encounter lingering, Youngho goes for a swim in the sea. The act offers a moment of release and hints at a new direction in his life. The sequence closes this chapter of the story, leaving questions about his future and his father’s place in it.
When:Post awakening Where:Seaside
Who Are the Main Characters in Introduction?
7 characters, among them Young-ho (Seok-ho Shin), Ju-won (Mi-so Park) and Old Actor (Ju-bong Gi): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- Y(
Young-ho (Seok-ho Shin)
Played by Seok-ho Shin
A young man driven by the prospect of acting and a complex family history. He travels to Berlin seeking his father’s presence and a sense of belonging, while balancing his artistic dreams with the weight of legacy.
- 🎭 Family
- 🧭 Ambition
- 🌀 Estrangement
- J(
Ju-won (Mi-so Park)
Played by Mi-so Park
A fashion student visiting Berlin with her mother who bonds with a local artist. She hopes to study in Germany and considers ways to secure the means to do so, testing loyalty and independence.
- 🎓 Student
- ✈️ Culture
- 💔 Longing
-
Old Actor (Ju-bong Gi)
Played by Ju-bong Gi
A famous actor connected to Young-ho’s family who acts as a bridge between past and present. His presence stirs memories, questions of mentorship, and the responsibilities that come with fame.
- 🎬 Fame
- 🎭 Mentor
- 🕰️ Memory
- N(
Nurse (Ji-won Ye)
Played by Ji-won Ye
A nurse encountered in the doctor’s waiting room who offers calm, practical support and hints at the tension surrounding the family’s medical and social dynamics.
- 🏥 Care
- 💊 Professional
- ⏳ Waiting
- JM
Ju-won’s Mother (Yunhee Cho)
Played by Yunhee Cho
Ju-won’s mother, who navigates life between Korea and abroad and relies on friends from her past to help her daughter adapt to Berlin and pursue opportunities.
- 👩 Mother
- 🌐 Cross-cultural
- 🤝 Network
-
Artist (Min-hee Kim)
Played by Min-hee Kim
An artist who befriends Ju-won’s mother and offers Ju-won a place to stay in Berlin. She embodies creativity and the tension between hospitality and independence.
- 🎨 Creator
- 🤝 Friendship
- 🗺️ Hospitality
- F(
Father (Young-ho Kim)
Played by Young-ho Kim
The doctor father whose estrangement from Young-ho sets the emotional backdrop. His past choices and professional distance color Young-ho’s path and longing for reconciliation.
- 👨 Father
- 🕊️ Distance
- 🧪 Authority
Where and When Is Introduction Set?
Introduction is set in Korea and Berlin. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Korea, Berlin
The film shifts between a traditional Korean medical waiting room and the cosmopolitan streets of Berlin. Korea anchors the story in family ties and cultural expectations, while Berlin highlights artistic aspiration and cross-cultural encounters. A seaside restaurant back in Korea provides a reflective, intimate space that punctuates the emotional arc.
- 🌍 Diverse settings
- 🏙️ Urban contrasts
What Are the Themes of Introduction?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Ambition and Fame, Cross-Cultural and Memory and Illusion.
-
01
Ambition and Fame
A central thread follows how characters pursue acting and recognition. The arrival of the famous actor stirs Young-ho toward an acting path and tests familial approval, sacrifice, and the costs of success. The film examines how ambition can reshape relationships while offering a sense of belonging through artistry.
-
02
Cross-Cultural
Berlin becomes a stage for cultural exchange and the pull between homeland roots and new opportunities. Ju-won’s stay with her mother’s artist friend shows how diaspora connections shape identity and choice. Travel and foreign spaces test loyalties, adaptability, and personal growth.
-
03
Memory and Illusion
Imagined encounters and memories blur with present events, especially on the beach scene that rekindles old ties. Characters wrestle with what is real versus what is remembered, shaping decisions about love, art, and family. The ocean setting reinforces introspection and the fragile boundary between dream and reality.
What Kind of Film Is Introduction?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A quietly melancholic and contemplative drama that unfolds at a gentle pace, exploring the subtle emotional connections and tensions within a family across continents.
- contemplative
- tender
- dreamlike
- quiet
- introspective
- nostalgic
- family dynamics
- cross-cultural relationships
- personal ambition
- memory and dreams
Quiz
How well do you remember Introduction? Test yourself on the story.
