No Breathing 2013

Romance

Drama

Box Office

$2.9M

Runtime

118 mins

Language

Korean

Directed by

Cho Yong-sun

Made by

Soojak Film

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No Breathing Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for No Breathing (2013). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Won-il, Seo In-guk, was once a rising swimming prodigy who seemed destined to break records. The sudden deaths of his father during a grueling competition—where he specialized in a move known as “no breathing”—and his mother’s passing soon after push him away from the pool and into a life that feels empty and reckless. He drifts through days with little hope for tomorrow, and the threat of expulsion from school hangs over him as he searches for a reason to swim again.

To pull him back from the edge, his father’s longtime friend Jae-seok, Park Cheol-min, drags him to a physical education–focused high school, hoping the discipline of sport will rekindle his love for the water.

At this new school, Won-il re-encounters his long-standing rival Woo-sang, Lee Jong-suk, who in the past had always trailed behind him. Now a national swimming star after Won-il’s absence, Woo-sang faces a setback when he is disqualified from national tryouts for trouble, forcing him to start over at the same school.

With Woo-sang’s ascent halted, the two young men become direct competitors again, each bringing a distinct temperament to the pool. Woo-sang is single-minded about winning, while Won-il grapples with doubt about his own place in the sport and in life.

Into this tense mix steps Jung-eun, Kwon Yu-ri, the daughter of Jae-suk, who captures both swimmers’ attention and rekindles the spark of romance while complicating the rivalry.

The two begin training for an upcoming competition, pushing through setbacks and testing the limits of their friendship. As they chase a shared goal, their rivalry gradually yields to respect, and the journey becomes a true rite of passage that asks them to redefine what it means to grow up together.

No Breathing Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of No Breathing (2013) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Tragedy hits Won-il: his father dies during a no-breathing swimming competition

Won-il is a promising swimmer like his champion father. During his father's no-breathing specialty race, the father collapses and dies, shocking everyone. The loss marks the beginning of Won-il's troubled path.

During the competition Swimming arena

Mother's death adds to Won-il's grief

Soon after his father's death, Won-il's mother dies, leaving him without parents. The double tragedy compounds his sense of loss and isolation. He struggles to find something to hold onto.

Shortly after the father's death Home

Won-il quits swimming and spirals into recklessness

Devastated, he abandons swimming and loses direction. He drifts through life with reckless behavior, as if there is no tomorrow. Friends and teachers notice the downward turn but struggle to reach him.

City / home

Jae-suk pulls him to a reforming high school

Jae-suk, a longtime family friend, persuades Won-il to join a physical education–focused high school. The move is meant to rekindle his connection to sport and structure. Won-il leaves his old environment behind to start anew.

Physical education high school

Old rival Woo-sang reappears as a national star

At the new school, Won-il encounters Woo-sang, the rival who used to be overshadowed by him. Woo-sang has risen to national prominence, shifting the balance of their rivalry. The dynamic between them becomes charged with old memories and new pride.

Early in the new school year School / pool

Woo-sang is disqualified and must reset

Woo-sang gets into trouble and is disqualified from the national tryouts, forcing him to restart his career from the bottom. The setback levels the playing field with Won-il in the eyes of the spectators. He must rebuild his reputation from scratch.

Before the new school year National tryouts

Woo-sang ends up at the same phys-ed school

With the disqualification, Woo-sang returns to the same physical education high school as Won-il. This reunion intensifies their rivalry and forces them to confront their differences face-to-face. The campus becomes the battleground for their renewed competition.

After the disqualification Phys-ed high school

Jung-eun captivates both swimmers

Jae-suk's daughter Jung-eun enters the scene and captures the hearts of both Won-il and Woo-sang. Her presence adds a personal and emotional layer to the rivalry. The love interest begins to influence their motivations and choices.

Shortly after joining the school School / pool

Training for the upcoming competition begins

The two swimmers resume serious training for the upcoming competition. They push each other to improve while grappling with their complex feelings for Jung-eun. The gym and pool become the forge where their skills and characters are shaped.

Soon after Jung-eun's arrival Pool / training facilities

Rivalry deepens into a rite of passage

As they train, Won-il and Woo-sang confront personal flaws and learn to navigate growing up. The rivalry becomes a rite of passage that tests loyalty, ambition, and friendship. They begin to see beyond winning and toward mutual respect.

During training Training grounds

Approach to the big meet

With the competition approaching, both athletes prepare for a high-stakes race. The tension between them heightens as expectations rise and nerves set in. The focus shifts to performance, strategy, and the evolving bond among the trio.

Before the meet Competition venue

Climax: the race and emotional stakes

The pool becomes the arena where performance, friendship, and romance collide. Won-il and Woo-sang converge on the same line, pushing their limits and confronting what truly matters. The outcome tests their growth and the strength of their connections.

During the big race Swimming arena

No Breathing Characters

Explore all characters from No Breathing (2013). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Jo Won-il (Seo In-guk)

Haunted by his father's death during a high-stakes race and the subsequent loss of his mother, Won-il withdraws from life and from swimming. He masks his pain with recklessness, yet carries a stubborn determination to return to the sport that defined him. His re-emergence at the physical education high school sets the stage for growth and renewal.

💔 Grief 🏊 Athlete 🎯 Determination

Woo-sang (Lee Jong-suk)

Once overshadowed by Won-il, Woo-sang ascends to national prominence but falls from grace after a disqualification. He is fiercely competitive and proud, yet he must restart at the same school and confront his limits. His return challenges both his rival and his own ambitions.

🏊 Athlete 🔥 Ambition 🎯 Focus

Jae-seok (Park Cheol-min)

A longtime friend of Won-il's father, Jae-seok is the person who drags Won-il to the physical education school, hoping to rekindle his athletic spark. He acts as a practical mentor and steadying influence when optimism wanes. His guidance links past loyalties to present ambitions.

👨‍🏫 Mentor 🧭 Guidance 🤝 Support

Jung-eun (Kwon Yu-ri)

Jung-eun is Jae-seok's daughter who captures both Won-il and Woo-sang's hearts, reigniting their competitive fire and complicating their relationships. She embodies a bridge between rival worlds and adds emotional stakes to the pursuit of athletic dreams. Her presence motivates the swimmers to re-evaluate priorities.

❤️ Love 🎯 Motivation 💬 Connection

No Breathing Settings

Learn where and when No Breathing (2013) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Early 2010s

Placing the drama in contemporary South Korea, the story follows teen athletes balancing school, training, and personal loss. Modern coaching methods, media attention, and national tryouts frame the characters’ days. It captures the pressures and hopes of youth sports during this era.

Location

South Korea

Set in South Korea, the action centers on a physical education–focused high school and its competitive swimming program. The pool, gym, and school corridors become the arena where young athletes chase national recognition. The setting emphasizes athletic pressure, camaraderie, and the rite of passage of growing up through sport.

🏫 School 🏊 Swimming 🌊 Sports culture

No Breathing Themes

Discover the main themes in No Breathing (2013). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

⚔️

Rivalry

Rivalry drives the central conflict between Won-il and Woo-sang, shaping their choices and self-image. The film shows how competition exposes pride, fear, and the cost of chasing perfection. It tests friendships and ignites determination to improve. Yet rivalry also pushes each to grow beyond their limits.

💧

Loss

Won-il's father's death during his swimming career, followed by his mother's passing, leaves a deep scar. The story follows his struggle to cope with grief and to find meaning in the pool again. Swimming becomes both a route to healing and a reminder of past wounds.

🤝

Friendship

Friendship and mentorship shape the athletes' journeys as they train side by side. Shared goals and mutual support pull them toward teamwork despite rivalry. The dynamic reveals how trust and loyalty aid in overcoming obstacles.

❤️

Love

Jung-eun’s presence rekindles romantic interest and adds emotional stakes to the competition. Her influence motivates both Won-il and Woo-sang to push harder. The romance also explores vulnerability and the desire for belonging.

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No Breathing Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of No Breathing (2013). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a world where the clang of lane lines and the echo of splashing water set the rhythm of daily life, a specialized high‑school program turns sport into a crucible for ambition and identity. The pool becomes a stage where quiet confidence and hidden turmoil surface, and the looming competition offers a chance for redemption, rivalry, and the possibility of something tender to blossom amid the relentless push for excellence.

Won‑il carries the ghost of a once‑bright future; his name once sparked whispers of record‑breaking feats, and a signature move known as “no breathing” made him a prodigy. Tragedy has pulled him away from the water, leaving him adrift in a life that feels both reckless and empty, while the shadow of impending expulsion hovers over his uncertain path. A well‑meaning mentor, a loyal family friend, steps in, steering him toward a physical‑education‑focused academy where the discipline of sport might rekindle his dormant passion.

Across the same lanes, Woo‑sang reappears. Formerly the runner‑up to Won‑il, he has risen to national stardom during his rival’s absence, only to face an abrupt setback that forces him back into the same school environment. Their clash of temperaments—Woo‑sang’s single‑minded drive versus Won‑il’s hesitant yearning—fuels a rivalry that crackles with both tension and unspoken respect. Adding another layer, Jung‑eun, the mentor’s daughter, enters the mix, her presence sparking a subtle undercurrent of attraction that complicates the competitive dynamic.

Together, these young swimmers begin the demanding preparation for an upcoming contest, each stroke testing the limits of their friendship, ambition, and burgeoning feelings. The pool becomes more than a venue for medals; it is a rite of passage where they must confront the weight of past expectations, navigate the currents of rivalry, and learn what it truly means to grow together—both in and out of the water.