Yeogo goedam (1998)

While investigating the school files, the frightened teacher Mrs. Park startles and calls the young teacher Eun-young Hur, telling her that the deceased Jin-ju Jang is back. The line dies ... See full summary »

Director:

Ki-hyeong Park

Writers:

Jung-Ok In, Ki-hyeong Park

Stars:

Kang-hee Choi, Gyu-ri Kim, Min-Jung Kim

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Kang-hee Choi	...	Yoon Jae-yi (as Se-yeon Choi)
Gyu-ri Kim	...	Lim Ji-oh
Min-Jung Kim
Roe-ha Kim	...	Math teacher
Yu-seok Kim	...	Art teacher
Mi-yeon Lee	...	Heo Eun-young
Yong-nyeo Lee	...	Park Gi-suk
Jin-hee Park	...	Park So-young
Yong-soo Park	...	Oh Kwang-gu
Yi Shin
Yeon-su Yu	...	P.E. Teacher
Ji-hye Yun	...	Kim Jung-sook

Storyline

While investigating the school files, the frightened teacher Mrs. Park startles and calls the young teacher Eun-young Hur, telling her that the deceased Jin-ju Jang is back. The line dies and Mrs. Park is attacked and killed by a ghost. On the next morning, the teenager Jae-yi Yoon waits for her friend Ji-oh Lim, who has the ability to call the spirits, and they begin a close friendship. The abusive and aggressive Mr. Oh, a.k.a. Mad Dog, is the substitute of Mrs. Park and prohibits Ji-oh to paint and compares the performances of the pretty So-young Park and the weird Jung-sook Kim, raising a barrier between the two former friends. Miss Hur misses her former friend Jin-ju, who committed suicide, and while trying to contact her, she discloses a dark secret about the past of her friend and Mrs. Park.

---

Plot Keywords:

friendship | teenager | school | ghost | death | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and some language

Details

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Release Date:

30 May 1998 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Whispering Corridors

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cine-2000 Film Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First installment of the "Whispering Corridors" film series. It was followed by four in-name-only sequels.

---

Connections

Followed by Memento Mori (1999)

User Reviews

Social Criticism as well as a Horror Film

'Whispering Corridors' is set in a South Korean all-girls high school, focusing on a senior class and four of its students. Although it's a horror film, Whispering Corridors seems to be a drama at heart. The school building is very atmospheric and eerie, and there's some spooky shots of long corridors and deserted classrooms. Along with that, we also explore the extremely competitive and harsh South Korean education system, identity and reputation, and the relationships between the four students and one teacher.

After the suicide of Mrs Park (or 'Old Fox' as she's known amongst the pupils), rumours begin circulating around the school about what caused her death. Girls fall out, and come together; there's a ghost who apparently haunts the old, disused art room, and people aren't who they first appear to be...

A thinking man's film indeed, this will have you scratching your head in some parts. Not a lot of blood, but some tense scenes of violence. A chilling atmosphere and setting endures throughout, the director certainly knows how to set a scene. He also gets the best of the cast, who are all exceptional. Mr Oh; aka Mad Dog, is a particular stand-out as a vile, abusive teacher. Altogether a very character and theme driven story, with interesting social commentary. If you like slow-burn, atmospheric, subtle horror, you'll like this.

P.S. There's an intriguing quote towards the end, where a character says "It didn't matter who I chose as long as I filled the seats." A comment on the emphasis upon status and reputation in the classroom, and thus, lack of identity? Or a jab at the thought that Asians look really similar? (At least to those from outside Asia.) Or both?