A Tale of Legendary Libido

A Tale of Legendary Libido

Year: 2008

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: Korean

Director: Shin Han-sol

FantasyComedyDrama

A monk entrusts an impaired man with a secret technique for achieving intense arousal. The man has endured relentless teasing and torture, leaving him desperate for relief. When a traveling stranger learns of his plight, he steps in to help, uncovering the true purpose of the mysterious object involved.

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Timeline & Setting – A Tale of Legendary Libido (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Tale of Legendary Libido (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Joseon Dynasty

The narrative is anchored in a feudal, agrarian Joseon-era world where war drafts and village life mold the characters. Social hierarchies and folk beliefs shape everyday decisions and rituals. The period’s blend of superstition and tradition provides the backdrop for the film’s satirical take on desire and power.

Location

Joseon Dynasty Korea, remote mountainous village

The story unfolds in a secluded, mountainous village during the Joseon era. Daily life centers on agrarian routines, local customs, and a rigid social order under rural governance. The setting’s forests, farms, and traditional shrines amplify the magical and chaotic events sparked by desire and superstition.

🏔️ Mountainous 🏯 Historical 🌲 Rural

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:17

Main Characters – A Tale of Legendary Libido (2008)

Meet the key characters of A Tale of Legendary Libido (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Byeon Gang-soe (Bong Tae-gyu)

A meek rice cake seller whose life is upended when a forest potion dramatically increases his libido. He grapples with guilt as villagers and Dal-gaeng become entangled in his escalating desires. His actions unleash a cascade of romantic complications and social uproar that drive the plot.

🔥 Libido 🗣️ Gossip 🌀 Transformation

Old Woman (Youn Yuh-jung)

A lonely widow who prays to a Jangseung totem for companionship. The totem grants her magical powers related to sexual pleasure, setting up a satirical exploration of longing and folklore. Her subplot frames the film’s critique of desire and superstition.

🗿 Superstition ✨ Wish fulfillment 👵 Aging

Kang-mok (Oh Dal-su)

The elder brother who is drafted into war, leaving his wife Dal-gaeng lonely at home. His return reveals a tense family dynamic and complicated loyalties, adding depth to the brothers’ relationship and the village’s drama.

⚔️ War 🧭 Duty 🧍 Family

Dal-gaeng (Kim Ye-won)

Wife of Kang-mok who becomes entangled with Gang-soe. Her growing pregnancy and illness tied to the village’s heat intensify the moral questions around desire and responsibility. Her perspective anchors the emotional stakes of the plot.

❤️ Love 👶 Pregnancy 🔥 Heat

District Magistrate (Lee Jung-sub)

The local authority who learns of Gang-soe’s libido and stages a public display before Western delegates to showcase the village’s vitality. His bureaucratic perspective provides a lens on governance, satire, and external scrutiny amid rising chaos.

🏛️ Authority 🎭 Satire 🗺️ Diplomacy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:17

Major Themes – A Tale of Legendary Libido (2008)

Explore the central themes of A Tale of Legendary Libido (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Desire

A forest potion awakened a powerful libido in the village, driving a chain of comic and chaotic events. The film uses humor to explore how unchecked passion disrupts relationships and social harmony. Desires clash with duty, creating tension that propels the plot forward.

🗿 Superstition

Belief in totems, magic, and folk rituals governs much of village life. The Old Woman’s wish and the Jangseung idol serve as catalysts for magical consequences, highlighting how folklore can both comfort and complicate the community. The satire rests on the tension between myth and reality.

⚖️ Duty vs Pleasure

Characters wrestle with personal desire against family and communal obligations. Loyalties are tested as romantic entanglements intersect with marriage, birth, and village duties. The tension between individual want and collective responsibility drives the narrative’s humor and critique.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:17

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A Tale of Legendary Libido Summary

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A Tale of Legendary Libido Summary

A Tale of Legendary Libido Timeline

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A Tale of Legendary Libido Timeline

A Tale of Legendary Libido Spoiler-Free Summary

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A Tale of Legendary Libido Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Tale of Legendary Libido

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