Ballerina

Ballerina

Year: 2023

Runtime: 1 h 32 m

Language: English

Director: Chung-Hyun Lee

ActionThriller

Haunted by loss and regret, a former bodyguard embarks on a perilous quest for vengeance. Driven by a deep sense of loyalty and a desire to honor her fallen friend, she seeks retribution against those responsible for their tragic fate. The journey is fraught with danger as she confronts formidable adversaries and battles her own inner demons in a relentless pursuit of justice.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Ballerina (2023)

Trace every key event in Ballerina (2023) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Ok-ju vows revenge after Min-hee's death

Jang Ok-ju learns that her best friend Min-hee committed suicide and that Min-hee's last wish was for Ok-ju to avenge her. She resolves to uncover Choi Pro's crimes and to stop him from harming others. This realization sets her mission in motion and frames the entire sequence of events to come.

2

Ok-ju tracks Choi online and finds his address

Ok-ju searches for Choi through his internet profile and identifies his address. She begins shadowing him from a distance, watching as he sells drugs to various customers. This surveillance marks the first concrete steps in building a case against him.

City
3

Break-in and USB discovery

The morning after the stakeout, Ok-ju breaks into Choi's home and plants listening devices. She uncovers a drawer full of USB drives, including one labeled ballerina that contains a video of Choi assaulting Min-hee. The evidence confirms Min-hee's abuse and devastates Ok-ju emotionally.

Morning Choi's home
4

Devastation over Min-hee's video

Ok-ju watches the Min-hee video with growing horror and realizes the full extent of Choi's crimes. The footage personalizes the pain Min-hee endured and hardens Ok-ju's resolve for revenge. She understands that stopping Choi Pro is now a personal mission.

Shortly after morning Choi's home
5

Nightclub lure and ride to the hotel

A few days later Ok-ju learns that Choi will be at the Heaven nightclub and goes there to confront him. Choi approaches her with a flirtatious line and she buys him a drink before they leave together. They head to the hotel where Min-hee was filmed, setting up the confrontation.

Evening Heaven nightclub
6

Drugging attempt and escape with the help of a survivor

At the hotel, Choi attempts to drug Ok-ju, but she pretends to ingest it. When he begins filming the assault, she fights back and tries to stab him. The struggle draws the hotel staff's attention, and a high school student kept as a sex slave helps them escape, fleeing in Choi's Lamborghini.

Night Hotel
7

Gang leader's rebuke and orders

Back at the gang's base, the leader expresses disappointment that Choi drugged women and made explicit pornography, but clarifies he never authorized such abuses. He orders Choi to bring Ok-ju in within three days, heightening the stakes. The warning pushes Choi to intensify the pursuit.

Following day Gang HQ
8

Pharmacist conversation and a cash incentive

Choi visits the drug pharmacist to source more sleeping agents and discuss tracking Ok-ju down. The two hatch a plan to locate her, and Choi promises the pharmacist 100 million won for help. The alliance tightens as the hunt intensifies.

Next day Pharmacy
9

Ok-ju arms herself after a lead

Ok-ju reaches out to an old friend to procure weapons, preparing for the inevitable confrontation. She shows resourcefulness and urgency, knowing the clock is ticking toward a dangerous showdown. This step marks her transition from investigation to active retaliation.

Following day City
10

Choi and pharmacist pursue the Lamborghini

Choi and the pharmacist track down the stolen Lamborghini using a corrupt police contact. The pursuit intensifies as they close in on Ok-ju's location. The chase directly connects their resources and demonstrates the reach of Choi's operation.

Evening City streets
11

Apartment ambush and escape

Ok-ju returns from a convenience store to find the high school student missing and is suddenly ambushed by Choi and the pharmacist. She fights back and escapes through the window, narrowly avoiding capture. The attack demonstrates the escalating danger and Ok-ju's determination to stay free.

Evening Ok-ju's apartment
12

False kill claim and escalation

Choi lies to the gang leader that he has killed Ok-ju and buried her in the mountains, prompting the leader to order the high school student killed for witnessing. Instead, Choi and the pharmacist torture the student to learn Ok-ju's whereabouts. The tension between loyalty and survival intensifies the looming confrontation.

Days later Gang/Hotel
13

Ok-ju infiltrates the hotel base

Ok-ju finally locates the base of operations at the hotel and proceeds to eliminate its members who refuse to reveal Choi's whereabouts. With the base cleared, she gathers crucial information about Choi's location. The raid marks a turning point in the pursuit.

Later Hotel base
14

Final confrontation and aftermath

A brutal sequence unfolds: the high school student fires, then Ok-ju shoots Choi repeatedly. They burn him on the beach to end his reign of terror. Afterwards, Ok-ju retrieves the USB drives and a notebook of customers from Choi's house and drives off into the sunset, reclaiming control of her life.

After the beach Beach; Choi's house

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 01:17

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Ballerina Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Ballerina, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Ballerina Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Ballerina

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Ballerina

Ballerina Ending Explained

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Ballerina Ending Explained

Ballerina Spoiler-Free Summary

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Ballerina Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Ballerina

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More About Ballerina

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