Birdcage Inn

Jin-a arrives at the Birdcage Inn to replace the previous occupant and is welcomed by the couple who run it. They give her a room and meals, and they take a cut of the money she earns. She continues working at night while spending her daytime drawing and watching the sea.

The well-regarded yet silent father, who supports the family, rapes Jin-a in the inn. His act exposes the hidden violence beneath the family’s respectable exterior. Jin-a endures this assault as part of her precarious exploitation.

The mother treats Jin-a as little more than a paycheck to fund her children's education. She pressures Jin-a to earn more money and oversees the cut the family takes. Jin-a’s vulnerability is exploited to keep the household afloat.

Hyun-woo begs Jin-a to pose for nude photos for a contest and to sleep with him. After persistent pleading, Jin-a agrees and they have sex on the deck of a ship by the seaside. The moment marks a troubling boundary crossed by the younger man.

After the encounter, Hyun-woo uses a Walkman to tap Jin-a’s room and listen in on her interactions with guests. The spying reveals how the family culture and social position keep Jin-a under surveillance. Jin-a remains unaware of the intrusion as the dynamic darkens.

Hye-mi, the daughter, expresses clear hostility toward Jin-a. She refuses to share basic amenities with Jin-a to emphasize their supposed different worlds. The friction illustrates the strain Jin-a’s presence puts on the family’s delicate balance.

Hye-mi learns that her boyfriend has gone to Jin-a for sex, a revelation she keeps to herself while resenting Jin-a more. The incident deepens the rift between the two young women. Jin-a’s vulnerability is now tied to the boyfriend’s infidelity as well.

Rummaging through Jin-a’s belongings, Hye-mi gains a glimpse into Jin-a’s life and begins to feel some empathy. This discovery shifts their relationship from pure hostility toward a fragile, guarded understanding. The two young women start to see each other’s humanity beyond class judgments.

A publisher who has seen Hyun-woo’s photos approaches him and tricks him into selling the pictures cheaply. Jin-a’s nude image is published, intensifying the exploitation she faces. The incident shows how demand for exploitative material extends beyond the inn walls.

Jin-a’s former pimp confronts her, demanding money and beating her when she denies having been paid. Hye-mi tries to shield Jin-a from the assault, stepping between them. The violence underscores the multiple threats Jin-a faces from those who control her life.

That night Jin-a cuts her arm attempting to end her life, overwhelmed by despair. Hye-mi witnesses Jin-a’s act after having nightmares about her. The moment becomes a crucial turning point for both characters.

Jin-a and Hye-mi sit together and reconcile, sharing a quiet moment of understanding. The women acknowledge their shared humanity despite their different worlds. Their bond forms a fragile counterbalance to the surrounding exploitation.

That night a customer arrives, and Hye-mi spends the night with him instead of Jin-a, losing her virginity. The act cements the cycle of vulnerability and power within the inn and among the characters. The moment underscores how far the two young women have drifted from safety.