Love, Lies

In Japanese-occupied Korea, So-yul trains at one of the last remaining gwonbeon, learning to sing jeongga, the refined songs of Korea's upper class. She studies under the institution's headmistress and develops her voice and discipline as a potential star. This setting establishes the pressure of tradition and loyalty that frames her later choices.

Seo Yeon-hee is sold by her father and arrives at the gwonbeon. She and So-yul form a close friendship as they navigate the strict world of jeongga. Their bond becomes the emotional core of the story.

In 1943, So-yul and Yeon-hee graduate as two of the school's best students. They promise to remain the only gisaeng who sing jeongga, preserving dignity despite the occupation's pressures. Their achievement marks the peak of their training before the real life complications begin.

So-yul's natural talent and beauty draw invitations from important people, including the Japanese chief of police. She becomes the center of attention at social events and power circles. The attention tests her loyalty and foreshadows the conflicts to come.

So-yul remains devoted to her boyfriend, Kim Yoon-woo, a celebrated pop songwriter. He values her artistry while the political climate tightens around them. Their bond provides a personal counterpoint to the rising tension.

Yoon-woo writes a song intended to encourage Koreans under occupation and asks So-yul to perform it. The request deepens their collaboration and binds So-yul to the plan he envisions. It also foreshadows a turning point as loyalties shift.

After hearing Yeon-hee sing, Yoon-woo becomes mesmerized by her talent. He shifts his plans toward Yeon-hee as the ideal vessel for his song. The romance of ambition begins to overshadow old plans.

Encouraged to leave the gwonbeon, Yeon-hee steps into the pop music world with Yoon-woo guiding her. The shift is framed as accessibility for the common people, contrasting with jeongga's elite tradition. So-yul watches, feeling alienated as her friend ventures into a new path.

So-yul feels betrayed because Yoon-woo failed to honor his promise to her and because Yeon-hee seems to eclipse their earlier bonds. The shift intensifies her jealousy and sense of loss. The friendship fractures as ambition takes precedence over loyalty.

So-yul and Yoon-woo spend significant time together during the production of Yeon-hee's album. Yoon-woo eventually falls in love with Yeon-hee, drawing him further away from So-yul. The emotional stakes escalate as professional work blends with personal desire.

Yeon-hee makes her debut on stage, with the public and media watching closely. Afterward, So-yul confronts the pair and discovers an inappropriate situation between Yeon-hee and Yoon-woo. The betrayal crystallizes into a catalyst for So-yul's actions.

Fueled by the betrayal, So-yul plots to reclaim what she believes is hers and disrupts the lives of those around her. Her pursuit triggers a chain of ruptures that harm many people, and she ultimately harms herself. The story culminates in tragedy born from jealousy and revenge.