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Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait (2007) movie poster

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Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 95 mins · Korean
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Directed by
Kim Tae-kyung
Starring
Bình Minh, Cha Ye-ryun, Lee In, Jo An, Hong So-hee, Hồng Ánh

A Korean writer travels to Vietnam to do research for her story about a cursed portrait of a Vietnamese girl named Muoi.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait
  6. 6 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait (2007) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Arrival in Vietnam and stay at Seo-yeon's mansion

    Yun-hee travels to Vietnam at Seo-yeon's invitation to visit and stay at her mansion. She contemplates the local folklore about Muoi and the haunted portrait. Seo-yeon asks about their mutual friends, but Yun-hee lies that she has lost contact.

    When
    Arrival in Vietnam
    Where
    Vietnam, Seo-yeon's mansion
  2. Discussion of the past book and the deception about friends

    A brief chat with Seong-eun and Ji-hoon reveals that Yun-hee's semi-autobiographical novel Secrets & Lies portrayed Seo-yeon in a negative light. Yun-hee insists Seo-yeon hasn’t read the book, which was published after she left Korea. The conversation plants seeds of distrust between the two women.

    When
    Evening of Day 1
    Where
    Mansion, Vietnam
  3. Boat trip to the abandoned house and legend details

    The next day, Yun-hee and Seo-yeon take a boat to an abandoned house where the legend of Muoi is discussed in more depth. Seo-yeon explains more about Muoi and her tragic fate, tying the legend to the place. The journey grounds the supernatural threat in a physical, isolated setting.

    When
    Day 2 morning
    Where
    Abandoned house, Vietnam
  4. Muoi's tale: disfigurement and demise

    Within the abandoned house, the legend unfolds: Muoi loves painter Nguyen, but Hong, Nguyen's wealthy fiancé, hires thugs who horribly disfigure Muoi. Muoi then commits suicide, becoming a vengeful spirit. The origins of the curse are strengthened by betrayal and violence.

    When
    During the same visit
    Where
    Abandoned house
  5. Yun-hee steals Professor Kim's notebook

    Back in the city, Yun-hee and Seo-yeon go to Professor Kim's office. Yun-hee, passing the assistant Eun-jung, steals a notebook containing his folklore research. This theft deepens Yun-hee's obsession with the Muoi legend and its artifacts.

    When
    Same day afternoon
    Where
    Professor Kim's office
  6. Supernatural phenomena and fraying bonds

    As Yun-hee delves deeper, she experiences strange noises, fluttering shadows, and nightmares of Muoi's tortures. The supernatural events strain the relationship between Yun-hee and Seo-yeon, revealing mutual resentments and cracks in their alliance.

    When
    Night following the notebook incident
    Where
    Vietnam; mansion
  7. Drunken confrontation between Yun-hee and Seo-yeon

    A night of heavy drinking ends with Yun-hee accusing Seo-yeon, calling her a slut for dancing with other men. The confrontation leaves tensions unresolved, and Seo-yeon pretends nothing happened the next day.

    When
    That night
    Where
    Mansion
  8. Reveals about the legend and eerie computer evidence

    Eun-jung reveals that Seo-yeon introduced Professor Kim to the Muoi legend, not the other way around. Yun-hee watches a supposed victim describing similar symptoms on Kim's computer, including Muoi's reflection in a mirror.

    When
    Following day
    Where
    Professor Kim's office
  9. Studio discovery: self-portrait and damning book excerpts

    Ignoring Seo-yeon's warnings, Yun-hee enters the painting studio and discovers Seo-yeon's self-portrait painted in Muoi's style. She also finds a highlighted copy of Secrets & Lies with harsh notes about her, intensifying the sense of betrayal.

    When
    Shortly after the computer discovery
    Where
    Seo-yeon's painting studio
  10. Past assault revealed and the night contortions begin

    Seo-yeon explains why she left Korea: Ji-hoon and his friends sexually assaulted her, and Seong-eun documented it before rumors spread. Yun-hee apologizes for buying into those rumors in her book, and Seo-yeon forgives her; that night, Yun-hee experiences painful contortions and cannot cry out.

    When
    Night after confrontation
    Where
    Mansion
  11. Temple visit and the curse's history

    The two travel to a temple where the cursed Muoi portrait was kept. Yun-hee learns that Nguyen painted Muoi's portrait with monks helping to trap the spirit. In World War II, Japanese Major Yoshimoto raided the temple and broke the seal, unleashing the curse.

    When
    Following the contortions
    Where
    Temple
  12. Hairpin, tunnel, and the mansion's hidden truth

    A monk gives Yun-hee a metal hairpin used to seal the spirit and instructs her to stab Seo-yeon to end the curse. Eun-jung dies in a bizarre accident, and Yun-hee returns to Seo-yeon's mansion with the hairpin. She discovers a secret passage with Professor Kim's corpse and Yoshimoto's photo bearing the caption 'Death begins the curse.'

    When
    After temple visit
    Where
    Temple, then Mansion; secret tunnel
  13. Final confrontation in the portrait chamber

    In a large chamber housing the real Muoi portrait, Muoi's monstrous spirit manifests and a chase ends with Yun-hee stabbing Seo-yeon with the hairpin. Seo-yeon laughs that her death will begin the curse as she dies, marking the culmination of her revenge plan.

    When
    Climax
    Where
    Mansion's portrait chamber
  14. Epilogue: Yun-hee's rampage in Korea

    Back in Korea, the now-possessed Yun-hee stalks and brutally murders Seo-yeon's former friends Seong-eun and Ji-hoon. She burns Major Yoshimoto's photo, puts on Muoi's ring, and smiles as the cursed cycle continues.

    When
    Epilogue
    Where
    Korea

Last updated: April 07, 2026 at 21:05

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Timeline questions answered

Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait (2007): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did So-yeon orchestrate the entire revenge scheme against Yun-hee?

So-yeon planned elaborate revenge because three years earlier, Ji-hoon and his friends sexually assaulted her, and Seong-eun recorded the incident. Rumors about her promiscuity spread, and Yun-hee's semi-autobiographical novel "Secrets & Lies" amplified those rumors, painting So-yeon in a negative light. So-yeon never truly forgave Yun-hee for this betrayal and used the Muoi legend as a vehicle to destroy both Yun-hee and her old friends who spreading the rumors.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, So-yeon asked about mutual friends and appeared guarded during the reunion, hinting at unresolved resentment.

  • so-yeon
  • revenge
  • ji-hoon
  • assault
  • secrets & lies
  • betrayal
Q2

Is Yun-hee possessed by Muoi or So-yeon at the end?

Yun-hee is possessed by So-yeon's spirit, not Muoi. The key revelation is that So-yeon was the true mastermind who orchestrated the entire curse scenario. When Yun-hee stabs So-yeon with the hairpin, So-yeon laughs and says her death will begin the curse's true awakening. In the epilogue, the possessed Yun-hee murders Ji-hoon and Seong-eun in Korea while wearing Muoi's ring, suggesting So-yeon's revenge continues through Yun-hee's body.

Foreshadowing: At the temple, So-yeon's self-portrait appeared in the spot reserved for Muoi's portrait, foreshadowing her takeover of the curse.

  • yun-hee
  • possession
  • ending
  • so-yeon
  • muoi
  • curse
Q3

How does Muoi's cursed portrait actually work?

Muoi's portrait was painted by artist Nguyen with the help of monks who trapped her vengeful spirit within the painting. The portrait was sealed at a temple until World War II, when Japanese Major Yoshimoto raided the temple and broke the seal, releasing the curse. The portrait causes those who encounter it to experience Muoi's torments, nightmares, painful body contortions, and eventually Muoi's reflection appearing in mirrors. A metal hairpin used by monks to seal the spirit can supposedly end the curse if stabbed into the possessed person.

Foreshadowing: The legend told early on establishes that Muoi became a vengeful spirit trapped in the abandoned house after her tragic death.

  • muoi
  • portrait
  • curse
  • hairpin
  • temple
  • spirits
Q4

Why was So-yeon the one who introduced Professor Kim to the Muoi legend?

So-yeon was the one who originally introduced Professor Kim to the Muoi legend, not the other way around. This reveals her deep involvement with the supernatural scheme from the beginning. She painted a self-portrait in Muoi's style, showing her psychological alignment with the cursed spirit. So-yeon used the legend as a framework for her revenge plot, positioning herself as someone who could guide Yun-hee deeper into the curse while remaining seemingly helpful.

Foreshadowing: During the temple visit, the monks seemed to recognize So-yeon, hinting at her prior connection to the legend.

  • so-yeon
  • professor kim
  • muoi legend
  • self-portrait
Q5

What happened to So-yeon that made her leave Korea?

So-yeon revealed she left Korea after Ji-hoon and his friends sexually assaulted her. Seong-eun recorded the incident on camera, and rather than helping So-yeon, the recording spread along with rumors about her promiscuity. Yun-hee's book "Secrets & Lies" further amplified these rumors by portraying So-yeon negatively. This traumatic event and the subsequent social betrayal directly motivated So-yeon's elaborate revenge scheme years later.

Foreshadowing: So-yeon asking about mutual friends and her guarded demeanor upon reunion hinted at painful history.

  • so-yeon
  • assault
  • ji-hoon
  • seong-eun
  • korea
  • secrets & lies
Q6

What was the purpose of the metal hairpin given to Yun-hee?

The metal hairpin was a sacred object used by monks to originally seal Muoi's spirit inside the portrait. At the temple, the elder monk instructed Yun-hee to stab the possessed So-yeon with the hairpin to end the curse. However, the plan backfired, instead of stopping the curse, stabbing So-yeon appears to have allowed her spirit to take possession of Yun-hee, completing her revenge as she laughingly predicted.

Foreshadowing: The monk specifically warned it would end the curse if used on the possessed person, not knowing So-yeon's true role.

  • hairpin
  • seal
  • curse
  • monk
  • temple
  • stabbing
Q7

Why did the mansion belong to Major Yoshimoto?

The mansion secretly belonged to Japanese Major Yoshimoto, who during World War II had raided the temple and broken the seal on Muoi's portrait, releasing the curse. The portrait had been hidden in the mansion all along. A photo of Major Yoshimoto with the caption "Death begins the curse" was found in a secret passage, revealing the dark history of the location and connecting the historical release of the curse to the present events.

Foreshadowing: The caption on Yoshimoto's photo directly foreshadowed the curse's activation.

  • yoshimoto
  • mansion
  • world war 2
  • temple
  • curse origin
Q8

What did So-yeon's self-portrait painted in Muoi's style mean?

So-yeon painted a self-portrait in Muoi's style to psychologically align herself with the cursed spirit. This wasn't merely artistic expression, it represented her intention to merge with or become the new vessel for Muoi's vengeance. At the temple, her self-portrait appeared in the exact spot where Muoi's portrait should have been, confirming she successfully replaced Muoi as the dominant force behind the curse.

Foreshadowing: Yun-hee discovered this portrait in So-yeon's studio alongside her highlighted copy of "Secrets & Lies."

  • self-portrait
  • muoi style
  • painting
  • so-yeon
  • possession
Q9

Why did Eun-jung die in the film?

Eun-jung died in a bizarre accident after discovering the truth about So-yeon. She was Professor Kim's assistant who revealed that So-yeon had originally introduced Kim to the Muoi legend. Her death served to eliminate a potential witness and add to the supernatural chaos surrounding Yun-hee. Her death also prevented her from warning anyone about So-yeon's true role in the scheme.

Foreshadowing: Eun-jung's death occurred right after she provided crucial information about So-yeon's involvement.

  • eun-jung
  • death
  • professor kim
  • accident
Q10

What did So-yeon mean when she said her death would begin the curse?

When Yun-hee stabbed So-yeon with the hairpin, So-yeon laughed and stated her death would begin the curse's true awakening. This revealed her entire plan, she orchestrated events so that her death at Yun-hee's hands would transfer her spirit into Yun-hee, allowing her to personally enact revenge on Ji-hoon and Seong-eun. Her statement was not about Muoi's curse awakening, but about her own revenge plot completing through Yun-hee's possessed body.

Foreshadowing: So-yeon told Yun-hee to visit the temple to learn about the curse, knowing exactly how events would unfold.

  • so-yeon
  • death
  • curse awakening
  • possessed yun-hee
  • revenge

Movie threads

More Movies Like Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Supernatural Revenge Stories like Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait

A vengeful spirit enacts a meticulous plan to right a past wrong. If you liked the tragic backstory and relentless vengeance in Muoi, explore more movies where a ghost's curse is a direct result of human betrayal and violence. These films blend supernatural scares with the heavy emotional weight of a wrong that demands to be righted.

  • vengeful
  • sinister
  • unsettling
  • tragic
  • oppressive
  • nightmarish
  • Tone: dark, vengeful, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically unfold through a dual timeline, revealing a past trauma (often involving betrayal, assault, or murder) that directly fuels a present-day supernatural curse. The narrative is driven by the ghost's methodical and inescapable plan for revenge, often targeting a specific group of people connected to the original sin.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core premise of supernatural vengeance motivated by a concrete, human tragedy. They share a dark, bleak tone, a heavy emotional weight from the depicted trauma, and a focus on the psychological and physical terror of a curse that cannot be outrun.

Atmospheric Psychological Horror like Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait

An oppressive atmosphere slowly unravels the characters' sanity and sense of safety. Fans of the claustrophobic and paranoid dread in Muoi will find more movies that master slow-building tension. These films use a steady pace and oppressive atmosphere to create a deeply unsettling and psychologically intense viewing experience.

  • suspenseful
  • oppressive
  • paranoid
  • claustrophobic
  • unsettling
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, tense, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a character entering an unfamiliar or hostile environment where strange events begin to occur. The pacing is steady, methodically layering eerie occurrences and subtle horrors to create a suffocating atmosphere of paranoia. The protagonist's mental state deteriorates as they try to discern what is real, leading to a climax that is often psychologically devastating.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films that prioritize mood and atmosphere over jump scares. They share a high-tension, suspenseful vibe, a complex and often ambiguous threat, and a dark tone that gets under your skin. The experience is defined by a feeling of inescapable dread and psychological oppression.

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