Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Psychokinesis (2018) movie poster

Plot Summary

Psychokinesis (2018) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 101 min · Korean
Echo score 77
JustWatch #33,768 2
Directed by
Sang-ho Yeon
Starring
Jung-min Park, Do-yoon Kim, Eun-kyung Shim, Hang-ho Tae, Hwang Yeon-hee, Min-jae Kim

A man develops psychokinetic abilities and uses them to try and mend his fractured relationship with his estranged daughter. As she faces a desperate situation, he must master his newfound powers and race against time to protect her and prevent her from losing everything she has.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 How it ends
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Psychokinesis
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Psychokinesis (2018)

Where can you watch Psychokinesis? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Psychokinesis: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Psychokinesis (2018) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Shin Roo-mi is the proud owner of a thriving fried chicken restaurant located in a bustling traditional market. However, her life takes a downward turn as she finds herself entangled in a fierce real estate struggle against the mob-associated construction company, Tae-san. This company aims to demolish the cherished small businesses in the area to make way for a massive shopping center targeted at Chinese tourists. During one harrowing night, as Roo-mi faces eviction from her shop at the hands of Tae-san's thugs, tragedy strikes when her mother is accidentally killed amidst the chaos. In her grief, Roo-mi reluctantly reaches out to her estranged father, Shin Seok-heon, to inform him about the devastating loss and the ensuing funeral.

Seok-heon, who now works as a security guard while dabbling in petty crime, unexpectedly gains telekinetic abilities after drinking from a mountain spring that has been struck by a meteor. He makes his way to the funeral where he witnesses a heated exchange between Roo-mi and President Min, the manager of Tae-san's operations. Despite President Min's attempts to offer compensation for her mother's death, Roo-mi's heartache drives her to vehemently reject his advances, insisting he leave the funeral in peace. Gaining insights into the ongoing turf battle from Kim Jung-hyun, an attorney and Roo-mi's ally, Seok-heon attempts to mend their fractured relationship. However, Roo-mi's pain from his abandonment during her childhood remains a significant barrier to reconciliation.

The local business owners unite alongside Roo-mi in their quest for justice against Tae-san, as they collectively seek compensation for the destruction of their livelihoods. In a daring act of solidarity, they barricade themselves within a shopping arcade, only to be met with the violent wrath of Tae-san's enforcers. Just when all hope seems lost, Seok-heon arrives and unleashes his telekinetic powers, driving the attackers away and shocking everyone present. A police officer, witnessing the chaotic scene, fails to believe President Min's claims, which only bolsters the spirits of the embattled shop owners, who now feel a renewed sense of fight with Seok-heon on their side.

As Seok-heon's powers grow, he constructs a formidable barrier around the market area, providing a shield for the local businesses. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Min confers with Director Hong, the true mastermind behind Tae-san. Aware of Seok-heon's powers, she instructs Min to shut down his activities and feign the termination of their development contract. Soon, she lays plans to establish a new company, soon misleading law enforcement to eliminate Seok-heon from the equation. Under the guise of maintaining order, Min and his thuggish accomplices summon riot police and SWAT teams to apprehend the shop owners and dismantle their barricade. In a daring escape, Roo-mi and her allies are forced to flee to a nearby building, pursued by the relentless police.

As the conflict escalates and makes the news, Seok-heon breaks free from his imprisonment and discovers his newfound ability to fly. He quickly joins the fray, rescuing one of the shop owners from a precarious fall during the heated pursuit. As the group of shop owners reaches the roof of another building, the SWAT team makes an unprecedented entrance via a shipping container hanging from a crane. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Roo-mi is captured and dragged aboard the container. When the crane malfunctions and Roo-mi tumbles, Seok-heon swoops in to save her, before hastily leaving her with the other escaped shop owners. However, during a final confrontation with Min, who stands alongside the riot police, Seok-heon takes matters into his own hands, ultimately ending Min's life before surrendering himself to the authorities.

Fast forward four years, Seok-heon is released from prison, greeted by Kim Jung-hyun, who excitedly reveals his engagement to Roo-mi. Together, they visit the former site of Roo-mi's restaurant, now an empty lot, where Jung-hyun informs him that Tae-san's ambitious project never materialized, leading to delays in construction. Finally, they arrive at Roo-mi's new eatery, where a heartwarming reunion transpires between Seok-heon, his daughter, and the local owners. Demonstrating his telekinetic prowess, he joyously serves drinks to customers, bringing smiles all around. In a delightful twist, it is revealed that Roo-mi has aptly named her new establishment, "Superpower Chicken."

Last updated: November 08, 2024 at 01:09

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

Psychokinesis Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Psychokinesis (2018): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Seok-heon abandon Roo-mi when she was young?

Seok-heon was a struggling, irresponsible father who neglected his parental duties. After his wife passed away, he left young Roo-mi and her mother to fend for themselves, choosing a life of petty crime and negligence over family responsibility. This abandonment is why Roo-mi harbors deep resentment toward him throughout the film.

  • Seok-heon abandonment
  • Roo-mi childhood
  • estranged father
Q2

How did Seok-heon gain telekinetic powers?

Seok-heon gained his powers after drinking water from a mountain spring that had been struck by a meteor. The meteor's impact somehow imbued the water with a supernatural property that gave him telekinesis. This event occurs shortly after he learns about his ex-wife's death.

  • telekinesis
  • meteor
  • powers origin
  • Seok-heon abilities
Q3

How did Roo-mi's mother die?

Roo-mi's mother was accidentally killed during a violent confrontation at her daughter's restaurant. When Tae-san's thugs arrived to force Roo-mi's eviction, chaos erupted in the cramped space. In the struggle, Roo-mi's mother was struck and killed, though the death was unintentional rather than a deliberate act.

  • mother death
  • Tae-san thugs
  • eviction violence
Q4

Why did Seok-heon kill President Min at the end?

Seok-heon killed President Min during the final confrontation after Min ordered the police to attack the shop owners and continued threatening Roo-mi's life. With his powers, Seok-heon could have simply disabled Min, but he chose a fatal outcome, signaling his willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his daughter and ensure the corrupt businessman could no longer harm the community.

  • President Min death
  • Seok-heon sacrifice
  • final confrontation
Q5

Why did Director Hong want Seok-heon eliminated?

Director Hong was the true mastermind behind Tae-san's operations. Once she learned that Seok-heon possessed dangerous telekinetic powers that could derail their construction project, she ordered President Min to shut down operations and frame it as termination. She then orchestrated the police raid to eliminate Seok-heon as a threat to their plans, using law enforcement as a tool to remove him while maintaining plausible deniability.

  • Director Hong
  • conspiracy
  • Tae-san mastermind
Q6

How did Seok-heon escape from captivity?

Seok-heon broke free from his captivity after discovering he could now fly in addition to his telekinetic abilities. Using this newfound power, he escaped his cell and flew directly to the market area where the shop owners were being pursued by police and SWAT teams.

  • escape
  • flight ability
  • Seok-heon powers grow
Q7

What happened to Tae-san's shopping center project?

Tae-san's shopping center project never materialized. After the violent confrontation became public and Seok-heon's powers were exposed, the development was canceled. Construction was delayed indefinitely, and the land where Roo-mi's restaurant once stood remained an empty lot, allowing her to eventually open a new restaurant elsewhere.

  • construction canceled
  • shopping center
  • Tae-san failure
Q8

What is Superpower Chicken and why did Roo-mi name it that?

Superpower Chicken is the name of Roo-mi's new restaurant, which she opens after being released from prison. She named it as a tribute to her father's telekinetic powers, which saved her life and the community. At the end of the film, Seok-heon demonstrates his powers by telekinetically serving drinks to customers, making the name a playful reference to his supernatural abilities.

  • Superpower Chicken
  • new restaurant
  • Roo-mi business
Q9

How did Roo-mi forgive her father after everything?

Roo-mi's forgiveness developed gradually through Seok-heon's actions rather than words. When he arrived at the funeral despite their estrangement, fought to protect the market community with his powers, and most importantly, risked his life to save her from falling from the shipping container, she witnessed genuine change in him. His willingness to sacrifice everything, ultimately killing President Min and surrendering to authorities, proved his love was real, breaking through her years of resentment.

  • reconciliation
  • Roo-mi forgiveness
  • father-daughter relationship
Q10

When did Seok-heon learn to fly?

Seok-heon discovered his ability to fly after breaking free from captivity. While his initial telekinetic powers allowed him to move objects and create barriers, his abilities evolved to include flight. This new power emerged during the climactic confrontation when he needed to rescue Roo-mi and the other shop owners from the police assault.

  • flight
  • telekinesis evolution
  • Seok-heon powers
Q11

Why did Roo-i reject President Min's compensation offer at the funeral?

Roo-mi rejected President Min's compensation because she viewed his offer as a cheap attempt to buy her mother's memory. Min, representing Tae-san, arrived at the funeral with money in hand, trying to settle the matter and clear the path for their construction project. To Roo-mi, accepting would have meant betraying her mother's legacy and validating the corporate greed that caused her death in the first place.

  • compensation rejected
  • funeral confrontation
  • Min offer

Ending explained

What Happens at the End of Psychokinesis?

How Psychokinesis (2018) ends, in short: the final scene, the last twist and what it means for the characters. The full ending explained, with every spoiler, lives on its own page.

Read the full ending explained

Suk Hun’s journey reaches a climax when he uses his newly discovered psychokinetic powers to confront the gangsters and police who are attacking the protesters and the market. Despite the danger and the corruption faced from powerful figures like Director Hong, Suk Hun fights tirelessly to protect his daughter Ru Mi and the others. He’s eventually caught and imprisoned after being framed with criminal accusations, highlighting how the system failed him. However, when Suk Hun witnesses the chaos and destruction caused by the police and gangsters attacking the protesters on television, he becomes overwhelmed and furious. In his emotional outburst, he breaks free from jail using his powers and rushes to save Ru Mi, who is falling from a trolley in mid-air. His heroism is undeniable as he risks everything to ensure her safety, fighting off the police and gangsters to bring her to safety.

After saving her, Suk Hun recognizes that his actions have sparked a larger movement. He chooses to surrender to the police, not out of defeat but to protest against the injustice and corruption he has fought against. His act of defiance is powerful enough to halt the redevelopment project and rally public support. This act clearly makes Suk Hun a hero in his daughter’s eyes and in the community’s. In the end, he is imprisoned but finds peace knowing that his fight helped protect the community’s rights and their market. Meanwhile, Ru Mi starts anew, naming her restaurant after her father, “Superpower Chicken,” symbolizing her pride and her hope for a better future inspired by her father’s bravery. The film concludes with Suk Hun’s sacrifice reaffirming that even in the face of system failure and personal risk, true heroism lies in standing up for what is right and protecting loved ones at any cost.

Psychokinesis ending explained in full

Movie threads

More Movies Like Psychokinesis, by Mood & Story

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

Flawed Heroes with Superpowers like in Psychokinesis

Ordinary, imperfect people who gain incredible abilities for a personal cause. Find more movies like Psychokinesis where everyday people gain extraordinary abilities. If you enjoyed the story of a flawed father using telekinesis to save his daughter, you'll love these similar superhero tales focused on personal redemption, family, and using powers for intimate, heartfelt causes.

  • action-packed
  • uplifting
  • emotional
  • thrilling
  • redemptive
  • playful
  • Tone: hopeful, uplifting
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows an ordinary character who acquires supernatural powers, often by accident. Instead of embracing a classic hero role, they initially use the powers for selfish or clumsy reasons, but a personal crisis—usually involving family or friends—forces them to master their abilities and become a hero on a smaller, more personal scale.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a focus on character-driven superhero stories. They blend high-concept action with emotional depth, prioritizing a character's personal growth and relationships over world-ending stakes. The mix of spectacle and heartfelt drama creates a uniquely accessible and uplifting superhero experience.

Community vs. Corporate Greed stories like Psychokinesis

A small community bands together to fight back against powerful, exploitative forces. Explore more movies similar to Psychokinesis where a local community fights back against corporate threats. If you liked the theme of a father and his daughter's neighborhood resisting violent developers, you'll enjoy these thrilling stories of social justice and collective resistance.

  • tense
  • hopeful
  • thrilling
  • emotional
  • action-packed
  • social justice
  • Tone: hopeful, tense
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot centers on a community being threatened by a faceless corporation seeking to displace or destroy them for profit. A reluctant hero, often connected to the community, emerges to lead the resistance. The story escalates through acts of defiance, leading to a climactic confrontation where the community's solidarity is their greatest strength.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared thematic core of social justice and grassroots resistance. They combine tense, high-stakes conflict with a hopeful, uplifting tone, celebrating the power of collective action. The experience is both thrilling and emotionally satisfying, as the underdog community rallies against overwhelming odds.

If you liked this

Movies Like Psychokinesis

Similar movies to Psychokinesis: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Psychokinesis (2018) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Psychokinesis in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app