Pulgasari

Pulgasari

Year: 1985

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: Korean

Directors: Shin Sang-ok, Chong Gon Jo

DramaHorrorFantasy

After being banned for ten years, the film follows starving peasants in feudal Korea who rebel against a tyrannical king. They discover a mysterious metal monster that grows larger with each offering, and they harness it to turn the king’s forces against him, turning the creature into a symbol of popular resistance.

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Timeline & Setting – Pulgasari (1985)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pulgasari (1985). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

late Goryeo dynasty

The events unfold in a historical period of political volatility and social strife characteristic of the late Goryeo era. Peasants endure hunger and oppression as they organize to challenge the crown. The timeline follows the rise of rebellion and the crucible in which Pulgasari is forged as a weapon and a burden.

Location

Feudal Korea, end of the Goryeo dynasty

Set in feudal Korea toward the end of the Goryeo dynasty, the story unfolds under a monarchy that keeps peasants in misery. The land is marked by famine, heavy taxation, and a rigid social order that fuels unrest. The setting centers on the rebels’ fight against oppression and the emergence of Pulgasari as a symbol of resistance.

🏯 Feudal Korea 🗺️ Repressed peasants

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:09

Main Characters – Pulgasari (1985)

Meet the key characters of Pulgasari (1985), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ami (Chang Son Hui)

Ami is the blacksmith's daughter who inherits the living Pulgasari after a blood touch. She forms a deep, guiding bond with the monster and becomes central to the rebellion's hopes. Her courage and compassion drive decisive choices, culminating in a self-sacrificing act that saves the people at great personal cost.

👩‍🎨 Protagonist 💔 Sacrifice 🗡️ Rebel ally

Pulgasari

A gigantic iron-eating monster born from a dying blacksmith’s wish to defend the oppressed. It grows powerful by consuming metal and fights for the rebels, yet its insatiable hunger risks turning it into a new oppressor. The creature’s bond with Ami anchors the narrative’s tension between savior and threat.

👹 Monster 🛡️ Protector 🧲 Iron-eater

Inde (Ham Gi Sop)

Inde is the rebellion's leader who unites peasants to challenge the monarchy. She is captured and wielded as leverage to compel Pulgasari into obedience, highlighting the personal cost and danger inherent in rebellion.

🗡️ Leader ⚔️ Rebellion 💔 Tragic fate

Takse (Gwon Ri)

Takse is the finest blacksmith who crafts Pulgasari from necessity and hope. His imprisonment and death set the epic chain of events in motion, and his legacy lives on through Ami’s fight for the oppressed.

🛠️ Blacksmith 🧭 Creator 🗡️ Martyr

General Fuan (Riyonun Ri)

General Fuan is the imperial commander tasked with crushing the rebellion. He embodies the crown’s ambition to crush uprisings, using force to maintain control even as Pulgasari proves to be a formidable weapon.

🧭 General ⚔️ Imperial power 🧨 Conflict

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:09

Major Themes – Pulgasari (1985)

Explore the central themes of Pulgasari (1985), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Power and Oppression

The feudal monarchy imposes hardship on the common people while rebels rally to overthrow the regime with Pulgasari’s might. The monster’s iron-eating power shifts battlefield dynamics, yet also reveals how easily a savior can become a tool of domination. The story examines the moral limits of using force to achieve justice.

💔 Sacrifice and Consequence

Ami’s bond with Pulgasari drives the rebellion, but the creature’s unending hunger threatens to oppress the very people it aims to protect. Ami ultimately sacrifices herself to stop the monster, turning triumph into tragedy while sparing the populace from a new tyranny.

🤝 Hope and Loyalty

The peasants’ faith in liberation hinges on alliances between rebels and Pulgasari. The bond between Ami and the monstrous guardian embodies a fragile trust that can unite disparate forces, even as the cycle of battle and hunger tests their resolve.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:09

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Pulgasari Summary

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Pulgasari Summary

Pulgasari Timeline

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Pulgasari Timeline

More About Pulgasari

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