Pulgasari

In the late Goryeo era, a harsh king crushes dissent and starves the common people. Takse, the land's finest blacksmith, is imprisoned and dies from starvation after defending his villagers. Before dying, he carves a tiny rice figurine of a monster and begs the gods to turn his creation into a living guardian for the rebels.

Shortly after, Ami, Takse's daughter, receives the fragile figurine and keeps it with her. She handles it with care, unaware of its growing potential. The quiet gift plants the seed of a legend that will awaken Pulgasari.

While sewing, Ami accidentally wounds herself, and her blood touches the figurine, causing it to spring to life. The magical creature reveals itself as Pulgasari, and a powerful bond forms between it and Ami. The tiny statue is transformed into a living guardian for the oppressed.

Pulgasari demonstrates its power by devouring a farmer's tools, growing larger and stronger in the process. It begins to protect Ami and the villagers as its appetite expands. A deep bond with Ami is forged as the beast learns to trust her.

With Pulgasari's increasing power, the peasants rally a rebellion against the monarchy. They join forces with the monster to overthrow the king's rule. The region buzzes with the promise of change as the army of rebels and their iron-eating protector grow bolder.

Imperial generals kidnap Ami, hoping to force Pulgasari into a cage. To save her, Pulgasari allows itself to be caged; the trap is set ablaze, but the creature remains unharmed and intact. Ami watches as her protector stands still, sacrificing itself to shield her.

Rebels strike the governor's palace, overpower the guards, and kill the corrupt governor. The rebellion gains a crucial victory, signaling the start of a broader clash with the royal authorities. The rebellion's momentum spreads through the region.

The king learns of the revolt and accelerates plans to crush it. Pulgasari enters battle once more and defeats royal soldiers by devouring their metal weapons, growing even more formidable. The rebels' cause appears to gain ground as the monster's hunger reshapes the battlefield.

Facing the growing threat, the royal army buries Pulgasari underground in an attempt to neutralize it. The move barely slows the monster, which later resurfaces as the rebellion continues.

The army captures InDe, the rebellion's leader, and executes him, while threatening Ami with death if the rebels do not surrender. The crackdown intensifies as the royal forces seek to break the rebellion’s backbone. Ami clings to hope despite the danger.

Ami escapes captivity and returns to the burial site, where she pours some of her blood on the grave to revive Pulgasari. The monster regrows, its power restored and ready to strike back against the king. The bond between Ami and Pulgasari is renewed in fire and blood.

Pulgasari storms the king's palace, destroying it and killing the king in the ensuing battles. The fall of the monarchy marks a turning point in the rebellion's struggle for freedom. The demon-beast's rampage reshapes the political landscape.

After the king's fall, Pulgasari begins devouring the peasants' weapons and farmers' tools. The people still believe the creature is a benevolent savior, even as their labor fuels its appetite. The balance of power becomes increasingly fragile.

Ami realizes Pulgasari's hunger will never be sated and that the monster is inadvertently oppressing the people it fought for. She sacrifices herself by hiding inside a large bell, hoping to starve the beast of her blood. Pulgasari finds and eats the bell, and Ami's presence in its body causes Pulgasari to turn to stone and crumble, killing them both but saving the people.