The Housemaid

The film opens with a crowded urban street as a young woman commits suicide by jumping from a building. Eun-yi and a coworker rush to the scene and stand by the chalk outline, stunned by what they've witnessed. The immediacy of the tragedy sets a dark tone for what follows.

Byeong-sik, also known as Miss Cho, visits Eun-yi's small apartment and introduces herself as someone who can hire her for a wealthy family. She explains that she needs a reliable worker to manage a demanding household. Eun-yi begins to consider the opportunity, marking the start of a new path.

Eun-yi is hired as an au pair for Hae-ra, who is pregnant with twins, and her husband Hoon. Her main task is to care for their young daughter Nami. She begins to settle in and slowly bonds with the family.

Hoon secretly flirts with Eun-yi, enticing her with wine and his piano playing. Their relationship soon becomes a sexual affair, despite Hoon being married. Eun-yi maintains a warm, professional demeanor toward Hae-ra while the affair continues.

Miss Cho witnesses Eun-yi and Hoon having sex. She attempts to pry details from Eun-yi, but Eun-yi brushes her off casually. The secret dynamic between the staff begins to intrude on the household's facade.

Miss Cho reveals her suspicion about the pregnancy to Mi-hee, Hae-ra's mother. Mi-hee visits the family and stages an accident by arranging a ladder incident that leads to Eun-yi’s fall. Eun-yi sustains a concussion but survives.

Eun-yi falls from the ladder during the staged incident and hangs from a chandelier, pleading for help. She is rescued and hospitalized with a concussion. While recovering, she learns that she is pregnant and contemplates abortion.

Mi-hee advises Hae-ra to ignore the affair, arguing that wealthy husbands cheat and that she could still live like a queen. The advice deepens the emotional distance and sets up further manipulation. The couple continues to navigate their tangled relationship.

The next day, Hae-ra and her mother confront Eun-yi and offer 100,000 to have an abortion and leave. Eun-yi refuses, insisting she will keep her child. The confrontation deepens the power struggle within the household.

To control the situation, Hae-ra secretly poisons the herbal medicine packets Eun-yi drinks daily. The tampered regimen weakens Eun-yi and leads to medical intervention. The plan to remove Eun-yi from the household intensifies.

Hae-ra goes to the hospital and delivers her twins, while Eun-yi, weakened by the poisoning, receives medical care. At the hospital, Eun-yi discovers she is pregnant with Hoon's child and is confronted by the family tensions. Hoon visits the hospital, escalating the strain between them all.

Mi-hee arranges an abortion for Eun-yi without her consent. Later, Miss Cho reveals to Eun-yi that she was the one who told Mi-hee about the pregnancy, straining their already fragile relationship. Eun-yi remains angry but vows to seek revenge.

With Miss Cho's help, Eun-yi sneaks back into the house while the family sleeps. Hoon finds her nursing one of the newborns, shocking the household. Hae-ra orders Miss Cho to chase her out, but Miss Cho refuses and quits on the spot.

In a climactic act, Eun-yi confronts the entire family on the staircase, hanging herself from a chandelier and setting her body alight as they watch in horror. The scene marks a brutal reversal of power and seals her fate.

The film closes with the family outdoors in the snow, celebrating Nami's birthday in English. Hoon hands a glass of champagne to Nami, and both appear unhinged as she looks on. The moment underscores the collapse of the family’s facade.