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The Taste of Money (2013) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Taste of Money (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 115 min · Korean
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Directed by
Sang-soo Im

Within Seoul's affluent elite, a lavish mansion serves as the epicenter of power and indulgence. Madame Baek, a shrewd and dominant matriarch, holds considerable influence, with her husband’s political position acting as a facade. Young-jak, an ambitious secretary, finds himself drawn into the family's morally ambiguous world, where the pursuit of wealth and status blurs the lines between right and wrong. He must then grapple with the temptation of easy success and the conflict with his own values.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Taste of Money: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Taste of Money (2013) 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.

In a vast mansion just outside Seoul, South Korea, the upper echelon of society convenes under one roof. This includes Yoon, the company's president; his formidable wife, Geum-ok; their estranged daughter Nami; and their son Chul. Within this glamorous yet tumultuous environment, the delicate balance of power shifts, with Geum-ok reigning as the true authority, having married Yoon to secure her family's wealth and influence.

Amidst this family drama, Joo Young-jak, a diligent secretary, works tirelessly in the shadows, tasked with keeping Robert Altman, a U.S. businessman, pleased through various clandestine arrangements—an essential maneuver in a high-stakes deal critical to the family's financial prosperity.

As Geum-ok tightens her hold on the family's affairs, her meticulous surveillance exposes Yoon's secret affair with their Filipina maid, Eva. Enraged by the treachery, Geum-ok retaliates by entangling herself with Young-jak, further complicating the household’s already fraught dynamics. The story escalates dramatically when Chul finds himself in trouble with the law, arrested for connections to Altman's slush fund. In a desperate bid for control, Geum-ok is forced to take extreme actions, placing Eva's life in jeopardy, ultimately leading to Yoon's tragic downfall.

After Yoon's demise, Young-jak takes a decisive step to cut ties with the dysfunctional family. He embarks on a poignant journey, escorting Eva's coffin back to her native land, where he unexpectedly finds companionship in Nami. This journey marks a transformative chapter in their lives, forever altering their destinies as they navigate the aftermath of their tumultuous family saga.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 13:15

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Plot questions answered

The Taste of Money Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Taste of Money (2013): 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 Geum-ok marry Yoon if she held all the power?

Geum-ok married Yoon to secure her family's wealth and influence. While Yoon held the title of company president, Geum-ok was the true authority figure who controlled the family's financial empire. The marriage was a calculated move to give her a respectable public face while she wielded actual power behind the scenes.

  • geum-ok
  • yoon
  • marriage
  • power
  • wealth
  • matriarch
Q2

Why did Geum-ok become involved with Young-jak?

Geum-ok entangled herself with Young-jak as revenge after discovering her husband Yoon's affair with Eva, their Filipino maid. Enraged by the betrayal, she used Young-jak not only to satisfy her own desires but also to inflict psychological damage on Yoon by involving his own secretary.

  • geum-ok
  • young-jak
  • affair
  • revenge
  • betrayal
Q3

What caused Chul's arrest?

Chul was arrested due to his connections to Robert Altman's slush fund. As part of the high-stakes deal Young-jak was managing, Altman had established an illegal financial operation, and Chul's involvement in these funds led to his detention.

  • chul
  • arrest
  • altman
  • slush fund
  • police
Q4

Why did Yoon die in the film?

Yoon's downfall resulted from Geum-ok's ruthless campaign after discovering his affair with Eva. As she tightened control over the family's affairs to protect her reputation, her extreme measures, including threatening Eva's life, led to the chain of events that caused Yoon's tragic demise.

  • yoon
  • death
  • geum-ok
  • downfall
  • affair
  • eva
Q5

Why did Young-jak decide to leave the family?

After witnessing Yoon's death and the family's complete moral collapse, Young-jak chose to sever ties with the dysfunctional household. The toxic environment of corruption, betrayal, and ruthless power plays became unbearable, prompting him to seek a new path away from their world.

  • young-jak
  • leave
  • escape
  • family
  • morals
Q6

Why did Young-jak take Eva's coffin to her homeland?

Young-jak escorted Eva's coffin back to the Philippines as a meaningful journey following the tragedy. This pilgrimage represented his attempt to find meaning after the chaos, and it became a transformative experience that allowed him to process the events and seek personal redemption.

  • young-jak
  • eva
  • coffin
  • journey
  • homeland
  • philippines
Q7

How did Young-jak and Nami become close?

Young-jak and Nami found companionship during the journey to return Eva's coffin to her homeland. Sharing the experience of loss and grief while navigating the aftermath of their family's collapse created an unexpected bond between them, leading to a new relationship formed through mutual understanding.

  • young-jak
  • nami
  • relationship
  • journey
  • grief
  • bond
Q8

What was Robert Altman's role in the story?

Robert Altman was an American businessman whose satisfaction Young-jak was tasked with maintaining through various clandestine arrangements. Securing Altman's pleasure was essential to closing a high-stakes deal vital to the family's financial prosperity, making him a crucial figure in the family's schemes.

  • robert altman
  • businessman
  • deal
  • secretary
  • financial
Q9

Why was Eva's life in jeopardy?

Eva became a target because Geum-ok, consumed by rage over Yoon's affair with her, used Eva as a weapon to maintain control. Geum-ok's extreme measures to protect her family's reputation and avoid scandal put Eva's life directly at risk.

  • eva
  • threat
  • geum-ok
  • danger
  • maid
  • affair
Q10

Why was Nami estranged from her family?

The summary indicates Nami was estranged from her family before the main events unfolded. The precise reason for this estrangement is not detailed in the provided summary, though it likely stems from the toxic family dynamics and moral corruption that pervade the household.

  • nami
  • estranged
  • family
  • daughter
  • conflict

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Taste of Money, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about wealth and corruption like The Taste of Money

Stories where immense wealth and power lead to moral decay and tragic consequences. If you enjoyed the dark exploration of power and moral decay in The Taste of Money, this thread features similar dramas about corrupt elites, political intrigue, and the destructive nature of wealth. These movies share a heavy emotional weight and a cynical, oppressive mood.

  • cynical
  • oppressive
  • morally ambiguous
  • greed-driven
  • claustrophobic
  • sordid
  • Tone: dark, cynical, oppressive
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow characters drawn into or born within powerful, corrupt systems—be they corporate, political, or familial. Their journeys involve confronting the seductive nature of wealth and status, often leading to profound moral compromise, betrayal, and a tragic loss of innocence or life.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on the oppressive atmosphere of immense power, their dark tone, and their thematic exploration of how wealth corrupts individuals and institutions. They create a claustrophobic, morally ambiguous world where traditional values are upended by the pursuit of money.

Movies with a moral descent arc like The Taste of Money

Character-driven stories where an outsider is seduced by a toxic world of power. Fans of Young-jak's journey in The Taste of Money will appreciate this collection of films about characters tempted by power and wealth. These stories feature a steady pacing, a bittersweet or bleak ending, and a heavy focus on the psychological cost of moral compromise.

  • morally ambiguous
  • psychological
  • tragic
  • bittersweet
  • seduction
  • internal conflict
  • Tone: morally ambiguous, tragic, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The central pattern is the character arc of an observer or newcomer who serves as the audience's entry point into a corrupt system. The plot revolves around their gradual seduction and moral compromise, creating a slow-burn tension as they must eventually choose between assimilation or a painful escape.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific character journey and emotional trajectory. They are united by a steady pacing that allows for a nuanced exploration of temptation, a morally ambiguous tone, and endings that are often bittersweet, reflecting the high price of the protagonist's choices.

Every angle

The Taste of Money (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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

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