The Truth Beneath

A modern political thriller set against the backdrop of a contemporary election and media scrutiny. The timeline follows rapid revelations that intensify the pursuit of truth and the pressure to maintain a sympathetic public image. The events unfold in a fast-paced sequence where personal tragedy intersects with political strategy.

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting that centers on a high-stakes political campaign and a troubling family crisis. Locations shift between a politician's office, a private home, a school, and tense nighttime places like woods and an abandoned building. The setting emphasizes the clash between public image and private secrets.

🗳️ Power & Ambition

The plot centers on political ambition and the weaponization of public sympathy. Jong-chan's bid to win exposes a ruthless manipulation network, including a leaked exam-paper scheme and a murder-for-hire scheme that shadows the campaign. The film shows how the pursuit of power can corrode moral boundaries and entangle family in a political project. The twist reframes tragedy as a tool for electoral advantage, forcing characters to confront who bears responsibility.

🔎 Truth & Perception

The story probes how truth competes with image in a modern media environment. Yeon-hong digs through clues—ranging from a vanished daughter to hidden relationships—to uncover a deeper web of secrets. Lies, surveillance, and selective disclosures shape public understanding, while private pain remains hidden. The investigation exposes the fragility of certainty in a world eager to believe what flatters a narrative.

💔 Family & Tragedy

Private bonds fray under the pressure of a crisis that reveals uncomfortable truths. The disappearance and death of Min-jin tests the integrity of the family and the marriage, forcing Yeon-hong to confront the consequences of political ambition. The film examines how parental desperation can collide with moral boundaries, turning love into leverage. The personal cost of ambition becomes inseparable from the public drama.

💸 Class & Privilege

Appearances mask economic disparity as Mi-ok's family struggles under financial strain while a wealthier world looms around them. The expensive watch Mi-ok wears signals wealth beyond her means and triggers suspicion and manipulation. The film shows how wealth, poverty, and access to power influence choices, including blackmail and crime. The tension between social classes drives motives and outcomes behind the tragedy.