as Lee Mong-ryong : The master, portrayed here as more fatuous and petty than in traditional versions.

as Bang-ja : Delivers a soulful, quiet intensity as the low-born protagonist willing to sacrifice everything for love.

The film is a reimagining of the classic Korean folktale Chunhyangga (The Song of Chunhyang). Traditionally, the story is a romantic epic about the noble love between a magistrate’s son, Lee Mong-ryong, and the virtuous daughter of a gisaeng (Korean courtesan), Chunhyang.

[Bang-ja (Servant)] <==== True Passion & Desire ====> [Chun-hyang] || || Duty & Envy Social Elevation || || \/ \/ [Mong-ryong (Master)] <== Arranged Courtship & Status ===='' Critical Reception and Box Office Impact

The 2010 South Korean film The Servant (also known as The Story of Bang-ja

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The film attracted over 3 million viewers domestically and grossed roughly $19.9 million USD globally.

The film revolves around the story of a wealthy and successful businessman, Dong-ik (played by Oh Dal-su), who hires a young and enigmatic servant, Jong-suk (played by Lee Jung-jae), to work in his isolated country house. What begins as a seemingly ordinary employer-employee relationship soon descends into a twisted game of cat and mouse, as Jong-suk's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and unhinged.