: At just 26 years old, Lee Jung-jae was a relative newcomer to major feature films. His magnetic presence in An Affair earned him widespread industry attention, paving the way for his breakout role in City of the Rising Sun a year later.
Best Asian Film (1999 Newport Beach International Film Festival) The Plot: A Crisis of Affluence
The performance of Lee Mi-sook marked a significant return to cinema, praised for capturing the quiet grace and underlying desperation of a woman rediscovering her passion. an affair 1998 lk21
The undeniable gravity of the film rests on its two leads, who delivered performances that altered the trajectories of their respective careers. Lee Mi-sook as Seo-hyun
In 1998, he was the epitome of the "youthful seducer"—handsome, brooding, and dangerous to the established order. Watching his performance on a grainy LK21 stream today adds a layer of nostalgia. You see the raw talent that would eventually lead to global acclaim, stripped of the high-budget production values of his later work. : At just 26 years old, Lee Jung-jae
: Unlike typical melodramas of the era that focused on scandalous or sensationalized cheating, An Affair is noted for its restrained, minimalist approach . It explores the "purity" and emotional resonance of a relationship that conservative social mechanisms usually punish.
At the time, Lee Mi-sook was making a triumphant return to cinema after a near-decade-long hiatus following her marriage. She brings a world-weary grace and a simmering, unfulfilled longing to the role of Seo-hyun, a woman rediscovering her own desires. Her performance, described by one critic as "radiant," is a masterclass in minimalist acting, conveying a universe of emotion through subtle glances and body language. The undeniable gravity of the film rests on
As Seo-hyun and the much younger Woo-in spend time together, an intense and undeniable attraction develops. Despite the catastrophic risks to her family and social standing, they embark on a passionate affair that challenges Seo-hyun's long-held roles as a wife and mother. Cast and Production