The KCCUK is pleased to present the programme “50/50: Celebrating 50 Years of Korean Film Preservation,” co-organised with the Korean Film Archive following its 50th anniversary, which was marked last year.

This special series showcases four restored films from the 1950s. Each work has been digitally restored, and all of the selected titles hold an important place in the history of Korean cinema.

The Money (1958)

Bong-su is a farmer who, even in a good year, struggles to repay his debts and support his family (his wife, his daughter, and his son who has just returned from military service). His difficulties are not due to a lack of effort; rather, farming offers little financial reward, and he lacks the opportunistic skills needed to protect or grow his income. Gradually, through card games at the local tavern and attempts to strike business deals in Seoul, he is drawn toward financial ruin.

Based on a play by Son Ki-hyun, The Money offers a strident critique of capitalist society and reflects the strong influence of Italian Neorealism on postwar Korean cinema. At the time of its release in 1958, the film’s pessimistic tone likely resonated deeply with audiences who were experiencing similar hardships in the aftermath of war and economic instability.