Once upon a time in a small village in Korea, there lived a kind witch named Ji-Yeon. Ji-Yeon was known for her compassionate nature and willingness to help others. She had a heart of gold and always did her best to bring happiness to those around her. Ji-Yeon's magical powers were unlike any other witch in the village. Rather than using her powers for mischief or personal gain, she used them to heal the sick, bring rain during droughts, and protect the village from evil spirits. Her intentions were pure, and she quickly became highly respected and loved by the villagers.
Ja-yoon’s story begins when she escapes from a secret torture laboratory at age 8 and is adopted by an older couple who nurse her back to health. She lives an ordinary life until she is 19. With the family farm going bankrupt and both parents dealing with serious health issues, Ja-yoon is under pressure. She relies on her best friend/sister figure Myung-hee (Go Min-si), a bouncy, silly sidekick who complements her solemn friend. Myung-hee talks Ja-yoon into going on popular TV talent show to showcase her singing (and some other mysterious talents that remain hidden for a large part of the film). Ja-yoon excels at everything, but is also shy and tries to deflect attention to those around her. She dotes on her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, she worries about her father’s health, she encourages Myung-hee’s impulses and allows her to push her boundaries.
Myung-hee talks Ja-yoon into going on popular TV talent show to showcase her singing and some other mysterious talents that remain hidden for a large part of the film. If you grasped all that without having seen Part 1, you ll notice that the plot is a bit like a Korean version of Stranger Things, with Ark 1 as The Witch s version of Eleven, the lab-reared victim-prodigy with extraordinary psionic powers.
Her intentions were pure, and she quickly became highly respected and loved by the villagers. It was said that Ji-Yeon had inherited her magical abilities from her ancestors, who had passed down their ancient knowledge through generations. She had spent many years studying and perfecting her craft, using her powers for the greater good of society.
The kind korean witch
THE WITCH: PART 1- THE SUBVERSION is a charming Korean young adult thriller starring a superhero unlike any other. In lead Kim Da-mi’s second acting role, she slips effortlessly into the character of Ja-yoon, a young woman who escaped childhood imprisonment that gave her extraordinary powers. The first of three films, Ja-yoon’s captivating origin story delivers a heroine in the making.
Ja-yoon’s story begins when she escapes from a secret torture laboratory at age 8 and is adopted by an older couple who nurse her back to health. She lives an ordinary life until she is 19. With the family farm going bankrupt and both parents dealing with serious health issues, Ja-yoon is under pressure. She relies on her best friend/sister figure Myung-hee (Go Min-si), a bouncy, silly sidekick who complements her solemn friend. Myung-hee talks Ja-yoon into going on popular TV talent show to showcase her singing (and some other mysterious talents that remain hidden for a large part of the film). Ja-yoon excels at everything, but is also shy and tries to deflect attention to those around her. She dotes on her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, she worries about her father’s health, she encourages Myung-hee’s impulses and allows her to push her boundaries.
Ja-yoon does not fit either the typical superhero or super villain look. Her bulging eyes and blank facial expressions telegraph that she is frail, weak, and mild, only to release huge storms of violence à la The Raid when underestimated by her enemies. She is spindly, pale and rarely wears makeup. Her look is androgynous, and her family and friends don’t let her forget that she should be trying harder to look feminine to attract men. Comfortable with her own style, Ja-yoon has no interest in dating or impressing anyone.
Unlike the glamorous, tailor-made costuming of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman or Jennifer Lawrence’s scrappy-chic aesthetic in The Hunger Games, Ja-yoon does not dress in a traditionally feminine manner. She doesn’t have a cool costume, opting for baggy sweatpants or her school uniform. And besides the weapons she pilfers in desperation, she doesn’t own any guns, knives, or high-tech weapons. She doesn’t want to be a hero at all— Ja-yoon tries in vain to maintain her calm, normal life.
For as well as we think we know our protagonist for most of the movie, the third act proves us wrong. Ja-yoon has telekinetic abilities, which she performs on television for the world to see, even though fame puts her in danger. While she only makes a microphone levitate on the show, she later uses her telekinesis fight her enemies from the torture laboratory. Her other powers include being incredibly fast, and wicked dangerous with a knife, her bare hands, or any kind of weapon. She breaks her wrist at one point and sets it herself, her bones cracking, without so much as batting an eye. Watching her shift from innocent and helpless to badass murderer is just delightful.
In a Batman vs. Superman type of showdown, Ja-yoon fights other kids who also escaped the torture lab who are equally powerful. It isn’t made clear why exactly they want to kill her—main villain Nobleman drags out the fairly obvious “do you know who I am yet?” act for a painfully long time without ever giving a reason why he and the others want Ja-yoon dead. THE WITCH: PART 1- THE SUBVERSION has a few flaws like this that are unavoidable. Prepare yourself for a lot of “villain explaining their convoluted evil plan” type scenes, albeit paired with interesting backstory footage. This doesn’t excuse the dragging-on feeling of a villain explaining their whole plan over several long minutes; it skews silly when the subject matter is dark and meant to be taken seriously. Despite that, the movie is still enjoyable, especially if you’re a fan of films like Train to Busan or The Raid, as the fight choreography is top notch.
Ja-yoon is a YA superhero to watch for in the future. The film is the first in a trilogy, ending on a cliffhanger that teases the prospect of Ja-yoon forging her way in the world for the first time. After finally succumbing to the violent power high she’d been craving, the end of the movie leaves us with a viciously brutal, angrier Ja-yoon who is confident in her ability to bring down anyone who steps in her path.
This origin story leaves us with a Ja-yoon we don’t yet know, who will be revealed further in the penultimate sequel. She isn’t your typical blockbuster hero, and that makes her irresistible to those of us who love a unique, deadly, unstoppable woman.
One day, a young boy named Min was bitten by a poisonous snake while playing in the forest. His family was distraught and believed there was no hope for his survival. Word quickly spread throughout the village about Min's condition, and soon, everyone turned to Ji-Yeon for help. Without hesitation, Ji-Yeon rushed to Min's side and used her magical abilities to draw out the venom from his body. She worked tirelessly for hours, until finally, Min's condition stabilized. The villagers were in awe of Ji-Yeon's powers and were forever grateful for her saving the young boy's life. Ji-Yeon's acts of kindness didn't stop there. She regularly visited the sick and elderly in the village, using her powers to heal their ailments and provide comfort. She would spend hours brewing special potions and casting spells to ease their pain and bring them relief. Despite her magical abilities, Ji-Yeon remained humble and never sought recognition or reward for her actions. She knew that her purpose as a witch was to bring happiness and joy to those in need, and that was all the reward she needed. Throughout the village, Ji-Yeon became known as the kind Korean witch, a symbol of selflessness and compassion. Her story spread far and wide, and many came from neighboring villages seeking her help and guidance. Ji-Yeon's legacy lives on in the hearts of those she helped. To this day, people remember her as the witch who used her powers for good, reminding everyone that kindness and compassion are the most powerful magic of all..
Reviews for "The Kind Korean Witch: Channeling Magic for Good"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Kind Korean Witch". The plot was so predictable, and I felt like I had seen it all before. The characters were also one-dimensional and lacked depth. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to truly connect with any of the characters. Overall, the book just didn't grab my attention and failed to deliver a captivating and original story.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "The Kind Korean Witch" to be incredibly boring and uninteresting. The pacing was slow, and there were long periods of time where nothing significant happened. The writing style was also very simplistic and felt more suited for a children's book. I had high hopes for this novel based on the premise, but it fell flat for me. I struggled to finish it and would not recommend it to others.
3. Michael - 2 stars - In my opinion, "The Kind Korean Witch" tried too hard to be whimsical and magical. The author seemed to focus more on creating a fantastical world than developing a cohesive and engaging storyline. The numerous magical elements and creatures introduced felt random and unnecessary, taking away from the main plot. I found it hard to follow and connect with the story, and ultimately, it left me feeling confused and dissatisfied. Unfortunately, this book was not for me.