The Power of Kangwon Province(Gangwon-do ui him)

Structured along parallel lines, Hong's second feature showcases two stories that reflect and contrast with one another, laying the groundwork for his filmmaking in the decades to come. The diptych explores intertwined destinies and near-misses – the first story focuses on a young woman who travels with two girlfriends and becomes romantically entangled with a local cop; the second shifts to a listless professor who indulges in a wild getaway with an old schoolfriend. Set in a retreat in Kangwon, the essential divide is not between north and south, but rather between memory and desire, perception and reality – each connected by fate's intricate twists and turns.

Blue Dragon Awards: Best Director and Best Screenplay