Director Leesong Hee-il’s independent film No Regret delves into homosexuality, a topic that is still taboo in Korea. The movie broaches love, loss, prostitution, sex and romance in Seoul through two characters from two very different paths of life. One is the young Sumin (Lee Young-Hoon), a factory worker and dishwasher who leaves the countryside to work as a male escort in Seoul. One of his clients, Jaemin (Lee Han), a wealthy businessman, falls deeply in love as his visits to Sumin’s host bar become more and more frequent.

 

Despite only grossing $84,000 in its first run, the low-budget Korean film was critically acclaimed and picked up for worldwide distribution at the 2006 Pusan International Film Festival. No Regret has hit select theaters in New York and Los Angeles, with more cities to follow.

 

In an interview with KoreAm, translated from Korean, Leesong discusses his controversial work.

 

How were you able to understand and portray the psyche of being a closeted homosexual in South Korea??

In Korea, living as a gay, I can understand what it’s like to be a closeted homosexual. Here, there are more gays who have not come out than gays who have come out. I am a member of Korean Gay Men’s Human Rights Coalition. Through that, I was able to see much of the Korean gay community. I also gathered interviews with “hosts” at gay host bars/clubs in Jong Rho, Seoul.

 

Some people have criticized the film for portraying homosexuals as being overly-sexualized. How do you feel about this??

It is true that I wanted to make the film very sexual. I don’t particularly enjoy stories of gays that try to avoid the discussion of sexuality or its nature. Becoming gay means being aware of your body and nature and the reasons why you differ from the societal standard.  ? 

 

Was your intention to open people’s eyes to the fact that homosexuality exists in Korea?

This movie was made to show the romantic or violent love lives of homosexuals in the same way you would show the love lives of heterosexuals. I also wanted to send my little message to all the gays: Let’s just live honestly. No more, no less. Just truthfully.

 

Can audiences expect a happy ending?

Though the ending wasn’t made to be clear like the endings of commercial films, I believe that these two people made a decision they wouldn’t regret.