더 펜션 (The Pension) is a 2018 South Korean anthology film directed jointly by Ryoo Jang‑ha, Yang Jong‑hyun, Yoon Chang‑mo, and Jeong Heo‑deok‑jae. The screenplay was written by the same four directors. Produced by J Rabbit and J‑Con Company, the film was released in South Korea on 21 June 2018 and has a running time of 113 minutes. The language of the film is Korean.
Synopsis
The film is structured as an omnibus (anthology) that presents four distinct stories, all set within the confined space of a rural pension (a Korean guesthouse). Each segment follows different characters who confront personal secrets, crimes, or emotional turmoil while staying at the pension. The narratives intersect thematically, exploring hidden desires, guilt, and the tension between public façade and private reality.
Cast
- 조재윤 (Cho Jae‑yoon) – 재덕
- 조한철 (Cho Han‑cheol) – 추호
- 박효주 (Park Hyo‑ju) – 미경
- 박혁권 (Park Hyuk‑kwon) – 남편
- 이영진 (Lee Young‑jin) – 여자
- 김태훈 (Kim Tae‑hoon) – 남자
- 신소율 (Shin So‑yul) – 자영
- 이이경 (Lee I‑kyung) – 인호
- 황선희 (Hwang Sun‑hee) – 소이
- 오태경 (Oh Tae‑kyung) – 유괴범
- 한재영 (Han Jae‑young) – 무성 등 다수 조연
Production
The film was developed as a collaborative project among four directors, each handling one segment of the omnibus. Principal photography took place in various locations across South Korea, focusing on a secluded pension setting that serves as the narrative hub. The cinematography was led by Lee Jong‑woo, and editing was performed by Lee Yoon‑hee. The original soundtrack was composed by Bumb‑Joon.
Reception
Upon its theatrical release, 더 펜션 received mixed reviews. Critics highlighted the film’s atmospheric setting and the directors’ attempt to weave multiple storylines within a single location, while some noted uneven pacing across the segments. Box‑office data indicates modest commercial performance relative to contemporaneous Korean releases.
References
- 위키백과, “더 펜션,” https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%8D%94_%ED%8E%9C%EC%85%98 (accessed 2026‑04‑19).
- 나무위키, “더 펜션,” https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%8D%94%20%ED%8E%9C%EC%85%98 (accessed 2026‑04‑19).
- 한국영화데이터베이스, “더 펜션 (The Pension),” https://movie.daum.net/moviedb/main?movieId=134699 (accessed 2026‑04‑19).
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