Untold Stories

A Frozen Flower (Hangul: 쌍화점; RR: Ssanghwajeom) is a 2008 South Korean film directed by Yoo Ha. The particularly controversial story is about the characters’ violation of royal family protocol and their pursuit of love.[1] The film is set in Goryeo Dynasty Korea and stars Jo In-seong, Ju Jin-mo and Song Ji-hyo. The historical background is to some degree the reign of Gongmin of Goryeo (1330–1374), but the film doesn't severely comply with historical facts.

The two lovers surpass their "official mission" and continue to meet each other at midnight in the library. The King begins to suspect Hong-lim's infidelity, so Hong-lim who asks the Queen to stay away from him and goes to the King to beg for forgiveness. Meanwhile, the Queen attempts to kill herself by slitting her wrists but fails. The King forgives him after hearing that Hong-lim's involvement with the Queen was purely lust. He decides to overlook everything that had happened and instead sends Hong-lim away for a while to have him cool down.

The night before Hong-lim's departure, the Queen's personal maid secretly informs him that the Queen wishes to meet him for one last time. She also bears news that the Queen has finally conceived. Hong-lim sneaks out of the King's bedside to meet the Queen in the library. They end up making love in the library, and the King catches them in flagranti. When the two lovers attempt to save the other by begging the King to "kill me instead," the King realizes how strong their love for each other is. In a fit of jealousy, he has Hong-lim castrated and sent to prison. The queen finds a way for Hong-lim to escape with the aid of Hong-lim's dearest subordinates.

Upon finding that Hong-lim has escaped, the King demands to know where he is from the Queen, who refuses to answer. In response, he kills her personal maid. The King is aware that the Queen is with child and by this time, everyone who was aware that the Queen's child was not the King's was exterminated.

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