Jealousy Is My Middle Name

Jealousy Is My Middle Name (Korean: 질투는 나의 힘; RR: Jiltuneun naui him; lit. 'Jealousy is My Strength') is a 2003 South Korean film. It won Best Film honors at the Busan International Film Festival and the Rotterdam Film Festival and was the directorial debut of Park Chan-ok.^[1][2] It was inspired by the poem of the same name by Ki Hyung-do.

Jealousy Is My Middle Name
Poster for "Jealousy is My Middle Name"
Hangul	질투는 나의 힘
Hanja	嫉妬는 나의 힘
RR	Jiltuneun naui him
MR	Chilt'unŭn naŭi him
Directed by	Park Chan-ok
Written by	Park Chan-ok
Produced by	Shin Chang-il Peter Kim
Starring	Park Hae-il Bae Jong-ok Moon Sung-keun Seo Young-hee
Cinematography	Park Yong-su
Edited by	Kwon Ki-suk
Music by	Jeong Hun-yeong
Release date	April 18, 2003 (2003-04-18)
Running time	124 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean

In 2025, the film was selected by the South Korean film director Yoon Dan-bi [ko] for the section 'Our Little History, Please Take Care of Our Future!' at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, recognized as a work that had a profound influence on her creative journey.^[3]

Plot

Quiet, intelligent, solemn and recently dumped by his girlfriend, graduate student Lee Weon-san (Park Hae-il) takes a job at a literary magazine, ostensibly to supplement his income, but really to get close to the editor - the reason he's now single. The editor (Moon Sung-keun), unaware of who Lee is, takes a shine to him and makes him his personal assistant. He likes having him around as he's the only person he feels comfortable with, which means he often takes advantage of Lee's passive nature, making him run errands for him all over town.

The fiercely independent Lee, however, works without complaint, having started a new relationship with part-time photographer/part-time vet Park Seong-yeon (Bae Jong-ok). When she takes a full-time job at the magazine, however, Lee pleads with her not to get involved with the editor, a plea that goes unheeded and sets Lee thinking once again about vengeance. It's here that the film really starts to veer from the conventional path.

Cast

• Park Hae-il as Lee Weon-san
• Bae Jong-ok as Park Seong-yeon
• Moon Sung-keun
• Seo Young-hee

Awards and nominations

2002 Busan International Film Festival^[4]

• New Currents Award

2003 International Film Festival Rotterdam

• Tiger Award

2003 Busan Film Critics Awards

• Best New Actor – Park Hae-il

2003 Chunsa Film Art Awards

• Best New Actor – Park Hae-il

2003 Blue Dragon Film Awards

• Best Screenplay – Park Chan-ok

2003 Korean Film Awards

• Best New Actor – Park Hae-il

2003 Director's Cut Awards

• Best New Actor – Park Hae-il