'The Journey to Gyeong-ju' balances tragedy, humor in grief-driven road trip

Eight years ago, a mother's youngest daughter disappeared during a school excursion. Driven by grief, she now embarks on a road trip with her remaining daughters to seek retribution against the murderer, who has since been released from prison. This is the premise of director Kim Mi-jo's feature film debut, "The Journey to Gyeongju." Kim previously garnered critical acclaim for her indie drama "Gull" (2021), which centered on an elderly woman seeking justice.

The film follows Ok-sil (played by Lee Jeong-eun) and her three daughters - Jang-ju (Kong Hyo-jin), Young-ju (Park So-dam), and Dong-ju (Lee Yeon) - as they travel to the southwestern city of Gyeongju to mete out their own form of justice to Baek Sang-hyun (Byun Yo-han), the killer who received a lenient sentence for the tragedy.

Their quest for vengeance is fraught with comedic mishaps and awkward situations, but Ok-sil's determination to avenge her daughter imbues the story with an emotional depth that resonates strongly.

The city of Gyeongju holds a bittersweet significance for the family, as it is where their youngest daughter, also named Gyeong-ju, tragically lost her life on a school trip. Hence, their road trip can be seen as a painful journey of return to that once joyful place.