"In Our Prime" is a 2022 South Korean drama film about Han Ji-Woo, a struggling high school student who fails to fit in at a prestigious school due to his financial situation. Ji-Woo's life changes when he meets Lee Hak-Sung, a North Korean defector who works as a night guard at the school. Hak-Sung is a mathematical genius who was forced to defect due to his government's misuse of his research for military purposes.
Hak-Sung becomes Ji-Woo's math tutor, teaching him valuable lessons about problem-solving and the importance of understanding the question. As Ji-Woo improves in math, he and Hak-Sung form a close bond, despite their differences. However, their relationship is put to the test when Hak-Sung's past is revealed, and he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions.
Meanwhile, Ji-Woo faces his own challenges, including being wrongly accused of leaking a math test and being pressured to transfer schools. Despite these obstacles, Ji-Woo remains loyal to Hak-Sung and helps him clear his name.
The film culminates with Hak-Sung revealing the truth about his past and his research, leading to a newfound appreciation for his work and a fresh start. The movie ends on a hopeful note, with Ji-Woo visiting Hak-Sung at a prestigious research institute, where he is now working, and the two sharing a heartwarming reunion.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The drama film "In Our Prime" is set in the most prestigious high school in South Korea.
2. The main character, Han Ji-Woo, is a student at the school who fails to fit in.
3. Ji-Woo is a former top student at his old school, but now he's struggling to keep up with his classmates.
4. Ji-Woo is on student welfare and can't afford tutors or boot camps like his wealthy classmates.
5. Ji-Woo's math teacher, Mister Kim, tells him he needs to improve his grades to get into a prestigious college.
6. Ji-Woo gets caught by the night guard, Lee Hak-Sung, while sneaking out to buy snacks and alcohol.
7. Hak-Sung is a North Korean defector who works as a night guard at the school.
8. Ji-Woo is temporarily kicked out of the dorms for sneaking out.
9. Ji-Woo meets with Hak-Sung, who offers to tutor him in math in secret.
10. Hak-Sung has three rules for their secret classes: nobody can know, no questions except about math, and no talk about grades or tests.
11. Ji-Woo improves his math skills with Hak-Sung's help and starts to gain confidence.
12. Ji-Woo's friend and fellow welfare student transfers back to his old school, causing Ji-Woo to reevaluate his own situation.
13. The school announces that instead of finals, the math students will participate in the prestigious Pythagoras Math Competition.
14. Ji-Woo and his classmates are given only two months to prepare for the competition.
15. Hak-Sung's past is revealed: he defected from North Korea to study math properly and escape the government's use of his research for military purposes.
16. Hak-Sung's son, Lee Tae-Yeon, died trying to swim back to North Korea after arguing with his father.
17. Ji-Woo is accused of leaking the Pythagoras test, but Hak-Sung reveals the truth: Mister Kim leaked the test to his private students.
18. Hak-Sung presents his research as proof that Ji-Woo didn't leak the test and reveals Mister Kim's wrongdoing.
19. Hak-Sung is given a new passport and tickets to leave town by Gi-Cheol, who helped him defect from North Korea.
20. Three years later, Ji-Woo visits Hak-Sung at the Oberwolfach Research Institute for Mathematics, where Hak-Sung is now working.