Based on the bestselling novel by Kim Hye-jin, *Concerning My Daughter* is a quiet yet piercing Korean drama about a middle-aged mother who must confront her own prejudices when her queer daughter—and her girlfriend—move back in. As she balances her job as a caregiver for the elderly and her role as a parent, the lines between duty, love, and social conditioning begin to blur.
The Mother is a middle-aged woman working in a nursing home, quietly enduring the struggles of an underpaid, overlooked profession. Her daughter, simply referred to as Daughter, a university lecturer in financial trouble, returns home and brings her same-sex partner Je-hee with her. This unexpected reunion forces the Mother to reckon with her conservative upbringing, her fear of social judgment, and her love for a daughter she no longer fully understands.
Meanwhile, the Mother’s connection to a lonely elderly woman at the care home deepens, reflecting her own fears of growing old alone. Through these two parallel relationships—one with her daughter, the other with a forgotten elder—the Mother undergoes a profound inner transformation.
Concerning My Daughter Cast
Charactor
A weary but principled mother working as a caregiver. Her emotional evolution forms the heart of the film.
Oh Min-ae
Oh Min-ae (오민애) is a seasoned Korean actress known for her compelling performances in socially conscious films and dramas. Her portrayal of a conflicted yet deeply human mother adds powerful emotional weight to the film.
An independent, queer woman who returns home with her partner, challenging her mother’s worldview.
Im She-mi
Im She-mi (임세미) brings sharp emotional depth to the role of a daughter navigating both systemic discrimination and intimate familial tensions. She has previously appeared in various TV dramas, often noted for her expressive and grounded performances.
Daughter’s partner—confident, composed, and direct, challenging girlfriend’s mother’s assumptions at every turn.
Ha Yoon-kyung
Ha Yoon-kyung is known for her strong presence in both indie cinema and TV dramas, often portraying emotionally complex characters.
Director
Lee Mi-rang
Lee Mi-rang (이미랑) is a South Korean director known for her socially conscious filmmaking that centers women’s stories and generational conflict. With Concerning My Daughter, her feature debut, she earned a Best New Director nomination at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards. Lee's narrative choices showcase a quiet defiance—favoring interiority and realism over dramatization. Her background in documentary and screenwriting informs the film’s grounded pacing and subtle emotional impact.
MOVIE HIGHLIGHT
Based on a Bestseller
Adapted from Kim Hye-jin’s critically acclaimed novel, Concerning My Daughter dives into the generational and emotional complexities between a queer daughter and her traditional mother.
Intersection of Queerness and Elder Care
The film draws an unexpected yet powerful parallel between the marginalization of LGBTQ+ individuals and the loneliness of aging, revealing how both groups are systemically overlooked.
Award-Nominated Performances
Featuring a standout lead by Kim Jeong-young and a Baeksang-nominated directorial debut by Lee Mi-rang, this film quietly carved its place in Korea’s most prestigious award circuits.
Emotionally Intelligent Writing
With understated dialogue and evocative silences, the screenplay invites viewers to reflect on family, acceptance, and the social conditioning that affects how we love.
Not a Coming-Out Story, But a Coming-Through Story
Instead of focusing on “coming out,” the film is about enduring, negotiating, and finally softening the edges of generational prejudice—told entirely from the mother’s gaze.
Concerning My Daughter Review
Review
Concerning My Daughter is not loud. It doesn’t need to be. This film embodies the emotional weight of silence, the ache of unspoken disappointment, and the slow-burning love between mothers and daughters in conservative societies.
Through small gestures and restrained dialogue, director Lee Mi-rang captures the tension between generations. Jung-eun is not a villain—she’s a product of her era, deeply conditioned by patriarchy, yet slowly unraveling those constraints through empathy. Her tenderness toward the elderly woman mirrors her unresolved affection toward her own daughter.
The film is particularly poignant in how it shows that systemic discrimination—whether toward LGBTQ+ individuals or the elderly—thrives in silence. By focusing on two seemingly disconnected struggles, it draws powerful parallels between different forms of social invisibility.
A quietly devastating moment comes when Jung-eun sees her daughter and Je-hee caring for the elderly woman together, creating a surrogate family where society offers none. It’s in this act that she finally begins to soften, even if she cannot articulate her acceptance.
Concerning My Daughter Information
Awards & Nominations
🎖️ 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards – Best New Actress (Nominee: Ha Yoon-kyung)
🎖️ 61st Baeksang Arts Awards – Best New Director (Nominee: Lee Mi-rang)
🎖️ 28th Busan International Film Festival – Actress of the Year (Winner: Oh Min-ae)