Hyoja-Dong Ibalsa on AllMovie

A simple man becomes an unwitting witness to some of the darkest and most corrupt days in recent Korean history in this satirical comedy drama. Song Gang-ho stars as Seong Han-mo, a barber whose shop is only a few blocks from the presidential palace in Seoul. Unfailingly loyal but not especially bright, Han-mo was born in 1961 as anti-government demonstrations by students were being met with police violence. Following in his father's footsteps as a barber, Han-mo is raised to do as he's told and not to ask too many questions, so when South Korean President Syngman Rhee (Jo Yeong-jin) is up for reelection, he follows the instructions of local political dealmakers and does his part to see that Rhee's corrupt regime stays in power. When Gen. Park (Park Yong-su), Rhee's right-hand man, declares a ban on long hair to ferret out political dissidents, Han-mo sees it as a boon to his profession and a reward for his efforts, and he's naturally delighted when he's summoned to the President's home for a haircut. Han-mo soon becomes the leader's official barber, but after repeated visits, he slowly becomes aware of the corruption and instability of Rhee's administration, and when his son Nak-an (Lee Jae-eung) is captured and tortured by Korean intelligence agents, who believe he's been acting for communist forces in the North, Han-mo questions his beliefs for the first time.