Flying Boys (2004)

Flying Boys (Korean: 발레 교습소; RR: Ballet Gyoseubso) is a 2004 South Korean coming-of-age drama film directed and written by Byun Young-joo. The film explores the lives of high school seniors as they navigate the pressures of academic expectations, family relationships, and the transition into adulthood.

Promotional poster for the film Flying Boys

Plot

The story centers on three close friends—Min-jae (Yoon Kye-sang), Dong-wan (Lee Joon-gi), and Chang-seob (On Joo-wan)—who are struggling with the typical anxieties of their final year of high school. As they prepare for college entrance exams, they face pressure from their parents and peers to define their futures.

Min-jae, whose father is a commercial pilot, feels the weight of expectations to follow a similar career path, despite his lack of interest and academic struggles. Meanwhile, his neighbor and love interest, Soo-jin (Kim Min-jung), aspires to be a veterinarian but faces personal challenges and family indifference. The lives of these teenagers intersect with a local ballet class at a community center, which is struggling to remain open due to low enrollment. After a series of events involving a traffic incident, the characters are compelled to join the ballet class, leading to personal growth and new perspectives on their lives.

Cast

Yoon Kye-sang as Kang Min-jae
Kim Min-jung as Hwangbo Su-jin
On Joo-wan as Chang-seob
Lee Joon-gi as Dong-wan
Kim Dong-wook as Ki-tae
Kang Do-han as Jong-seok
Park Grina as Seung-eon
Do Ji-won as Jung-sook
Kim Kap-soo as the director teacher