The First Child (2022 Film)

The First Child (Korean: 첫번째 아이; RR: Cheotbeonjjae Ayi) is a 2022 South Korean drama film written and directed by Hur Jung-Jae. The film examines the societal and personal pressures faced by women balancing career responsibilities with the demands of new motherhood.

Plot

The story centers on Jung-A, played by Park Ha-Sun, who is preparing to return to her professional career after a one-year maternity leave following the birth of her first child. As she transitions back into the workplace, she struggles to balance her professional duties with her maternal instincts. To manage childcare, she hires a babysitter named Hwa-Ja, portrayed by Oh Min-Ae. However, Jung-A finds it difficult to trust someone else with her child, leading to increased anxiety. Her professional performance suffers, resulting in job insecurity, which culminates in a crisis when she receives news that her baby has disappeared.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast portraying the various pressures surrounding the protagonist's life:

• Park Ha-Sun as Jung-A
• Oh Dong-Min as Woo-Seok
• Oh Min-Ae as Hwa-Ja
• Kong Seong-Ha as Ji-Hyun
• Lim Hyung-Guk as Team Leader Song
• An Min-Young as Jung-A's neighbor
• Jeon Guk-Hyang as Jung-A's mother

Production

The First Child was directed and written by Hur Jung-Jae. The film was produced by Kim Sung-Jin and features cinematography by Kim Ji-Ryung. It was released in South Korea on November 10, 2022, with a runtime of 93 minutes, and distributed by The Coup Distribution.