# The Face Reader (관상)
**The Face Reader** (관상, *Gwansang*, literal title *Physiognomy*) is a 2013 South Korean period drama directed by Han Jae-rim about a Joseon-dynasty face reader who becomes entangled in the 1455 seizure of the throne by Grand Prince Suyang, later King Sejo[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091) • [2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader). Starring [Song Kang-ho](https://www.edgepedia.org/song-kang-ho), Lee Jung-jae, Baek Yoon-sik, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Jong-suk, and [Jo Jung-suk](https://www.edgepedia.org/jo-jung-suk), it drew more than 9 million admissions and dominated the 50th Grand Bell Awards, winning six prizes including Best Film[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091) • [3](https://www.soompi.com/article/546251wpp/the-face-reader-sweeps-the-50th-grand-bell-awards-by-winning-six-awards-including-best-film).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | 관상 (*Gwansang*); English title *The Face Reader*, literal title *Physiognomy*[2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader) |
| Release | South Korea, September 11, 2013; United States, October 4, 2013[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3008014/releaseinfo/) |
| Director and writers | Han Jae-rim; screenplay by Kim Dong-hyuk and Han Jae-rim[2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader) |
| Runtime | 139 minutes (Cine21 lists 142 minutes)[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091) • [5](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=35216) |
| Box office | 9,135,853 admissions and $47,823,329 gross on 1,240 screens (KOFIC figure as of September 16, 2026)[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091) |
| Principal cast | Song Kang-ho (Nae-kyeong), Lee Jung-jae (Grand Prince Suyang), Baek Yoon-sik (Kim Jong-seo), Kim Hye-soo (Yeon-hong), Lee Jong-suk (Jin-hyeong), Jo Jung-suk (Paeng-heon)[2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader) |
| Major awards | Six wins from 11 nominations at the 50th Grand Bell Awards (2013), including Best Film[3](https://www.soompi.com/article/546251wpp/the-face-reader-sweeps-the-50th-grand-bell-awards-by-winning-six-awards-including-best-film) |
| Production | Jupiter Film, distributed by Showbox[2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and setting
The film is set in fifteenth-century Joseon, in the years leading to Sejo's seizure of the throne in 1455[2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader). Nae-kyeong, the son of a ruined noble family, has studied physiognomy, the practice of assessing a person's character and future from the face; he can judge personality, mental state, and habits by looking at someone[6](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-face-reader/2000197899/) • [2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader).
Living in seclusion in the mountains with his son Jin-hyeong and his brother-in-law Paeng-heon, Nae-kyeong is drawn back to the capital Hanyang by Yeon-hong, a gisaeng (a courtesan and entertainer) who offers him lucrative work reading the faces of her guests[7](https://www.yesasia.com/global/the-face-reader-2013-blu-ray-first-press-limited-edition-korea-version/1035160213-0-0-0-en/info.html) • [8](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-face-reader/umc.cmc.6ntk6zwbnibp3b3gu623bo0ik). After solving a murder case with his skill, he gains a reputation in the capital, and the vice premier [Kim Jong-seo](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-jong-seo) appoints him to the government's Inspection Board to help identify talented people[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091).
During his inspections Nae-kyeong discovers that Grand Prince Suyang, the king's ambitious uncle, is plotting to take the throne from his young nephew, King Danjong, after the unexpected death of King Munjong[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091) • [8](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-face-reader/umc.cmc.6ntk6zwbnibp3b3gu623bo0ik). Nae-kyeong keeps faith with the late king and joins Kim Jong-seo in trying to protect the young ruler, which places him at the center of the power struggle between Suyang and Kim Jong-seo[6](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-face-reader/2000197899/) • [8](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-face-reader/umc.cmc.6ntk6zwbnibp3b3gu623bo0ik).
## Cast and performances
The film uses an ensemble cast pairing established stars with younger actors. Song Kang-ho, who had worked with Han Jae-rim on *The Show Must Go On* (2007), plays the face reader Nae-kyeong; [Lee Jung-jae](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-jung-jae) plays Grand Prince Suyang; Baek Yoon-sik plays the general and chief minister Kim Jong-seo; [Kim Hye-soo](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-hye-soo) plays the gisaeng Yeon-hong; [Lee Jong-suk](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-jong-suk) plays Jin-hyeong; and Jo Jung-suk plays Paeng-heon[7](https://www.yesasia.com/global/the-face-reader-2013-blu-ray-first-press-limited-edition-korea-version/1035160213-0-0-0-en/info.html) • [2](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader).
Reviewers highlighted the cast as a central asset. Screen Daily called the choice and management of the cast one of the film's greatest assets, a successful trend in Korean cinema following *The Thieves* (2012) of combining established names with younger ones to reach a wider demographic[9](https://www.screendaily.com/the-face-reader/5060931.article). The AsianMovieWeb review found Lee Jung-jae's villain often outshining Song Kang-ho, while praising Baek Yoon-sik's supporting work[10](https://www.asianmovieweb.com/en/reviews/the_face_reader.htm).
## Box office and reception
Released on September 11, 2013 during the Chuseok holiday season, the film followed the previous year's hit *Masquerade* in the market for large-scale period dramas[10](https://www.asianmovieweb.com/en/reviews/the_face_reader.htm). Screen Daily reported shortly after release that it had amassed over $52.5 million from some 7.7 million admissions; the KOFIC database records final totals of 9,135,853 admissions on 1,240 screens and $47,823,329 in gross[9](https://www.screendaily.com/the-face-reader/5060931.article) • [1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091). Cine21's count of 9,134,976 admissions differs by fewer than a thousand from the KOFIC figure[5](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=35216).
Criticism was largely favorable but not unanimous. Screen Daily called it a gloriously sumptuous period drama that demonstrated Han's craftsmanship across genres[9](https://www.screendaily.com/the-face-reader/5060931.article). AsianMovieWeb praised the intrigue, dialogue, and characterization while faulting the screenplay for unfocusedness toward the end and a melodramatic conclusion that it judged too long at 138 minutes[10](https://www.asianmovieweb.com/en/reviews/the_face_reader.htm). Cine21's critic scores averaged 6.00 out of 10, with audience scores of 7.40[5](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=35216).
## Awards
At the 50th Grand Bell (Daejong) Awards, held on November 1, 2013, the film received 11 nominations and won six trophies: Best Film, Best Director (Han Jae-rim), Best Actor (Song Kang-ho, shared with [Ryu Seung-ryong](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryu-seung-ryong) of *Miracle in Cell No. 7*), the Hana Financial Group Popularity Award (Lee Jung-jae), Best Supporting Actor (Jo Jung-suk), and Best Costume Design (Shim Hyun-seop)[3](https://www.soompi.com/article/546251wpp/the-face-reader-sweeps-the-50th-grand-bell-awards-by-winning-six-awards-including-best-film). The Best Actor prize was Song Kang-ho's third Grand Bell Award, after wins for *JSA: Joint Security Area* (2001) and *Memories of Murder* (2004)[11](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=2748).
At the Blue Dragon Awards the film was nominated for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor, with Lee Jung-jae winning Best Supporting Actor[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3008014/awards/). The 2014 Paeksang (Baek Sang) Arts Awards gave Lee Jung-jae its Best Supporting Actor film prize[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091). The Korean Association of Film Critics named it one of the Films of the Year and awarded Song Kang-ho Best Actor, Jo Jung-suk Best Supporting Actor, and Lee Byung-woo Best Music[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3008014/awards/). IMDb counts 17 wins and 28 nominations across all bodies[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3008014/awards/).
## Later circulation
The film continued to appear at international festivals for years after release, including the Udine Far East Film Festival and New York Asian Film Festival (2014), the Vancouver Korean Film Festival (2018), the London East Asia Film Festival (2019), the Buenos Aires Korean Film Festival (2020), the Fajr International Film Festival (2021), and a Lee Jung-jae retrospective at the Florence Korea Film Fest in 2022[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091). It streams with English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese subtitles on platforms such as Viki, where it holds a user rating of 8.8[13](https://www.viki.com/movies/40394c-the-face-reader?locale=en).
## References
1. [The Face Reader (2013), KOFIC Korean Film Database](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20126091)
2. [The Face Reader, AsianWiki](https://asianwiki.com/The_Face_Reader)
3. ["The Face Reader" Sweeps the 50th Grand Bell Awards By Winning Six Awards Including Best Film, Soompi (Nov 2, 2013)](https://www.soompi.com/article/546251wpp/the-face-reader-sweeps-the-50th-grand-bell-awards-by-winning-six-awards-including-best-film)
4. [The Face Reader (2013) - Release info - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3008014/releaseinfo/)
5. [관상 (The Face Reader) 상세정보, Cine21](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=35216)
6. [The Face Reader, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-face-reader/2000197899/)
7. [The Face Reader (2013) Blu-ray review, YesAsia (Feb 24, 2014)](https://www.yesasia.com/global/the-face-reader-2013-blu-ray-first-press-limited-edition-korea-version/1035160213-0-0-0-en/info.html)
8. [The Face Reader, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-face-reader/umc.cmc.6ntk6zwbnibp3b3gu623bo0ik)
9. [The Face Reader review, Screen Daily (2013)](https://www.screendaily.com/the-face-reader/5060931.article)
10. [The Face Reader (South Korea, 2013) review, AsianMovieWeb](https://www.asianmovieweb.com/en/reviews/the_face_reader.htm)
11. [THE FACE READER Picks Up 6 at 50th Grand Bell Awards, KOFIC News (Nov 4, 2013)](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=2748)
12. [The Face Reader (2013) – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3008014/awards/)
13. [The Face Reader, Rakuten Viki](https://www.viki.com/movies/40394c-the-face-reader?locale=en)
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