A light story filled with heartwarming interactions, Pawn can surely touch our hearts, and deliver a delightful family story.
Rushing after a summit, Seung-yi (Ha Ji Won) receives a call about the possible location of Park Du-seok (Sung Dong Il). She recalls her life when she was ten years old in Incheon in 1993. Left with a debt, her mother Kang Myung-ja (Kim Yoon Jin) gets cornered by debt collectors, and Seung-yi (Park So-yi) is brought in as a pawn.
Trusting that Myung-ja will bring her payment and come to pick her daughter up the next day, Du-seok and Jong-bae (Kim Hee Won) look after Seung-yi. However, Myung-ja gets deported back to China, and she entrusts to Du-seok a contact detail of Seung-yi’s uncle. With the assurance that her debt will be paid, Du-seok gives in to the things Seung-yi wishes to try in Seoul before coming to Busan with her uncle.
Choi Byung-dal, Seung-yi’s uncle comes to fetch her in the station after sending the payment to Du-seok. Observing Byung-dal, Du-seok has hesitations of sending Seung-yi off, so he regularly worries about her. He hears from Seung-yi, and he rushes to rescue her after hearing that she is sold to a hostess club.
A Family Stronger than Blood Relations
Seeing Seung-yi’s injury, Du-seok provides for her treatment and also enlists her for school. Seung-yi was hesitant to agree to put Du-seok as her father, but she then later accepts this move in order to enter school. Du-seok along with Jong-bae runs a delivery service, and they become her guardians that provide a warm home to her. Seung-yi grows up under the care of the two, and they celebrate her achievements together.
Du-seok receives a call from Seung-yi’s grandmother, and Seung-yi reunites with her sick mother. Myung-ja informs Du-seok about the truth about Seung-yi’s father, and he sets a meeting for them to meet. Seung-yi calls Du-seok, and asks him to fetch her and finally refers to him as dad. Du-seok falls into a motorcycle accident, and he becomes missing for a few years.
At present, Seung-yi comes back to the police station after passing by a tarpaulin similar to what she saw when she was young. Jong-bae and Seung-yi finally trace and reunite with Du-seok, who now goes by the name Seung-bo.
Marcie Line watched Pawn on Vivamax
Movie Rating: 
Pawn Movie Peak Points
Seung-yi’s Heartwarming Familial Bonds with Du-seok & Jong-bae
Although Seung-yi was initially taken as a pawn, Du-seok has made sure to provide for her needs. Their goal as debt collectors was just to gather the payment for the loans, and taking in a child is not part of it. However, as the plot progresses, we can see how Du-seok means no harm to Seung-yi from the beginning.
In fact, he is a thoughtful and caring man who genuinely looks after Seung-yi. This is highlighted when he provides for the needs and wants of Seung-yi as a child. He and Jong-bae rescued Seung-yi from the dangerous hostess club she was sold in, and stood as her guardians instead of sending her back to her uncle or to the orphanage.
We can see how they took care of Seung-yi from young to old, celebrating her first perfect score, and even supporting her during her days as a college student.
Du-seok’s Fatherly Love
In the movie, Du-seok stands as Seung-yi’s guardian, but he made sure to provide everything Seung-yi needed even though those that might cost him a lot. When Seung-yi called him dad, his heart rejoiced and rushed to meet her. He may have been separated from her and Jong-bae for a long time. But their reunion gave viewers an assurance that Seung-yi searched for him at her own will, and also chose him to walk her in the aisle at her wedding.
Acknowledgment of a Child’s Basic Rights
Seung-yi’s parents are illegal aliens inside the country, and it has been difficult for them to find jobs that can provide for their family. The debt along with their living conditions makes it infeasible for Seung-yi to be provided with all her needs as a child. Even her own uncle sold her to a place with unreliable custody, which highlights how children are neglected and exposed to dangers.
As Du-seok and Jong-bae step in as Seung-yi’s guardians, her rights as a child are provided. The two made sure to provide her basic needs, a safe home, as well as education. Even though they may not be blood-related, they made sure that Seung-yi enjoys her life throughout her development, and become a productive member of society.
Pawn Movie Musings
Having a solid cast in a story that is well-written, Pawn provides both warmth and entertainment to its viewers. There’s never a dull moment in the movie as the cast’s familial chemistry as Du-seok, Jong-bae, and Seung-yi, both young and old, has helped in setting the tone of the film.
Their interactions are adorable and comedic especially at the time when Seung-yi wished to go to Seo Taiji’s concert. In addition to that, Ha Ji Won’s acting when her character was reunited with Du-seok is one of the scenes that can truly touch the viewers’ hearts.
As the movie is set in 1993 moving to the present, objects that are used in the past such as a pager can be seen in the movie. This vibe of the movie may somehow be similar to the reply series, and with Sung Dong Il portraying Park Du-seok, we can get reminded of his fatherly roles from the series.
Observing his character as Park Du-seok, he is selfless and genuine. Seeing how he honors the existing relations of Seung-yi to her biological parents, we could somehow say that he does not expect anything in return. His attitude and genuineness as a parent or guardian can be a guiding blueprint for all parents.
The plot is paced well, and the emotion from every scene is balanced. Park So-yi’s portrayal of young Seung-yi clearly highlighted how her character is quick-witted despite having a turbulent life. Seung-yi may have undergone unfortunate experiences, but she remains intelligent, knowing what to do and who to contact in times of trouble. Moreover, she is also warmhearted and appreciative of Du-seok’s efforts.
Du-seok has been missing for several years, but Seung-yi never gave up in searching for him. Seung-yi has a good nature and has a grasp and understanding of all the things that have happened in her life. She has been given a great opportunity to grow as a productive member of society thanks to Du-seok’s initiative.
What makes Seung-yi attached to him as a father is not the material things provided to her, but instead is the warmth. Pawn just proves that people can become family even with no blood relations. Belonging with genuine people who care and support you can be enough to be considered as family.
Pawn is now available on Vivamax.
Photos: CJ ENM | KOFIC
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