Yoga (2009 South Korean Film)

Yoga (Korean: 요가학원; RR: Yoga Hakwon) is a 2009 South Korean horror film directed and written by Yun Jae-Yeon. The film centers on Hyo-Jung, played by Eugene, who seeks to improve her appearance and career prospects by enrolling in an intensive seven-day yoga training program. The institute is run by a mysterious former actress, and the course promises the secret to ultimate, immortal beauty to the most successful student.

Plot

Upon arrival at the institute, Hyo-Jung and four other participants are instructed by a yoga master named Nani (Cha Su-Yeon) to follow five strict rules throughout the week: no contact with the outside world, no unauthorized food consumption, no bathing within one hour of training, no mirrors, and no disclosure of the academy's events. As the training progresses, the participants face psychological pressure, and Hyo-Jung begins to suspect that the institute and its ageless proprietor harbor dark secrets.

Production

Filming for the project commenced on April 12, 2009. To prepare for their roles, the seven main actresses underwent three hours of intensive daily yoga training for two months prior to the start of production. Eugene was the only cast member with prior experience in yoga. The film marked a return to the horror genre for actress Lee Young-Jin, who had previously appeared in the 1999 film Memento Mori.

Reception

Yoga was released in South Korea on August 20, 2009. During its opening weekend, the film reached the number five spot at the box office, selling 110,328 tickets across 321 screens and accounting for 5.7% of total ticket sales for that period. The film remained in the top ten for two weeks, ultimately selling a total of 270,822 tickets during its theatrical run.