Citizen of a Kind
After a fire destroys her laundromat, a single mother is tricked by a voice phishing scheme. She decides to investigate the criminals behind it.
The film earned $12.0M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Citizen of a Kind (2024) demonstrates precise plot construction, characteristic of Park Young-ju's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 9-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Deok-hee receives a phone call from scammers posing as prosecutors, claiming her identity has been stolen and she needs to transfer her savings to a "safe account" for protection.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The scammers directly threaten Deok-hee's daughter at school, and Jae-min is badly beaten as a warning, making Deok-hee realize her quest for justice has put her loved ones in mortal danger., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Deok-hee orchestrates an elaborate plan turning the scammers' tactics against them, rallying other victims and using media attention to force police action, ultimately exposing and dismantling the criminal network., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Citizen of a Kind's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 9 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Citizen of a Kind against these established plot points, we can identify how Park Young-ju utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Citizen of a Kind within the action genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupTheme
A colleague mentions that ordinary people have to fight for themselves because no one else will help them when they're in trouble.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Deok-hee's difficult life: her demanding job, financial struggles, strained relationship with her daughter, and the pervasive atmosphere of economic anxiety in modern Korea.
Disruption
Deok-hee receives a phone call from scammers posing as prosecutors, claiming her identity has been stolen and she needs to transfer her savings to a "safe account" for protection.
Resistance
Deok-hee debates whether to believe the scammers, gradually falls victim to their sophisticated manipulation, transfers her life savings, then realizes she's been scammed and reports it to police who offer little hope.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Deok-hee and Jae-min investigate the scam operation, tracking down low-level operatives, learning how the voice phishing network operates, and getting closer to the organization while having small victories.
Opposition
The scammers realize they're being hunted and fight back, threatening Deok-hee's daughter, revealing the operation is larger and more dangerous than expected, with connections to organized crime that make authorities reluctant to help.
Collapse
The scammers directly threaten Deok-hee's daughter at school, and Jae-min is badly beaten as a warning, making Deok-hee realize her quest for justice has put her loved ones in mortal danger.
Crisis
Deok-hee considers giving up, feeling responsible for Jae-min's injuries and terrified for her daughter's safety, questioning whether one ordinary person can really fight a criminal organization.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Deok-hee orchestrates an elaborate plan turning the scammers' tactics against them, rallying other victims and using media attention to force police action, ultimately exposing and dismantling the criminal network.