Miracle: Letters to the President
Dreaming of making a way station for his sister and the villagers who have no choice but to commute along the dangerous train tracks every day, Joon-kyung sends many letters to the President, but with no reply. Ra-hee, who has a crush on Joon-kyung, does everything she can to help him meet the President.
The film earned $5.6M 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%)
Miracle: Letters to the President (2021) demonstrates precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Lee Jang-hoon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Jun-kyung and his sister Ra-hee walk miles to catch the train for school, establishing their remote village's isolation and the daily hardship of having no nearby station.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Ra-hee misses a crucial exam because they couldn't reach the train in time, threatening her educational future and crystallizing the desperate need for a local station.. At 11% 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 First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Jun-kyung makes the active choice to begin his letter-writing campaign to the president, committing fully to the seemingly impossible goal of bringing a train station to his village., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: The petition gains significant signatures or receives official acknowledgment, making it seem like the station might actually happen. Stakes are raised as success seems possible but brings new pressures., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The petition is officially rejected, or a key supporter dies/leaves, or Ra-hee faces another devastating setback. The dream appears completely dead. Jun-kyung faces the death of hope., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. New information arrives (historical context: the real station was built) or Jun-kyung realizes the true value wasn't just the station but uniting the community. Synthesis of personal growth with original goal., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Miracle: Letters to the President's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Miracle: Letters to the President against these established plot points, we can identify how Lee Jang-hoon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Miracle: Letters to the President within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jun-kyung and his sister Ra-hee walk miles to catch the train for school, establishing their remote village's isolation and the daily hardship of having no nearby station.
Theme
A teacher or elder remarks that "Sometimes impossible dreams are what make life worth living" or similar sentiment about persistence and belief in the face of overwhelming odds.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of 1980s rural South Korea, the village of Saemaeul, Jun-kyung's family dynamics, his sister's dreams of education, the village's economic struggles, and the impossibility of getting a train station in such a small town.
Disruption
Ra-hee misses a crucial exam because they couldn't reach the train in time, threatening her educational future and crystallizing the desperate need for a local station.
Resistance
Jun-kyung debates whether his crazy idea could work. He researches the petition process, faces skepticism from villagers, and learns about writing to the president. Initial hesitation and planning phase.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jun-kyung makes the active choice to begin his letter-writing campaign to the president, committing fully to the seemingly impossible goal of bringing a train station to his village.
Mirror World
Introduction or deepening of Jun-kyung's relationship with Bo-kyung, a young woman who believes in his dream and represents the theme of faith in the impossible.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the campaign: Jun-kyung writes countless letters, rallies villagers, faces bureaucratic obstacles with creativity and determination, small victories build momentum, community slowly comes together.
Midpoint
False victory: The petition gains significant signatures or receives official acknowledgment, making it seem like the station might actually happen. Stakes are raised as success seems possible but brings new pressures.
Opposition
Government officials push back, economic feasibility is questioned, political opponents emerge, villagers lose faith, personal sacrifices mount, Jun-kyung's relationships strain under the pressure of his obsession.
Collapse
The petition is officially rejected, or a key supporter dies/leaves, or Ra-hee faces another devastating setback. The dream appears completely dead. Jun-kyung faces the death of hope.
Crisis
Jun-kyung processes the failure, questions whether his efforts were foolish, dark night of contemplation about meaning and purpose, the emotional low point before potential breakthrough.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
New information arrives (historical context: the real station was built) or Jun-kyung realizes the true value wasn't just the station but uniting the community. Synthesis of personal growth with original goal.
Synthesis
Final push: Armed with new understanding, Jun-kyung makes one last effort, the community rallies authentically, the resolution of whether the station gets built, confronting final obstacles with transformed perspective.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening walk to the train, but now shows the station standing (or the community transformed regardless). Jun-kyung has grown from a dreaming youth to someone who proved miracles can happen through persistence.