# Like a Virgin (film)

Like a Virgin (Korean: 천하장사 마돈나; RR: Cheonhajangsa Madonna; literally Strong Man Under Heaven Madonna) is a 2006 South Korean comedy-drama film written and directed by Lee Hae-jun and Lee Hae-young. Ryu Deok-hwan stars in the lead role as transgender teenager Oh Dong-ku, and won several domestic awards for his performance, as well as a nomination for the Asia Pacific Screen Award Best Performance by an Actor. The film's English title is a reference to a Madonna song of the same name.

## Plot

Chubby high school student and Madonna-devotee Oh Dong-ku is a trans woman living with her abusive, alcoholic father. Dong-ku works part-time to save money for the sex reassignment surgery she craves. Despite being told that she has the perfect physique for ssireum, Dong-ku has no interest in taking up sports—but when she finds out about an upcoming ssireum tournament with a large cash prize going to the winner, she changes her mind and signs up for the team.

## Cast

* Ryu Deok-hwan as Oh Dong-ku
* Baek Yoon-sik as Coach
* Lee Sang-ah as Dong-ku's mother
* Lee Eon as Park Joon-woo
* Moon Se-yoon as Song Young-bae (Big guy 1)
* Kim Yong-hoon as Big guy 2
* Yoon Won-seok as Big guy 3
* Park Young-seo as Jong-man
* Tsuyoshi Kusanagi as Japanese teacher
* Kim Yoon-seok as Dong-ku's father
* Kim Kyeong-ik as Jin-chul
* Oh Yoon-hong as Company president's wife
* Choi Jung-woo as Company president
* Kwak Min-seok as Priest
* Kim Do-yeon as Large female employee
* Kim Won-sik as Oh Dong-chul
* Kwon Oh-jin as Worker
* Jang Nam-yeol as Homeroom teacher
* Lee Jae-gu as Employee at labor office
* Kim Tae-joon as Choir member at concert hall
* Kwon Jae-won as Lawyer

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2006 | 7th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best New Director | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Won |
| 2006 | 7th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best New Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Won |
| 2006 | 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Director | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Won |
| 2006 | 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Won |
| 2006 | 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Won |
| 2006 | 5th Korean Film Awards | Best Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Nominated |
| 2006 | 5th Korean Film Awards | Best New Director | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Won |
| 2006 | 5th Korean Film Awards | Best New Actor | Moon Se-yun | Nominated |
| 2006 | 5th Korean Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Nominated |
| 2006 | 9th Director's Cut Awards | Best New Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Won |
| 2007 | 4th Max Movie Awards | Best New Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Won |
| 2007 | 20th Singapore International Film Festival | NETPAC Award | Like a Virgin | Won |
| 2007 | 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Director | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Nominated |
| 2007 | 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Nominated |
| 2007 | 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Won |
| 2007 | 11th Fantasia International Film Festival | Best Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Won |
| 2007 | 44th Grand Bell Awards | Best New Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Won |
| 2007 | 44th Grand Bell Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young | Nominated |
| 2007 | 1st Korea Movie Star Awards | Best Young Star | Ryu Deok-hwan | Won |
| 2007 | 1st Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Actor | Ryu Deok-hwan | Nominated |