In a letter sent to the KMRB, Kim stated that the mother-son incest element of the film (which he believes is the cause of the agency's restrictive ruling) is a necessary element to his story. He further explained that when taken in context of the overall narrative, this deviant relationship takes on a different meaning. Kim wrote that the inclusion of the scenes was 'an inevitable choice' for him. If the film fails to secure a more lenient rating, Kim said he will reimburse cast and crew out of his own pocket.
According to producer Kim Soon-mo, the KMRB has agreed to give the film a second chance after reviewing director Kim's letter. It is unclear whether the submitted cut has gone through any changes following the initial ruling.