Though Chunhyang is not meant to affect someone of my national and ethnic background, I was able to identify certain things that explain to me the importance of the story to the Korean culture. For example, the music had a distinctive sinuous wave of emotion (corresponding with high points of emotion in the movie) that is easily identifiable - allowing me to at least know that there is great emotion involved this story, even if I am unable relate to that emotion.
As for the sexual aspect of the movie, I see it as an extension of the emotional message the story is imparting upon the audience. Everything in the movie is quite intense, be it the sexual relations, the singing, etc and the sex scenes in the movie, in my opinion, are meant to graphically define the true meaning of sex, leaving no room for the audience to misunderstand that the two had an undeniable love for one another. Chunhyang and Mongnyong were so in love, they defy socially rigid class lines to be with each other, and one of the ways the movie attempts to show this extreme love for one another is through these scenes. One cannot help but notice these scenes, but we must understand that they are not meant to be vulgar, rather they are meant to illustrate love in a very apparent way.
In order to appreciate a different culture, a person has to remove all biases; he or she must forbid him or herself from judging or criticizing another culture's way of life - a very difficult thing to do. As we watch Chunhyang, it may be difficult to remove our cultural influences by which we are all affected, but what is intellectually attainable is for us to simply acknowledge there is an important message within the film.
We may not be able to - and may never be able to, for that matter - fully understand the affects of the underlying message of Chunhyang, but we have the ability to recognize that the "moral of the story" creates those affects, and thus fills an important role for this culture. In order to do so, it may be that we have to explore the technical aspects of the film (i.e. the intensity of the scenes, emotions, music, dialogue, etc) - rather than relying on the sociocultural messages inherently recognized by the Korean culture - to explain to ourselves what this film entails for this society.
On a personal note, prior to watching Chunhyang, I had spoken with my Korean friend, Helen, about the story because Dr. Blackmer had explained to us how renowned this story is to the Korean culture - and I wanted to see for myself just how well-known this story is. Within minutes, she had recited to me the entire story and what it meant to her, illustrating the significance of the story even to an American-born Korean.