Apparently, I’m the only one who likes this better than Oldboy.
IMO Oldboy has worse plotting. It isn’t as poetic, beautiful or appealing. It’s overuse of stylization and gore didn’t seem to be of any use to the story beside adding shock value and thrills.

But Lady Vengeance is in a totally different department, violence, when shown, is used to add to the story, not for it’s own sake. The cinematography, pacing and editing are superior in several levels.

So is the characters and plot. From what I remember, Oldboy had a one dimensional main character, differing from Lady, which had a very ambiguous protagonist.

It deals with more than only revenge, it deals with the duality of man, redemption, motherhood, virtue and many other themes.

Middle-child Old Boy is definitely the masterpiece of the trilogy - but Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a heck of a lot better than the first film in the series. It’s totally gorgeous (those opening credits are to die for, and the baroque music is a lovely touch), beautifully shot, well-acted - but aside from the usual plot holes it has a HUGE pacing problem. Everything takes too long and instead of scenes building up to a crescendo you are constantly forced to ask yourself “Is this the climactic moment I’ve been waiting for? Is it this? Or this?”

Still, totally worth seeing, if only for that amazing red eyeshadow.

Second, after Oldboy, part of Chan-wook Park trillogy about vengeance. Like in Oldboy, planned for more than 10 years…
Briefly: if You liked Oldboy, must see that one, otherwise You don’t want to watch this :)
Tons of blood again, pieces of human body deattached or shot, tough scenes and so. :)