Yadang: The first movie about drug brokering

Inspired by Yadang, a real-life Korean drug lord, “Yadang” explores the character of a broker between law enforcement and criminals, providing information to police or prosecutors in exchange for money. This action-crime film promises to bring dramatic situations and unexpected twists in the mysterious world of drug investigations that have never been revealed.

Blockbuster "Yadang" brings together the most talented cast in Korea from Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hai-jin, Park Hae-joon to Ryu Kyung-soo, Chae Won-been.

Standing on the line between justice and betrayal

“Yadang” is an action, crime film revolving around the character Yadang, a Korean slang term used to refer to professional informants who provide information about drug dealers to the police. This is the first film to use this subject as the main character, creating a difference from the usual action crime films and promising to bring the audience new and interesting experiences.

The film follows three main characters: Lee Kang-su (Kang Ha-neul), an ordinary man who enters the drug world and becomes a notorious Yadang, shaking up the foundation of the Korean drug trade. At the height of his “brokering career”, Lee Kang-su unexpectedly teams up with prosecutor Ku Gwan-hee (Yoo Hai-jin), a power-hungry man who uses information from “Yadang” to advance his career. Lee Kang-su also confronts police officer Oh Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon), who is willing to risk everything to fight drug crimes.

A scene from the movie “Yadang”.

The fates of these three characters intertwine and unexpectedly take a dangerous turn when faced with the dismantling of a drug ring involving high-ranking VIPs in Korean politics . Lee Kang-su must straddle the line between justice and betrayal to not only maintain his position but also survive.

In addition to taking Yadang as the main character, the film also impresses with its brutal realism. Many people commented that this is the drug world version of “Inside Men”.

Leading the Korean box office

Premiering in Korea on April 16, “Yadang” has so far led the box office for two consecutive weeks with a revenue of 24 billion won (equivalent to 450 billion VND), surpassing the 2 million viewership mark. This achievement has surpassed the previous record of “Deadpool & Wolverine” (1,977,010 viewers), the highest-grossing age-restricted film after the pandemic in Korea.

The film also received high praise from critics and the public thanks to its entertaining script and the attractive performances of the cast. The 18+ action scenes, along with a plot with many profound social messages, also created sympathy with the audience.

“Yadang” currently holds a 97% “golden egg” rating on CGV and a 9.4 rating on Lotte Cinema.

Blockbuster "Yadang" officially hits Vietnamese theaters on May 16, 2025.

Hai Yen

Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202505/yadang-phim-dien-anh-dau-tien-ve-nghe-moi-gioi-ma-tuy-1042700/