After the assassination of President Park, martial law has been declared. A coup d'état bursts out by Defense Security Commander Chun Doo-gwang and a private band of officers following him. Capital Defense Commander Lee Tae-shin, an obstinate soldier who believes the military should not take political actions, fights against Chun Doo-gwang to stop him. The conflict between the two grows while military leaders are holding their decision and Defense Minister is gone. In the midst of chaos, the spring of Seoul that everyone longed for heads to unexpected direction.
Acting
Hwang's reptilian charm vs. Jung's barely contained fury.
Direction
Kim Sung-soo makes cabinet meetings feel like bomb defusals.
Sound
Every phone ring, boot step, and tank tread matters.
Director
Kim Sung-soo
Hwang Jung-min
Chun Doo-gwang
Jung Woo-sung
Lee Tae-shin
Lee Sung-min
Jung Sang-ho
Park Hae-joon
Roh Tae-geon
Kim Sung-kyun
Kim Jun-yeob
Kim Eui-sung
Oh Gook-sang
Jeong Dong-hwan
Choi Han-gyu
Ahn Nae-sang
Han Young-goo
Lee Jae-yoon
Lim Hak-joo
Lee Jun-hyuk
Kwon Hyung-jin
You Seong-joo
Min Seong-bae
Choi Byung-mo
Do Hee-Cheol
Park Hoon
Moon Il-pyeong
Kang Sung-Wook
Reporter Min Joo-Hwa
Kim Seung-o
Kim Chang-se
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Chun Doo-hwan's actual family sued to block release; court allowed it because he's dead and can't be libeled. Petty even from beyond.
Released during Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration—Korean audiences watched fiction become rehearsal. Art imitates life imitating fascism.
KR
