Release: 2023-07-26
Runtime: 2h 09m (129 minutes)
During the 1970s, in Kunchon, there were women divers who were able to dive without equipment, including two best friends Choon-ja and Jin-sook, Jin-sook's brother and Hammer. They always collected seafood under water for living. But, as fewer factories started to be built near the beach, the women divers started to have trouble with what they were doing for living. Without any choice, the ship crews decided to join the smuggling business in the water to seek a way for their living. But the smuggling business in their village got too big for Jin-sook's family to handle and the peaceful village was gradually broken.
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Provided by JustWatch
Genres: Action, Crime
Cast: Kim Hye-soo, Go Min-si, Park Kyung-hye, more
Kim Hye-soo
as Jo Choon-ja
Go Min-si
as Go Ok-boon
Park Kyung-hye
as Dok-sun
Kim Won-hae
as Uncle Broker
Zo In-sung
as Kwon Pil-sam
Yoon Kyung-ho
as Chief Investigator
Yum Jung-ah
as Uhm Jin-sook
Kim Jong-soo
as Lee Jang-choon
Jin Kyung
as Laura President
Yoon Byung-hee
as West Coast Boss
Park Jeong-min
as Hammer
Kim Jae-hwa
as Pig Mom
Chang Ki-ha
Music Director
Chang Ki-ha
Original Music Composer
Ryoo Seung-wan
Writer
Ryoo Seung-wan
Producer
Ryoo Seung-wan
Director
Kim Woo-taek
Executive Producer
Kim Chang-sub
Sound Designer
Kang Hye-jung
Producer
Kim Hyung-shek
Digital Intermediate
Jang Han-seung
Martial Arts Choreographer
Lee Jae-hyuk
Gaffer
Hwang Hyo-kyun
Special Effects Makeup Artist
During the 1970s, in Kunchon, there were women divers who were able to dive without equipment, including two best friends Choon-ja and Jin-sook, Jin-sook's brother and Hammer. They always collected seafood under water for living. But, as fewer factories started to be built near the beach, the women divers started to have trouble with what they were doing for living. Without any choice, the ship crews decided to join the smuggling business in the water to seek a way for their living. But the smuggling business in their village got too big for Jin-sook's family to handle and the peaceful village was gradually broken.
Unload. Procure. Deceive.
Smugglers is a 2023 South Korean crime film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Kim Jeong-yeon. The film features a strong cast including Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Kim Jong-soo, and Go Min-si. It was released in theaters on 26 July 2023.
The story is inspired by the real-life experience of haenyeo, female divers in South Korea, who turned to smuggling in the 1970s due to job loss caused by industrial development. The film focuses on Jo Chun-ja, played by Kim Hye-soo, a fighter who seeks a way to earn a living after the chemical plant disrupts her peaceful seaside town. As Chun-ja learns about the smuggling trade, she approaches Um Jin-sook, the leader of the haenyeo, with a risky proposal to make money through smuggling.
The plot thickens as Chun-ja encounters Sergeant Kwon, known as the national smuggling king, and finds herself drawn into the world of smuggling. The film captures the excitement and danger of the smuggling operations, culminating in a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a fortune.
The main cast includes:
Filming began on 5 June 2021 and the film was showcased in the Special Presentations section of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival held from 7 to 17 September 2023. Upon its South Korean release, the film quickly became a box office hit, attracting over 1 million viewers within the first four days, and surpassing 4 million in its first 17 days. It topped the South Korean box office for two weeks, marking a significant achievement in the 2023 film landscape.
With its engaging storyline and strong performances, Smugglers offers both entertainment and a glimpse into the challenges faced by women in a changing economy, making it a notable addition to Korean cinema.
