Yadang: The Snitch
| Yadang: The Snitch | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 야당 |
| RR | Yadang |
| MR | Yadang |
| Directed by | Hwang Byeong-guk |
| Written by | Kim Hyo-seok |
| Produced by | Kim Won-guk |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Lee Mo-gae |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by |
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Production company | Hive Media Corp |
| Distributed by | Megabox Plus M |
Release date |
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Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$24.5 million[1] |
Yadang: The Snitch (Korean: 야당) is a 2025 South Korean crime drama film directed by Hwang Byeong-guk.[2] It stars Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-joon, Ryu Kyung-soo, and Chae Won-bin. The film was released on April 16, 2025.[3] It is currently the highest-grossing South Korean film of 2025.
Plot
[edit]Lee Kang-soo, who was falsely accused and imprisoned, is offered a deal by prosecutor Koo Gwan-hee: become a yadang (an informant or undercover operative) in exchange for a reduced sentence. Kang-soo takes the deal and begins to shake up the drug investigation from the inside. Meanwhile, the ambitious Gwan-hee climbs the ranks with major busts, thanks to the intel provided by Kang-soo.
But narcotics detective Oh Sang-jae repeatedly hits dead ends because of Kang-soo's double-dealings. With dogged determination, Sang-jae begins digging into the connection between Kang-soo and Gwan-hee.
Cast
[edit]- Kang Ha-neul as Lee Kang-soo
- Yoo Hae-jin as Koo Gwan-hee
- Park Hae-joon as Oh Sang-jae
- Ryu Kyung-soo as Cho Hoon
- Chae Won-bin as Uhm Soo-jin
- Yoo Seong-ju as Yeom Tae-soo
- Kim Geum-soon as Kim Hak-nam
- Lim Sung-kyun as Chang-rak
- Cho Wan-ki as Chief Oh
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]According to director Hwang Byeong-guk, the idea for Yadang: The Snitch originated from a news article about the role of informants in drug investigations. Hwang conducted extensive field research, interviewing over 100 individuals including narcotics officers and former yadang (brokers), which helped shape the film's realism. During the research phase, Hwang was mistakenly detained by the police and underwent a drug test.[4][5]
Art director Lee Mok-won, known for his work on Train to Busan (2016) and Along with the Gods series, conducted in-depth research to design sets that reflect both the physical world of narcotics investigations and the psychological shifts of the characters. Locations and set pieces were carefully crafted to mirror the internal states of the protagonists. The set design aimed not only to support the narrative but also to immerse viewers in a psychologically rich, genre-driven environment.[6]
Casting
[edit]Hwang cast Park Hae-joon as narcotics detective Oh Sang-jae after previously working with Park during the filming of 12.12: The Day.[7] Chae Won-bin was selected from over 100 candidates to play the role of Uhm Soo-jin, a disgraced former celebrity.[8]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography for Yadang: The Snitch began on July 15, 2023 and ended on November.[9]
Marketing and release
[edit]In a collaboration between the film and law enforcement, Yadang: The Snitch partnered with the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency to launch a nationwide anti-drug campaign. Ahead of its theatrical release, audiences attending early screenings at major cinema chains will receive drug-testing kits and view anti-drug PSA messages before the film begins. Distributor Plus M Entertainment also engaged fans through a social media giveaway, offering limited-edition merchandise featuring police mascots. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of drug-related crimes, drawing on the film's gritty portrayal of Korea's narcotics underworld.[10]
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]The film was released on April 16, 2025, on 1,678 screens.[11] It opened at first place at the South Korean box office with 85,657 admissions.
As of May 12, 2025[update], the film has grossed over US$20 million from 3 million admissions.[11][12]
Critical response
[edit]Yadang: The Snitch has received strong audience acclaim, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated South Korean film since the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics point to the film's sharp social commentary on prosecutorial corruption, delivered with a mix of catharsis and entertainment. Film critic Yang Kyung-mi noted that Yadang: The Snitch resonates deeply in a time of growing public distrust toward the prosecution, offering audiences both narrative satisfaction and emotional release through its righteous revenge arc.[13]
Accolades
[edit]| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buil Film Awards | 2025 | Best Director | Hwang Byeong-guk | Pending | [14] |
| Best Supporting Actress | Chae Won-bin | Pending |
References
[edit]- ^ "Yadang: The Snitch (2025)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Kim Ji-hye (March 31, 2025). 강하늘X유해진 주연 '야당', 4월 16일 개봉…색다른 마약 범죄물 [Kang Ha-neul X Yoo Hae-jin Starring 'Opposition Party', Released on April 16th... A Different Kind of Drug Crime] (in Korean). SBS. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Naver.
- ^ Park Ji-yoon (March 31, 2025). 강하늘·유해진·박해준 '야당', 4월 16일 개봉 최종 확정 [Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-joon 'Opposition Party', Finalized for Release on April 16] (in Korean). The Fact. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Naver.
- ^ Jeong Han-byeol (April 16, 2025). '야당' 황병국 "오해 때문에 경찰에 체포… 소변 검사했다" [인터뷰] ['Opposition' Hwang Byung-guk "Arrested by police due to misunderstanding... Urine test conducted" [Interview]] (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Naver.
- ^ Won Seong-yoon (April 15, 2025). '야당' 황병국 감독 "마약 취재하다 실제로 경찰서 끌려갔다" [SS인터뷰] ['Opposition' Director Hwang Byung-guk "I was actually taken to the police station while covering drugs" [SS Interview]] (in Korean). Sportsseoul. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Naver.
- ^ Ha Su-jeong (April 2, 2025). "'YADANG: The Snitch' showcases realistic production design through psychological character changes". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ Kim Bo-young (March 20, 2025). '야당' 강하늘→채원빈 캐스팅 비하인드…"오디션만 100명 봐" ['Opposition Party' Kang Ha-neul → Chae Won-bin Casting Behind Story... "We Only Auditioned 100 People"]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ Kim Saet-byeol (March 20, 2025). '오디션 100:1 경쟁률 뚫은' 채원빈→강하늘, '야당' 캐스팅 비하인드 공개 ['Chae Won-bin → Kang Ha-neul, who 'beat the 100:1 audition odds', reveal the behind-the-scenes story of casting for 'Opposition Party']. The Fact (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ Yeon Hwi-seon (April 16, 2024). '야당' 채원빈 "'이친자' 아빠 한석규, 첫 영화 주연에 '고생했다'고 응원" [인터뷰③] ['Opposition Party' Chae Won-bin "'Lee Chin-ja' father Han Seok-gyu, 'You worked hard' on his first leading role in a movie" [Interview ③]]. The Korea Daily (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ Lee Ji-young (April 10, 2025). "Film 'Yadang: The Snitch' teams up with police for antidrug campaign". Korea JoongAng Daily (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "Daily Box Office". KOBIS (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2025". KOFIC. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
- ^ Jang Ju-yeon (April 24, 2025). 불붙은 '야당', '청불' 신화 다시 쓴다 [IS포커스] [The 'Opposition Party' that has been unlit rewrites the 'Blue Light' myth [IS Focus]]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2025 – via Naver.
- ^ Kang Hye-min (July 24, 2025). 이병헌, 현빈→김고은, 이혜영...제34회 '부일영화상' 주인공은?. MHN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 24, 2025.