The King (2017 South Korean film)

2017 South Korean film by Han Jae-rim

The King

Theatrical release poster

Hangul|

Revised Romanization| Deo king
Directed by| Han Jae-rim
Written by| Han Jae-rim
Produced by| Han Jae-rim
Lee Jong-ho
Starring| Zo In-sung
Jung Woo-sung
Bae Seong-woo
Ryu Jun-yeol
Kim Eui-sung
Kim Ah-joong
Cinematography| Kim Woo-hyung
Edited by| Shin Min-kyung
Music by| Mowg

Production
companies

WooJoo Film
Magnum Nine

Distributed by| Next Entertainment World

Release date

* January 18, 2017 (2017-01-18)

Running time

| 134 minutes
Country| South Korea
Language| Korean
Box office| US$37.9 million[1][2]

The King (Korean: 더킹; RR: Deo king) is a 2017 South Korean crime drama film written and directed by Han Jae-rim, starring Zo In-sung, Jung Woo-sung, Bae Seong-woo, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Eui-sung, and Kim Ah-joong.[3][4][5]

## Synopsis

[edit]

Story about Park Tae-soo who's born in a poor family, decides to become a prosecutor after learning that power is the most important thing in life and, the biggest symbol of power in the 90’s. After entering the most prestigious law school, experiencing democratic resistance in Korea, Tae-soo finally reaches his goal of becoming a prosecutor but his life is no better than a salary man. By chance, he joins a clique of the powerful prosecutors with wealth and authority. He finally gets a taste of a life of the top hierarchy, but as he enjoys the sweetness of supremacy, he also sees the cruel side of it.[6][7]

## Cast

[edit]

* Zo In-sung as Park Tae-soo
* Jung Woo-sung as Han Kang-shik[8]
* Bae Seong-woo as Yang Dong-chul
* Ryu Jun-yeol as Choi Doo-il [9]
* Kim Eui-sung as Kim Eung-soo
* Kim Ah-joong as Sang-hee[10]
* Kim Min-jae as Baek Gi-ja
* Jung Sung-mo as Park Myung-hoon
* Jung Eun-chae as Park Shi-yeon
* Kim So-jin as Ahn Hee-yeon
* Hwang Seung-eon as Jun Hee-sung
* Oh Dae-hwan as Song Baek-ho
* Jung In-gi as Senior prosecutor
* Song Young-chang as Lee Hak-cheol
* Go Ah-sung as Kim Yang
* Park Jeong-min as Heo Gi-hoon
* Jo Woo-jin as Park Tae-soo's detective
* Jang Myung-gab as Um Hyun-gi
* Han Soo-yeon as Hostess
* Lee Joo-yeon as Cha Mi-ryeon[11]
* Lee Yeol-eum as Eul-sun
* Shin Ryu-jin as Ji Min[12]
* Park Ji-hong as Tae-soo's friend
* Choi Yeong-do as man involved in an accident
* Mi Seok as gang member 2
* Sung Dong-il as Tae-soo's teacher

## Production

[edit]

First script reading took place in late January, 2016.[13] Filming began on February 4 and finished July 3, 2016. Filming took place in Seoul, Daejeon and Busan in South Korea.[14]

## Promotion and release

[edit]

The film's first trailer has broken the record for most views for a Korean movie trailer with more than 7.17 million views in seven days within its release.[15]

The film was released in South Korea on January 18, 2017. The film had a limited release in North America on January 27, 2017.[16]

## Reception

[edit]

The film was number-one on its opening in South Korea, with 1.85 million admissions and US$13.2 million in gross.[17] In total, the film gathered 5.31 million spectators and grossed US$38.5 million nationwide,[18] making it the 7th highest-grossing South Korean film in 2017.[19]

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Award  | Category  | Recipient  | Result

|
|
|

53rd Baeksang Arts Awards[20][21] | Best Supporting Actor  | Bae Sung-woo | Nominated
Best Supporting Actress  | Kim So-jin | Won
Best New Actor  | Ryu Jun-yeol | Won
26th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor  | Nominated
Best Supporting Actress  | Kim So-jin | Nominated
Best Cinematography  | Kim Woo-hyung  | Nominated
Best Art Direction  | The King | Nominated
54th Grand Bell Awards[22] | Best Film  | Nominated
Best Director  | Han Jae-rim | Nominated
Best Actor  | Zo In-sung | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor  | Bae Sung-woo | Won
Best Supporting Actress  | Kim So-jin | Won
Technical Award  | The King | Nominated
Best Planning  | Nominated
Best Art Direction  | Lee Na-gyeom  | Nominated
Best Screenplay  | Han Jae-rim | Won
Best Music  | Mowg | Nominated
Best Costume Design  | Cho Sang-kyung  | Nominated
Best Lighting  | Kim Seung-gyoo  | Nominated
Best Cinematography  | Kim Woo-hyeong  | Nominated
Best Editing  | Sin Min-kyeong  | Won
1st The Seoul Awards[23] | Best Film  | The King | Nominated
Best Actor  | Jung Woo-sung | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor  | Bae Sung-woo | Nominated
Best New Actor  | Ryu Jun-yeol | Won
38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film  | The King | Nominated
Best Actor  | Zo In-sung | Nominated
Popular Star Award  | Won
Best Supporting Actor  | Bae Sung-woo | Nominated
Best Supporting Actress  | Kim So-jin | Won
Best Cinematography and Lighting  | Kim Woo-hyung & Kim Seung-gyu  | Nominated
Best Editing  | Shin Min-kyung  | Won
Best Music  | Mowg | Nominated
Best Art Direction  | Lee Na-gyeom  | Nominated
17th Director's Cut Awards | Special Mentions  | The King | Won
12th Asian Film Awards[24] | Best Editing | Shin Min-kyung | Won
9th KOFRA Film Awards  | Best Supporting Actress  | Kim So-jin | Won
2nd Malaysia Golden Global Awards  | Best Actor  | Zo In-sung | Nominated

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The King". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
2. ^ "The King (2017)". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
3. ^ "[단독]조인성-정우성 '더 킹' 랑데부 확정..임수정은 불발". Archived from the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
4. ^ Fashion&Style (2016-01-13). "Jung Woo Sung And Jo In Sung Confirm To Film 'The King'". Fashion & Style. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
5. ^ "조인성X정우성 '더 킹' 1차 예고편 717만..최고 조회수". Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
6. ^ J., Lady (2016-12-06). "The King' New Korean Crime Thriller Starring Jo In-sung, Jung Woo-Sung". Asian Movie Pulse. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
7. ^ "조인성-정우성부터 류준열까지…'더 킹' 압도적 스틸 : 스포츠동아". sports.donga.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
8. ^ kdramastars.com (2016-01-04). "Jung Woo-Sung Joins Jo In-Sung In 'The King'". KDramaStars. Archived from the original on 2017-05-06. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
9. ^ "'더 킹', 조인성 검사·류준열 조직보스 역 캐스팅 확정". www.mydaily.co.kr. Archived from the original on 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
10. ^ "김아중 측 "'더 킹' 검토만…아직 출연 확정 아냐" [공식입장] : 스포츠동아". sports.donga.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
11. ^ kdramastars.com (2015-11-13). "Lee Joo-Yeon Joins Jo In-Sung In 'The King'". KDramaStars. Archived from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
12. ^ "Netizens Unearth These 8 Photos of The JYP Trainee They Think Will Debut With Somi". Koreaboo.com. 2017-02-16. Archived from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
13. ^ Alvin. "Jung Woo Sung and Zo In Sung can't hide their dashing looks at 'The King' script reading session". Kpop Fighting!. Archived from the original on 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
14. ^ ""안구정화 비주얼" 정우성-조인성-류준열, '더킹' 촬영인증". Nate News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
15. ^ "'더킹', 조인성이 돌아온다..그것도 8년만에". 미주중앙일보. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
16. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2017-01-25.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
17. ^ Kil, Sonia (2017-01-23). "Korea Box Office: 'The King' Rules Weekend With Record Opening". Variety. Archived from the original on 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
18. ^ "더 킹, "관객수 531만의 조인성·정우성 주연 범죄영화, 현대사를 배경으로 검사의 권력 쟁탈전" - 한국강사신문". www.lecturernews.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
19. ^ List of 2017 box office number-one films in South Korea
20. ^ "공유·박보검·남궁민·한석규…백상예술대상 男TV연기상 4파전". Star.mk.co. 7 April 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
21. ^ "'Guardian,' 'The Handmaiden' win big at Baeksang Awards". Korea Herald. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
22. ^ "Stars shine at Daejong awards: A successful year for film industry celebrated at annual ceremony". Korea JoongAng Daily. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
23. ^ "'서울어워즈' 송강호·나문희·지성·박보영 주연상…·'박열'·'비숲' 대상[종합]". TV Report (in Korean). 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
24. ^ "Asian Film Awards: 'Youth' Wins Top Prize From 'Demon Cat'". Variety. March 17, 2018. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* The King on Naver Movies
* The King on Daum
* The King on MOVIST

* v
* t
* e

Works by Han Jae-rim

As director/screenwriter|

* Rules of Dating (2005)
* The Show Must Go On (2007)
* The Face Reader (2013)
* The King (2017)
* Emergency Declaration (2021)
* The 8 Show (2024)

As producer|

* Very Ordinary Couple (2013)

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*[t]: Discuss this template
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