Chugyeogja (2008)

Director:

Hong-jin Na

Writers:

Won-Chan Hong (written by)
Shinho Lee (written by)

Release Date:

14 February 2008 (South Korea)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Joong-ho is a dirty detective turned pimp in financial trouble as several of his girls have recently disappeared without clearing their debts...

Plot Keywords:

Pimp | Serial Killer | Police Protection Failure | Gore | Murder

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Yun-seok Kim	...	Joong-ho Eom
Jung-woo Ha	...	Young-min Jee
Yeong-hie Seo	...	Mi-jin Kim
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Seong-kwang Ha	...	Detective Park
In-gi Jung	...	Detective Lee
Bon-woong Ko	...	Oh-jot
Jong-goo Lee	...	Profiler
Sang-hee Lee
Hyo-ju Park	...	Detective Oh
Moo-yeong Yeo	...	Police commissioner

Also Known As:

The Chaser (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | UK:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:18 | Taiwan:R-18 | Japan:R-15 | France:-12 (with warning) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 | Australia:MA (2009) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | New Zealand:R18 | Japan:R-18 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Seoul, South Korea

Company:

Fine Cut

Trivia:

The part where Young-min (Jung-woo Ha) slips as Joong-ho (Yun-seok Kim) chases him in the alley was not scripted. Actor Jung-woo Ha actually did slip on the slippery pavement while shooting, but kept running anyway. Director Hong-jin Na liked that cut so much that he kept it in the final edit.

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Chaser (2010)

Based on the true story

Few years ago Korean society was shocked by a horrible serial killer mayhem. Dozen of call-girls are disappeared and never returned when they visited unknown customer. The serial killer also murdered innocent old men and women on his loose. After caught of serial killer the revealed fact was beyond one's imagination. He killed girls with hammer, chisel and amputated the victims. Some of them were cannibalized. He mashed victim's liver with food processors and drank it. Now the serial killer is sentenced to death and his existence throw serious questions about execution of death sentenced prisoner to the Korean society. For ten years Korean government never executed prisoners and now UN approved Korea as a No Execution country.

This movie is a product of these social circumstance. Of course any modernized country can have notorious serial killers. But this is most brutal and abominable criminal act as reported to the public.

Another phenomena described in this movie are the inactive police act and ugly politician. Koreans are very disappointed at this and this movie is quite accurately visualized the situation.

Whether or not crime is the best motif for movie and this movie successfully hold the breath of viewers. I am waiting another movie from this director.

Good work.