Director Hwang Byeong-gug read a news article in 2021 that sparked his interest, which led to an idea that has now become a film. He is quoted as saying, “In drug-related cases, ‘Yadang’ refers to brokers who act as intermediaries between law enforcement and criminals – providing police or prosecutors with insider information in exchange for financial rewards or reduced sentences.” This film is the fictional story of Lee Kang-suoo (Kang Ha-neul), an up-and-coming Yadang (also known as a Snitch). It opens with a case he is assisting with the negotiations on, then flashes back to how he got into this line of work and then forward to where he is now.
Ku Gwan-hee (Yoo Hae-jin) is a prosecutor determined to rise to the top and be someone others admire. Also working to remove narcotics from the street is Detective Oh Sang-jae, aka the “Jade Emperor” (Park Hae-joon), who crosses paths with Ku, which is when we start to see that the ‘good guys’ aren’t always motivated by the cause they are fighting for.
This is the second film from South Korea that I have had the opportunity to watch, and I am honored to have the chance to do so. My knowledge of the culture is limited, and I feel some moments did not have the same impact on me as they will on others with more familiarity. Some moments in the film ask the audience to go along with the story and accept the suspension of disbelief. Specifically, during the scenes where Kang has been taken down by a drug dealer who kidnaps and tortures him. It is a small ask for a limited amount of the story.
The cast’s performances allowed me to connect with them and understand the emotions they were portraying, even though I could not understand the words they were speaking. This assisted with keeping me interested in the story and my ability to follow along. Facial expressions, movement, and tone all went along with what I was reading. This isn’t always the case when I watch pieces from other countries.
It isn’t easy to judge pacing when watching a subtitled movie. You want to see all the action and read all the dialogue. Of course, with people reading at different speeds, the pacing of the subtitles adds to the experience. I found the action well-choreographed, the characters relatable, and the insight eye-opening.
If you enjoy Korean crime films, foreign films, or would like to try something new, this is a film worth seeing.
Director: Hwang Byeong-gug
Cast: Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-joon
Selig Rating: 3 stars
Runtime: 2h 2m
Release Date: April 25, 202
Genre(s): Action, Crime, Drama
Language: Korean with English subtitles
Trailer: Yadang: The Snitch trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
