The Drug King (2018): 1970s Korean Gangster

ByFabian Bullitt

2018 • Woo Min-ho • 2.39:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Set against the backdrop of the authoritarian Park Chung-hee era, The Drug King, directed by Woo Min-ho, chronicles the rise and fall of a Korean gangster. The film follows a small-time smuggler in 1970s Busan who rises to control the nation’s methamphetamine trade, only to be undone by paranoia, political realignment, and personal excess.

Visually anchored in the period it depicts, the film uses a palette leaning towards dense ambers, smoky browns, and muted greens to reinforce the retro aesthetic of the costumes, cars, and accessories. It is a journey back in time with gangsters moving between prisons, nightclubs, and opulent mansions at a time when systemic corruption was hidden in plain sight.

Inspired by a true story, the film combines biographical clichés with established gangster iconography. It uses textured period realism and dramatic lighting to create a distinct 1970s atmosphere, deliberately avoiding contemporary visual gloss. The result is effective, perhaps too much so.

Technical Specs:

  • The Story: In 1970s Busan, South Korea, a small-time smuggler rises to power as a drug kingpin, building a criminal empire while attracting the attention of law enforcement and political forces. Read my review of The Drug King.
  • Actors: Song Kang-ho, Jo Jung-suk, Bae Doona, Kim Dae-myung, Lee Hee-joon, Kim So-jin, Yoon Je-moon, Jo Woo-jin.
  • Director: Woo Min-ho
  • Year: 2018
  • Cinematographer: Go Nak-seon
  • Origin: Korean Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
  • Genre: Crime
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