Kill Boksoon

Kill Boksoon (Korean: 길복순) is a 2023 South Korean crime action film directed and written by Byun Sung-hyun, starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Kim Si-a, Esom, and Koo Kyo-hwan. It premiered on Netflix on March 31, 2023.^[3][4][5]

Kill Boksoon
Promotional poster
Hangul	길복순
Revised Romanization	Gilbogsun
McCune–Reischauer	Kilboksun
Directed by	Byun Sung-hyun
Screenplay by	Byun Sung-hyun
Produced by	Yi Jin-hee
Starring	Jeon Do-yeon Sul Kyung-gu Kim Si-a Esom Koo Kyo-hwan
Cinematography	Cho Hyung-rae
Edited by	Kim Sang-bum
Music by	Lee Jin-hee Kim Hong-jip
Production company	See At Film[1]
Distributed by	Netflix
Release dates	February 18, 2023 (2023-02-18) (Berlinale) March 31, 2023 (2023-03-31) (South Korea)
Running time	137 minutes[2]
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean

Synopsis

Gil Bok-Soon is a contract killer working for M. K. Ent. Highly regarded by her peers, she has a 100% success rate and is one of a few killers rated "A" by her company. The movie starts with Bok-Soon saying she fights fairly, but deceives when she thinks she may die. She is also a single mother to Jae-yeong, a closeted lesbian teenager who studies at a prestigious private school. M. K. Ent. is run by Cha Min-Kyu — a powerful and experienced killer who holds much respect for Bok-Soon — and by his younger sister, Cha Min-Hee, who despises her. Bok-Soon is sexually involved with a co-worker, Han Hee-Sung — a skilled killer, whose career progress was thwarted for unknown reasons. Shortly before Bok-Soon is set to renew her contract, she is assigned a sensitive job that she is unwilling to fulfill.^[6]

Cast

Main

• Jeon Do-yeon as Gil Bok-soon^[7][8]
  • Park Se-hyun as young Bok-soon^[9]

A single mother and the best killer of MK. ENT and referred as "Kill Boksoon" by industry insiders.

• Sul Kyung-gu as Cha Min-kyu^[8]
  • Lee Jae-wook as young Min-kyu^[10]

CEO of MK. ENT.

• Kim Si-a as Gil Jae-yeong^[11][8]

The daughter of Bok-soon who knows nothing about her mother's profession.

• Esom as Cha Min-hee^[8]

Director of MK. ENT and younger sister of Min-kyu.

• Koo Kyo-hwan as Han Hee-seong^[8]

An affiliated killer of MK. ENT.

Supporting

• Lee Yeon as Kim Yeong-ji^[12]

A member of MK. ENT.

• Park Kwang-jae as Gwang-man
• Jang In-sub as Yoon-seok
• Choi Byung-mo as Hyun-chul
• Kim Sung-oh as Sergeant Shin^[10]
• Kim Ki-cheon as Soo-geun
• Gi Ju-bong as CEO Ki
• Kim Jun-bae as CEO Bae
• Jang Hyun-sung as Gil Bok-soon's father

Special appearance

• Hwang Jung-min as Shinichiro Oda / Kim Kwang-li^[13]
• Yoon Kyung-ho as Principal Yang No-soon^[14]
• Kim Jae-hwa as Yoo Cheol-woo's mother^[14]

Production

On January 4, 2022, Kill Boksoon confirmed production with the ensemble casting of Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Esom, and Koo Kyo-hwan as the lead roles.^[7] On April 7, 2022, it was reported that actress Jeon Do-yeon was injured while filming and stopped filming, but after receiving treatment at the hospital, she returned to the scene and continued filming.^[15]

Release

The film had its world premiere in the Berlinale Special section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2023.^[16] It was released on Netflix on March 31, 2023.^[5]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 34 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Although its impact is blunted somewhat by meandering length and some cheesy visual effects, Kill Boksoon remains a pleasing punch to the gut for action fans."^[17]

Accolades

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards	2023	Best Actress	Jeon Do-yeon	Nominated	[18]
		Best Supporting Actress	Lee Yeon	Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards	2023	Best Foreign Poster	"Date Announcement" (The Refinery)	Won	[19]
Buil Film Awards	2023	Best Actress	Jeon Do-yeon	Nominated	[20]
		Best Supporting Actress	Lee Yeon	Nominated

Spin-off

in September 2024, Netflix announced the casting of Yim Si-wan and Park Gyu-young.^[21]

References

1. "전도연·설경구·이솜·구교환, 넷플릭스 영화 '길복순' 확정 [공식]" [Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Esom, Koo Kyo-hwan confirmed for Netflix movie 'Gil Bok-soon' [Official]]. Star News. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
2. "Berlinale Special-Kill Boksoon". Berlinale. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
3. Jeon Hyo-jin (January 4, 2022). "넷플릭스 '길복순', 전도연·설경구·이솜·구교환 출연 [공식]" [Netflix 'Gil Bok-soon', Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Esom, and Koo Gwan-hwa appeared [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Naver.
4. Kim Ji-won (January 17, 2023). "'더글로리' 파트2→'D.P.' 시즌2…넷플릭스, 올해 한국 작품 28편 공개" ['The Glory' Part 2 → 'DP' Season 2... Netflix to release 28 Korean titles this year]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Naver.
5. Choi Yonna (February 2, 2023). "A급 킬러 된 전도연…'길복순', 3월 31일 공개 확정" [Jeon Do-yeon, who became an A-class killer... 'Kil Bok-soon' confirmed to be released on March 31st]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved February 2, 2023 – via Naver.
6. Park Jin-young (January 4, 2022). "전도연·설경구·이솜·구교환, '길복순' 출연 확정…킬러 변신" [Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Esom, and Koo Gwan-hwa confirmed to appear in 'Gil Bok-soon'... Killer Transformation]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Retrieved September 20, 2022.
7. Jeon Hyung-hwa (January 4, 2022). "전도연·설경구·이솜·구교환, 넷플릭스 영화 '길복순' 확정 [공식]" [Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Esom, and Koo Kwan, confirmed for Netflix movie 'Gil Bok-soon' [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved January 4, 2022 – via Naver.
8. Choi Yoon-na (February 21, 2023). "킬러+싱글맘 전도연→대표 설경구…'길복순' 5인 캐릭터 스틸 공개" [Killer+Single Mom Jeon Do-yeon→CEO Seol Kyung-gu... 'Gil Bok-soon' 5-person character stills released]. Sports DongA (in Korean). Retrieved February 21, 2023 – via Naver.
9. Choi Yoonna (February 22, 2023). "'길복순' 전도연 아역 박세현, 빅웨일엔터테인먼트와 전속계약[공식]". Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Naver.
10. Yumi Jeong (March 1, 2023). "[시네마 데이트] 전도연ㅣ대중의 마음 정확히 명중시킨 고수 '길복순'" [[Cinema Date] Jeon Do-yeonㅣKil Bok-soon, a master who accurately hit the public's heart] (in Korean). IZE. Retrieved March 1, 2023 – via Naver.
11. Yoo Jung-min (March 28, 2022). "김시아, 넷플릭스 영화 '길복순' 캐스팅... 전도연과 호흡 기대↑" [Kim Si-a, cast for Netflix movie 'Gil Bok-soon'... Expectations to work with Jeon Do-yeon↑] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved March 28, 2022 – via Naver.
12. Moon Ji-yeon (March 29, 2022). "[공식] '소년심판' 이연, 넷플릭스 '길복순' 캐스팅..전도연과 호흡" [[Official] 'Boy Judgment' Lee Yeon, Netflix's 'Gil Bok-soon' Casting... with Jeon Do-yeon]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Naver.
13. Kim Ji-hye (December 20, 2021). "황정민, '길복순' 특별출연 확정…전도연과 16년 만의 재회" [Hwang Jung-min confirmed for special appearance in 'Gil Bok-soon'... Reunion with Jeon Do-yeon after 16 years]. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via Naver.
14. Kim Sang-hwa (April 1, 2023). "핏빛 활극 혹은 뻔한 장르물? '길복순'을 향한 다양한 시선". OhmyNews (in Korean). Retrieved April 1, 2023.
15. Baek Ji-eun (April 7, 2022). "[공식] 전도연 측 "'길복순' 촬영중 부상…이상소견無"" [[Official] Jeon Do-yeon's side "Injured while filming 'Gil Bok-soon'...No abnormalities"]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Naver.
16. Kim Na-yeon (January 14, 2023). "전도연X설경구 '길복순', 베를린 국제영화제 스페셜 부문 초청 [공식]" [Jeon Do-yeon X Seol Kyung-gu's 'Kil Bok-soon' invited to Berlin International Film Festival Special Section [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved January 14, 2023.
17. "Kill Boksoon". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
18. Cho Yeon-kyung (April 7, 2023). "제59회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 최종 후보 공개" [59th Baeksang Arts Awards, TV/Film/Play Finalists Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
19. Pedersen, Erik (June 29, 2023). "Golden Trailer Awards: Cocaine Bear, Only Murders In The Building & Oppenheimer Among Top Winners – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
20. Nam, Yoo-jung; Lee, Woo-young (2023-08-27). "누가 받아도 될 정도로 훌륭한 후보들, 그중 최고는 누구?" [Great candidates to anyone can accept, who is the best of them?]. Busan Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved August 27, 2023.
21. "Netflix Announces 'Kill Boksoon' Spinoff, Casts Yim Si-wan, Park Gyu-young & Jo Woo-jin". deadline.

External links

• Kill Boksoon on Netflix
• Kill Boksoon at HanCinema
• Kill Boksoon at IMDb 
• Kill Boksoon at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)
• Kill Boksoon at Metacritic
• Kill Boksoon at Rotten Tomatoes