Smugglers (2023 film)

Smugglers (Korean: 밀수; Hanja: 密輸; RR: Milsu) is a 2023 South Korean action crime film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, who co-wrote the film with Kim Jeong-yeon. The film stars Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Kim Jong-soo, and Go Min-si. It was released theatrically on July 26, 2023.^[2][3]

Smugglers
Theatrical release poster
Hangul	밀수
Hanja	密輸
Revised Romanization	Milsu
Directed by	Ryoo Seung-wan
Written by	Ryoo Seung-wan Kim Jeong-yeon
Produced by	Kang Hye-jung
Starring	Kim Hye-soo Yum Jung-ah Zo In-sung Park Jeong-min Kim Jong-soo Go Min-si
Music by	Chang Kiha
Production company	Filmmaker R&K
Distributed by	Next Entertainment World
Release date	July 26, 2023 (2023-07-26)
Running time	129 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Box office	US$36.9 million[1]

2024 based Telugu Film Devara directed by Koratala Siva was loosely based on this film. The film is said to be based on the motif of haenyeo who participated in smuggling in the 1970s, overlapping with the fact that a female smuggling ring was active in Busan at the time.^[4]

Plot

Haenyeo lost their jobs overnight when a chemical plant was built in the peaceful seaside town of Guncheon. Chun-jw is a fighter looking for a way to make a living. It is said that you can make a lot of money just by lifting an object thrown into the sea. She learns about the world of smuggling and makes an attractive proposal to the leader of the haenyeo, Jin-sook, who made a bold decision to make a living despite knowing that it was dangerous. As she meets Sergeant Kwon, the national smuggling king, she falls in love with smuggling. Then one day, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a fortune arrives.

Cast

• Kim Hye-soo as Jo Chun-ja, a smuggler.^[5][6]
• Yum Jung-ah as Um Jin-sook, Chun-ja's best friend and the eldest sister of the smuggler who is the leader of haenyeo.^[6]
• Zo In-sung as Sergeant Kwon, the national smuggling king.^[6]
• Park Jeong-min as Jang Do-ri, the youngest child.^[6]
• Kim Jong-soo as Lee Jang-chun, a customs officer.^[7][6]
• Go Min-si as Go Ok-bun, the youngest hidden card who runs a coffee shop.^[8][6]
• Park Kyung-hye as Dok-soon, a haenyeo^[9]
• Kim Jae-hwa as haenyeo^[9]
• Baek Joo-hee as Somers^{[10][better source needed]}
• Shim So-young as Diver^[10]
• Park Jun-myeon as Yang Geum-ne, a haenyeo^[9]
• Joo Bo-bi as Lee Eok-cheok, a haenyeo^[9]

Production

Principal photography began on June 5, 2021.^[11]

Release

The film was officially invited to the Special Presentations section at 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, which held from September 7 to 17 following the Locarno International Film Festival.^[12]

Reception

Box office

The film was released on July 26, 2023 in South Korea. The opening recorded 318,084 admissions and topped the South Korean box office for two weeks. The film surpassed 1 million admissions on fourth day of its released and surpassed 4 million on their 17th days of released. Smugglers became the second movie to reach break-even point in 2023 after The Roundup: No Way Out.

Accolades

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

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards	2024	Best Director	Ryoo Seung-wan	Nominated	[13][14]
		Best Actress	Yum Jung-ah	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Kim Jong-soo	Won
			Park Jeong-min	Nominated
		Best New Actress	Go Min-si	Nominated
Blue Dragon Film Awards	2023	Best Film	Smugglers	Won	[15][16]
		Best Director	Ryoo Seung-wan	Nominated
		Best Actress	Kim Hye-soo	Nominated
			Yum Jung-ah	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Zo In-sung	Won
			Park Jeong-min	Nominated
		Best New Actress	Go Min-si	Won
		Best Screenplay	Ryoo Seung-wan	Nominated
		Best Music	Chang Kiha	Won
		Best Cinematography and lighting	Choi Young-hwan, Lee Jae-hyeok	Nominated
		Best Art Direction	Lee Hoo-kyoung	Nominated
		Best Film Editing	Lee Gang-hee	Nominated
Buil Film Awards	2023	Best Supporting Actor	Kim Jong-soo	Won	[17][18]
		Best Supporting Actress	Go Min-si	Won
		Best New Actress		Nominated
		Best Actress	Yum Jung-ah	Nominated
		Best Film	Smugglers	Nominated
		Best Director	Ryoo Seung-wan	Nominated
		Best Music	Chang Kiha	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Choi Young-hwan	Nominated
		Art/technical Award	Lee Hoo-kyoung	Nominated
Busan International Film Festival with Marie Claire Asia Star Awards	2023	Face of Asia Award	Go Min-si	Won	[19]
Chunsa Film Art Awards	2023	Best Actress	Kim Hye-soo	Won	[20]
		Best Supporting Actor	Kim Jong-soo	Won
		Best New Actress	Go Min-si	Won
Grand Bell Awards	2023	Best Film	Smugglers	Nominated	[21][22]
		Best Director	Ryoo Seung-wan	Won
		Best Actress	Yum Jung-ah	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Go Min-si	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Park Jeong-min	Nominated
			Kim Jong-soo	Nominated
		Best Music	Chang Kiha	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Choi Young-hwan	Won
		Best Film Editing	Lee Gang-hee	Nominated
		Best Art Direction	Lee Hoo-kyung	Nominated
		Best Costume Design	Yoon Jung-hee, Kwon Soo-kyung	Nominated
Korean Association of Film Critics Awards	2023	Best Supporting Actor	Kim Jong-soo	Won	[23]
		Technical Award: (Art)	Lee Hoo-kyoung	Won
		Music Award	Chang Kiha	Won

References

1. "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2023". KOFIC. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
2. Kang Min-kyung (January 25, 2023). "[공식] 류승완 '밀수', 올여름 개봉 확정...김혜수·염정아의 첫 만남" [[Official] Ryoo Seung-wan's 'Smuggling' confirmed to be released this summer... Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah's first meeting] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
3. Hong Se-young (April 12, 2023). "김혜수·염정아·조인성·박정민 '밀수', 7월 26일 개봉 확정 [공식]" [Kim Hye-soo, Yeom Jeong-ah, Jo In-seong, and Park Jung-min 'Smugglers' confirmed to be released on July 26 [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023 – via Naver.
4. Kukinew (July 30, 2023). "'류승완 감독 밝힌 '밀수'의 몇 가지 이야기 [쿠키인터뷰]"". kukinews.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
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7. Lim Jong-myung (June 11, 2021). "영화 '밀수', 조인성·박정민·고민시·김종수 합류". Never (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
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11. Jung Hee-yeon (June 11, 2021). "'밀수' 김혜수X염정아X조인성X박정민 캐스팅...크랭크인 [공식]" ['Smuggling' Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Jo In-seong, Park Jung-min cast... Crankin [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
12. Kwak Myung-dong (July 25, 2023). "'밀수' 토론토 국제영화제 스페셜 프레젠테이션 섹션 공식 초청, "류승완의 시그니처 액션"" (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
13. Lee, Seung-hoon (May 7, 2024). '무빙'→'서울의 봄' 대상..'파묘'는 4관왕 [제60회 백상예술대상][종합] ['Moving' → 'Seoul Spring' Grand Prize..'Buried Grave' wins 4 awards [60th Baeksang Arts Awards] [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024 – via Naver.
14. Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024). 60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Naver.
15. Kim Yu-jin (November 6, 2023). 제44회 청룡영화상 후보 발표...'밀수'·'콘크리트 유토피아' 11개 부문 최다 노미네이트 [44th Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominations Announced...'Smugglere'-'Concrete Utopia' Receive Most Nominations in 11 Categories]. X-ports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Naver.
16. Baek Ji-eun (November 24, 2023). [44th청룡] 김혜수, 영원한 청룡영화상 "후회없이 충실했던 30년, 모든 순간이 영광"(종합) [[44th Blue Dragon] Kim Hye-soo, Eternal Blue Dragon Film Award ㅊ30 years of faithfulness without regrets, every moment is glorious" (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Naver.
17. Ha Kyung-min (August 31, 2023). "올해 부일영화상 최우수작품상 후보 5편 선정" [Five films selected as Best Picture nominees for this year's Buil Film Awards]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Naver.
18. Jang Ah-reum (October 5, 2023). "'콘토피아' 부일영화상 최우수 작품상...이병헌 남우주연상까지 4관왕(종합)" ['Contopia' Buil Film Awards Best Picture Award... Lee Byung-hun wins 4 awards including Best Actor (overall)]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
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External links

• Smugglers at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)
• Smugglers at HanCinema
• Smugglers at IMDb