1.2M Trailer Views and Counting — Could This Be Korea’s First 10-Million Movie of 2025?

One of Korea’s most buzzed-about crime-action films of 2025, 'YADANG: The Snitch' (directed by Hwang Byung-gook), has just dropped a second round of official stills, further heightening anticipation.

The newly revealed images highlight the tension and intensity among its lead characters—each driven by power, greed, and survival—raising excitement ahead of the film’s April release. YADANG: The Snitch tells the story of three men caught in a ruthless game within Korea’s underground drug world: Lee Kang-soo (Kang Ha-neul), a street-smart broker known as “Yadang,” who quietly engineers drug deals behind the scenes. Prosecutor Goo Kwan-hee (Yoo Hae-jin), a power-hungry figure willing to use any means necessary to climb the ranks. Detective Oh Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon), who relentlessly chases down the truth, determined to dismantle the drug operation at all costs.

The title YADANG: The Snitch might sound political—but in the criminal underworld, it means something very different. Director Hwang explained that “Yadang” originated from street slang among pickpockets, where rival crews labeled each other “ruling” and “opposition” (Yadang) when snitching to the police. Over time, the term evolved to describe brokers who leak intel to authorities for personal gain—making “The Snitch” not just a title, but the heart of the film’s twisted moral landscape.

A high-stakes game of betrayal and manipulation unfolds as Goo pushes Lee into the national drug circuit, aiming to build his power using Lee as a pawn. Meanwhile, Detective Oh closes in, determined to expose the alliance between broker and prosecutor. The tension between cooperation and conflict escalates—raising the question: who’s using whom?

Among the most striking images is Jo Hoon (Ryu Kyung-soo), the arrogant son of a presidential candidate, holding his head high with a look of invincibility. His character embodies the elite who operate above the law, injecting the narrative with political weight and moral outrage.

After the trailer for YADANG: The Snitch dropped on March 10, it quickly racked up over 1.2 million views in just over two weeks, drawing massive attention. Netizens reacted with comments like “Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-joon? Instant ticket,” “It’s giving Veteran energy,” and “Finally, something worth going to the theater for.”

With razor-sharp tension, morally gray characters, and a dark look into the structures of power, YADANG: The Snitch is shaping up to be a crime thriller unlike any other. It hits theaters in Korea on April 23.