After ‘Exhuma’ Success, This Korean Film Could Be the Next Big Hit

Riding high on the box office success of Exhuma, Showbox is preparing to launch another major title in the first half of 2025—Soju War.

The film stars Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Je-hoon and will premiere on June 3, kicking off its box office race with bold expectations. On April 14, Showbox released the first teaser poster for Soju War, signaling the start of its promotional campaign.

As the title suggests, Soju War revolves around a fierce conflict in the Korean soju industry. However, it goes far beyond just alcohol—it’s a biting black comedy drama that satirizes Korea’s economic structure and capitalistic dynamics, with a storyline that echoes real-life events.

Set during the 1997 IMF financial crisis, the film follows the fall of a fictional soju company, “Gukbo Soju”, once a dominant force in Korea’s liquor market, as it comes under attack from foreign capital. The story pits a loyal insider fighting to protect the company against a cold, calculating outsider attempting to take it over—reflecting broader tensions in Korean society between generational values, nationalism, and economic pragmatism.

Yoo Hae-jin plays Pyo Jong-rok, a veteran CFO who has devoted his life to Gukbo Soju. Fiercely loyal and unshakably principled, he becomes the symbolic face of resistance against foreign takeover.

Opposite him, Lee Je-hoon plays Choi In-beom, an executive from a global investment firm who prioritizes numbers and profits over cultural or emotional considerations—highlighting the growing divide between local sentiment and global capital.

Soju War goes beyond a typical corporate takeover plot by using soju, Korea’s most iconic drink, as a symbol of identity and cultural pride. Through the fictional brand Gukbo Soju, the film evokes real memories of market upheavals and company collapses that many Koreans experienced firsthand.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the IMF crisis, the film aims to resonate with older generations as a poignant reflection, and with younger audiences as a sharp insight into Korea’s economic past.

Earlier this year, Showbox named Soju War a flagship title in its 2025 lineup. After regaining profitability with Exhuma, the company is confident Soju War will continue its winning streak. While Exhuma broke genre boundaries in occult horror, Soju War offers a powerful take on Korea’s socio-economic contradictions—setting itself apart in both tone and message.

With the release date now confirmed, the film’s promotional rollout is about to accelerate, including a main trailer and nationwide screenings. All eyes are on whether Showbox can deliver another box office phenomenon.

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