Controversial Korean Film Featuring Group Intimate Scene Sparks Buzz Ahead of Release

Korean crime-action film YADANG: The Snitch is finally hitting theaters tomorrow, following intense public attention sparked by reports of a controversial group intimate scene related to drug use. The film features some of Korea’s finest actors, including Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, and Park Hae-joon.

Even before its release, the film had already drawn both praise and criticism for its unfiltered portrayal of Korea’s underground drug world, offering a gritty take that feels more real than reality itself.

A Story of Power, Crime, and Corruption

Directed by Hwang Byung-gook, known for Wedding Campaign and SIU, the film centers around three main characters whose motives dangerously collide: Kang-soo, a broker who orchestrates drug deals, Koo Kwan-hee, an ambitious prosecutor chasing power, and Oh Sang-jae, a detective who has dedicated his life to taking down drug criminals

Their personal and professional agendas clash violently in a narrative drawn from real-life cases and characters.

Director Responds to Scene Causing Controversy

In an interview with the press on April 8, director Hwang addressed the much-discussed group scene involving drug use, saying, “The scene wasn’t created to shock — it came from real research. Once I saw the reality of Korea’s drug crimes, I felt it was impossible to water it down.”

He continued, “There have been real cases of people avoiding military service due to lowered IQ from drug use. I even found instances where high school students were arrested after believing drugs would improve their brain function. You can’t show that under a ‘PG-15’ rating.”

Built on Real Events and Firsthand Research

To build the world of YADANG, Hwang interviewed over 100 people, including drug offenders and investigators. Several plot points — such as a drug arrest in Gangnam and prosecutors swooping in to detain suspects ahead of police at Yongsan Station — are based on true incidents.

At one point, Hwang himself was mistaken for a suspect and had to undergo a urine test at a police station — an experience that he says made it into the script. “I didn’t want to portray the drug world from the outside looking in,” Hwang explained. “I wanted to go deeper — to show it from the inside.”

Despite the controversy, YADANG is being praised for its tight narrative, explosive action, and immersive performances. Viewers at advance screenings called it “The best Korean movie I’ve seen in years," “Brutal, intense, and terrifyingly real,” and "So full of twists, I couldn’t look away for a second.”

As of April 15, the film holds a commanding 36.7% reservation rate, topping major ticketing platforms in Korea. Its performance signals potential box office dominance upon release.

More Than Just Action — A Stark Look at Modern Korea

YADANG doesn’t just entertain — it unsettles. The film highlights how deeply drug trafficking has infiltrated daily life in Korea, from convenience stores and street corners to schools and even private homes.

It asks the urgent question: “How close is the drug trade to where we live — right now?”

With its mix of real events, unflinching storytelling, and controversial scenes, YADANG: The Snitch arrives on April 16 as a film that may not be easily forgotten — and perhaps one that pushes Korean cinema to confront a darker reality head-on.

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