Netflix is doubling down on Korea’s appetite for political period thrillers. The streamer revealed on Monday that he has begun production on Generals (Working Title), a new film from acclaimed director Yoon Jong-bin, chronicles the rise of South Korean dictator-turned-president Roh Tae-woo, the longtime second-in-command to military strongman Chun Doo-hwan.
The project marks Yoon’s first feature film in eight years The spy went northwhich premiered at Cannes in 2018 – and his second Netflix project after that Drug saintsthe hit limited series launching on the streaming device in 2022.
The film focuses on Roh Tae-woo (Son Suk-ko), a character who publicly presents himself as a “common man” while behind the scenes maneuvering alongside dictator Chun Doo-hwan (Ha Jung-woo), who wields absolute power. Surrounded by allies, rivals, and employees with their own agendas, Roh navigates a dense web of relationships in his attempt to claim the top seat for himself.
Among the most respected mid-career Korean directors, Yeun is known for his meticulous dissection of how people survive within strict hierarchies, starting with his own breakthrough. the unforgiven (2005), about forced military service in Korea, later a major hit as the Busan mob film Anonymous gangs (2012) and the spy drama The spy went north (2018). Generals It finds him returning to the subject, “once again exploring the human thirst for power and survival mechanisms against a backdrop of political turmoil,” according to Netflix.
The film’s cast pits two of Korea’s most sought-after leading men against each other for the first time. Son Suk-ku starred in a military drama series on Netflix DP (2021) before topping the streaming chart A fatal paradox (2024) and the latest Disney+ mystery film Nine puzzles. Meanwhile, Ha Jung Woo is among the most decorated Korean actors and is known for his regular work with Yoon(No name Gangsters, Kondo: The Age of Rampant and Drug saints) as well as prominent authors such as Na Hong-jin (pursuer, Yellow sea(And Park Chan Wook)the maid).
The backing band includes Ji Chang Wook (The sound of magic, The worst evil, pistol) plays Heo Hak-seong, a junior officer who becomes a thorn in Roh’s side; Hyun Bong Sik (Drug saints, A fatal paradox, whatever) as Jung Ho-joong, a classmate and friend of both Roh and Chun; And Seo Hyun Woo (The decision to leave, My name is Luo Qian) plays Park Chul-woong, a prosecutor and Roh’s trusted chief of staff.
Generals (WT) is a co-production between Moonlight Film (Karma, Drug saints, Match, Nine puzzles(And pictures of Sunny)Mission: Cross, pistol, chase), and will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix.
Politically charged dramas about South Korea’s authoritarian past are a staple of the local industry, but the genre has struck a particularly strong commercial chord recently. 12.12: TodayKim Seung-soo’s political drama, which turned the December 1979 coup into an engaging, hour-long thriller, became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2023, helping to revive the country’s faltering theater business after the pandemic. Woo Min Ho Running awaya sweeping thriller about a 1909 plot to assassinate Japan’s first Prime Minister and Resident General of Korea, also dominated the Korean box office for a month at the end of 2024.
