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Gangnam Blues

Gangnam Blues
Gangnam 1970 Poster
Teaser poster
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Gangnam 1970
Directed by Yoo Ha
Produced by Yoo Ha
Yu Jeong-hun
Written by Yoo Ha
Starring Lee Min-ho
Kim Rae-won
Music by Jo Yeong-wook
Cinematography Kim Tae-seong
Hong Seong-hyuk
Edited by Park Gok-ji
Production
company
m.o.vera Pictures
Distributed by Showbox/Mediaplex
Release date
  • January 21, 2015 (2015-01-21)
Running time
135 minutes
Country South Korea
Language Korean
Budget US$9 million
Box office US$16.1 million

Gangnam Blues (Hangul강남 1970; lit. Gangnam 1970) is a 2015 South Korean noir action film written and directed by Yoo Ha, and starring Lee Min-ho and Kim Rae-won. The film is set in the 1970s against the backdrop of the real estate development of Seoul's Gangnam district amidst socio-political turmoil and terrorism. The friendship of two childhood friends is tested as they find themselves entangled in the collusion and battles between political powers and criminal organizations.

In the 1970s, during the height of political corruption, Gangnam, the southern part of Seoul is starting to be transformed into a developed area. Childhood friends Jong-dae and Yong-ki struggle to get by, until their shanty homes are demolished by local thugs. Desperate for cash, they get involved in violent political clashes, and are separated during one of the skirmishes. Three years later, Jong-dae lives as an adopted son of former gang leader Gil-soo and unknown to him a small-time gangster. Meanwhile, Yong-ki has raised as a made man inside Seoul's most powerful criminal organization, the Myeongdong-pa under Yang Ki-taek. Jong-dae meets foxy Min Seong-hee and is entangled in real estate business from tips Min Seong-hee gets from Park Seung-gu they enter into bigger business. Jong-dae finally meets Yong-ki and they together hatch plans to co-operate and become rich. Min Seong-hee introduces Jong-dae to a disgraced politician, Seo Tae-gon who still has political controls and they plan to raise him back to the political arena. They enter high-stakes battle going over land in Gangnam, by other political parties to fund secret presidential election and slush funds and drives up the plot-value of the city from inside information about future plan to turn Gangnam as an extended part of the capital. As the gangs fight over the rights to various plots and to maintain power structure, Yong-ki betrays his people and eliminates opposition with Jong-dae. Yong-ki who had to save his skin from suspicion of his boss kills Gil-soo. Jong-dae realizes this and keeps an eye on him. Meanwhile, Yong-ki's gang motivates him to overthrow Jong-dae and takeover the whole operation when its all over. After Seo Tae-gon's final mission they face each other and Jong-dae threatens Yong-ki to disappear and eliminates his gang members. Seo Tae-gon to turn a new leaf in his career recruits two new goons as his henchmen and puts them in charge to assassinate both Jong-dae and Yong-ki and they do so while Seo Tae-gon announces his nominee-ship for election and dances with Min Seong-hee. The ruling government declares its intend to adjoin Gagnam to its capital. After years an aged Seo Tae-gon addresses' the developed city of Gangnam about his commitment to the city.


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