신세계 New World 2013

New World (신세계; Sinsegye) is a 2013 South Korean crime drama film written and directed by Park Hoon-jung. Starring Lee Jung-jae, Choi Min-sik and Hwang Jung-min, the film shows the conflict between the police and the mob through the eyes of an undercover cop.

Undercover police officer Ja-sung (Lee Jung-jae) infiltrates Goldmoon, the biggest crime syndicate in Korea, to investigate them under the command of his handler Chief Kang (Choi Min-sik). After eight years, Ja-sung becomes the right-hand man to the ring's second-in-command Jung Chung (Hwang Jung-min), who holds the real power. But when its leader is killed in a mysterious car accident, Goldmoon is thrown into a succession struggle that threatens to tear it apart. With a baby on the way, Ja-sung is desperate to retire, however Kang keeps him on as rival factions quickly develop around two prospective leaders, the gang's number 2, Jung Chung and number 3, Lee Joong-gu (Park Sung-woong). Top-level police officials initiate "Operation New World" to intervene in Goldmoon's selection process for the next leader, and to use the leader's death to their advantage in controlling the crime organization. Caught between Jung Chung who trusts him with his life, and Kang who thinks of him only as bait, Ja-sung is cornered by both bosses on opposite sides and must make a final decision that rests on loyalty and betrayal.

Hangul	신세계
Hanja	新世界
RR	Sinsegye
MR	Sinsekye
Directed by	Park Hoon-jung
Produced by	Han Jae-duk Kim Hyun-woo
Written by	Park Hoon-jung
Starring	Lee Jung-jae Choi Min-sik Hwang Jung-min
Music by	Jo Yeong-wook
Cinematography	Chung Chung-hoon Yu Eok
Editing by	Moon Se-kyung
Distributed by	New Entertainment World Finecut (international)
Release date(s)	21 February 2013
Running time	134 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Budget	₩7.3 billion
Box office	US$31,212,801

The New York Times called the film "both less bloody and more thoughtful than most of its genre, the shifting-alliances plot becoming more engrossing as it progresses."

Los Angeles Times wrote that "writer-director Park Hoon-jung tells this twisty story of internecine warfare within a Korean corporate crime syndicate with patience, elegance and no small amount of bloodshed."

Salon said that "the rewards come from a satisfying plot, distinctive characters and a series of memorable showpieces, and Park handles all three demands well," and "no one in American movies has made a crime opera this good in years."

Film Business Asia praised it as "the best played and most gripping Korean gangster movie since Yoo Ha's A Dirty Carnival. [...] not only showcases three of South Korea's best actors at the top of their game but also manages to sustain its 2 and a half-hour running time on sheer character drama rather than action or violence."

http://www.sinsegae2013.co.kr/