Directed by Han Jae Rim (The Face Reader), The King is a political drama that’ll infuriate you as your brain constantly reminds you, “That actually happens!” The film set the record for most-viewed Korean movie trailer (watch the trailer here), not just because it boasts a talented cast that includes Jung Woo-Sung, Bae Sung-Woo, and Jo In-Sung, but because of it’s promise of intense political drama mirroring real life.
From the trailer, many are referring to it as the Korean Wolf of Wall Street, and it’s not hard to see why. Corruption, extreme partying, and the glamorization of these things because the criminals wear well-fitted suits is all very Jordan Belfort, but that’s a comparison that doesn’t really capture what The King is about and I think downplays a lot of the larger themes it’s trying to explore. Yes, the film has its moments of extravagance and partying, but if you’re looking for the same kind of excess and explicit outrageousness you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
With parallels to real-life scandals and offhanded references to moments like the June Democracy Movement and the transitions the country underwent in several presidential elections, The King succeeds as a political drama invested in the constantly changing dynamics of power. Though non-Korean viewers should not forget the context and historical backdrop of the film (the Korean work culture and dynamics are especially something to take note of), it’s not hard to see the parallels with our own political moment and that defamiliarization has its own effectiveness. A heads-up to anyone interested that the film does feature a small plot about assault, and it’s so, so infuriating.
The film center around Jo In-Sung as Park Tae-Soo and his journey as a prosecutor. Starting from his youth, Park learns early on that true power doesn’t stem from physical domination but from people with political power. Not long after becoming a prosecutor, his eyes are quickly opened to the corruption behind the scenes and how prosecutors, politicians, gangs, and the press all function to move and withhold influence. Even more abruptly, he has to decide whether to participate in this world and effectively abandon any notions of justice in favor of a more comfortable and glamorous life for him and those close to him. He begins working under Jung’s Han Kang Sik, the Chief Prosecutor who’s calculating nature makes him the closest thing to the “King.”
With people constantly telling Park “pride means nothing” and that he should “go with the flow of history,” he slowly gives in to the temptation of power, glory, and sticking to the way things have always been. In some ways, his introduction into this world is almost a “how-to” for the viewer as we learn about manipulating public attention, sentiment, and ignorance. It’s revenge, scheming, and plots galore.
Political dramas are a weird genre for me because oftentimes I hate how heavy-handed and pessimistic they can be. The King definitely isn’t immune to the melodrama you’d expect from a movie like this, but there’s still a good amount of humor. Most importantly, it also never fails to set its eyes on an alternative to this corruption. A female prosecutor, who I wish had a bigger role, begins midway through as one of few characters illustrating this alternative.
I’m not going to give away the ending, but Sung’s performance as a man who wrestles with constant hesitance, decadence, and loyalty was honestly gripping. If anything, it’s a film for the corrupt to know that it’s not too late and a reminder that those who see you as a mean for their own power are never going to truly “be on your side.” It’s a film for those who have accepted or are close to accepting the flow of history to question whether that’s really the case.
I still question whether our protagonist is a sympathetic character, but I think the film isn’t trying to ask that question. Seeing it as a kind of “how to” for recognizing manipulation makes it much more enjoyable, if somewhat exaggerated. Do I think prosecutors are hoarding videos and files of scandals to use at the exact opportune moment in a gigantic library? Well, maybe not in that form, but it’s undeniable that the person who can manipulate the press wields a lot of power.
This question of who “The King” is in the struggle between men has an answer that I found surprisingly gratifying. The film comes out on limited release in the U.S. January 27th
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