| Big Deal | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 소주전쟁 |
| Hanja | 燒酒戰爭 |
| Lit. | Soju Wars |
| RR | Soju jeonjaeng |
| MR | Soju chŏnjaeng |
| Written by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Kim Seong-an |
| Music by | Dalpalan |
Production company | The Lamp |
| Distributed by | Showbox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes[1] |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$2 million[2] |
Big Deal (Korean: 소주전쟁) is a 2025 South Korean semi-autobiographical drama film loosely based on the real-life sale of Jinro during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The film follows Pyo Jong-rok (Yoo Hae-jin), a patriotic financial director at a soju company, and Choi In-beom (Lee Je-hoon), a revenue-driven global investment employee, as they clash over the fate of Korea's national liquor brand.[3] It was released theatrically in South Korea on May 30, 2025.
The film was originally directed by Choi Yun-jin but her name was omitted from the final credits after the production company, The Lamp, dismissed her, citing allegations of script appropriation. A Seoul court rejected her injunction to reverse the dismissal, allowing Big Deal to be released without her directorial credit.[4][5]
Synopsis
[edit]Set during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the film follows Pyo Jong-rok, the CFO of Gukbo Group, a renowned soju company facing financial turmoil. Choi In-beom, an ambitious employee from the global investment firm Solqueen, approaches Gukbo with plans for acquisition. As the two men, driven by contrasting motivations, engage in a corporate battle, their relationship evolves, with soju serving as a symbolic bridge between them.[6]
Cast
[edit]- Yoo Hae-jin as Pyo Jong-rok, CFO of Gukbo Group[7][8]
- Lee Je-hoon as Choi In-beom, an employee at global investment firm Solqueen[9]
- Son Hyun-joo as Seok Jin-woo, the heir of Gukbo Group
- Choi Young-joon as Koo Young-mo, the head lawyer representing Gukbo Group
- Byron Mann as the head of the Hong Kong branch of Solqueen
- Kim Ki-hae as Baek Seong-bin
- Lee Chang-ho as development researcher
- Stephanie Michova as Julia
- Jang Jae-hyun as reporter
Production
[edit]The film's cinematography is led by Kim Seong-an, known for his work on Intimate Strangers (2018) and Pilot (2024). Art director Kim Bo-mi, recognized for her contributions to Default (2018) and Escape (2024), brings a nuanced visual aesthetic to the film, capturing the emotional depth of the characters and the era.[6]
Release
[edit]Originally slated for release on June 3, 2025, Big Deal was rescheduled to premiere on May 30, 2025, to coincide with South Korea's Golden Week holiday, aiming to attract a larger audience during the peak movie-going season.[10][unreliable source?][11]
References
[edit]- ^ "BIG DEAL". British Columbia Film Classification Office. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ "Big Deal (2025)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ "Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Je-hoon shine in summer film 'Big Deal' ahead of release". The Chosun Ilbo. May 29, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ "Director Choi Yun-jin accuses producer of abuse after ouster from 'Big Deal'". The Korea Times. June 27, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ "Choi Yoon-jin asserts court ruling on 'Big Deal' does not confirm dismissal legality". The Chosun Ilbo. June 26, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ a b Yoo, Ye-ji (April 24, 2025). "Unveiling 'Soju Wars': A Cinematic Journey Through Korea's Iconic Spirit". TenAsia. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Park Jin-young (February 9, 2023). [단독] 유해진, 차기작은 '모럴해저드'…흥행 역사 또 쓴다 [[Exclusive] Yoo Hai-jin's next work is 'Moral Hazard'... Rewrite box office history]. JoyNews24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ Park Seo-hyun (April 7, 2023). 유해진X이제훈 '모럴해저드'(가제) 캐스팅 확정..첫 연기 호흡(공식) [Yoo Hai-jin X Lee Je-hoon's 'Moral Hazard' (tentative title) cast confirmed... First acting breath (official)] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ Park, Seo-hyun (April 7, 2023). 유해진X이제훈 '모럴해저드'(가제) 캐스팅 확정..첫 연기 호흡(공식) [Yoo Hae-jin X Lee Je-hoon's 'Moral Hazard' (tentative title) cast confirmed... First acting breath (official)] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ Jin, Joohee (May 9, 2025). "The movie "The Soju War" has finally confirmed its release date on May 30". MK Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ^ Park, Ji-yoon (May 12, 2025). "Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Je-hoon's 'War of Soju' Changes Release Date to May 30". The Fact. Retrieved May 23, 2025.