Break Out (2002 Film)

Break Out (Korean: 라이터를 켜라; RR: Lightereul Kyeora) is a 2002 South Korean comedy-drama film directed by Jang Hang-jun. The film follows the chaotic encounter between a down-on-his-luck man and a ruthless mobster aboard a train.

Promotional poster for the film Break Out

Plot

Heo Bong-gu (Kim Seung-woo) is a struggling man who finds himself at Seoul Station with only 300 won to his name after completing military reserve training. During his time at the station, he loses his lighter in a restroom. He discovers that the lighter has been picked up by Yang Cheol-gon (Cha Seung-won), a mob boss who is currently attempting to extort money from a corrupt politician, Congressman Park Yeong-gab (Park Young-gyu).

When Bong-gu attempts to retrieve his lighter, he is assaulted by the mobster's associates. Determined to get his property back, Bong-gu boards the same train as the mobsters. Once the train departs, Cheol-gon initiates a plan to confront Congressman Park. When the politician refuses to pay, Cheol-gon takes control of the train, holding the passengers hostage. Amidst the high-stakes hostage situation, Bong-gu remains fixated on recovering his lighter, leading to an escalating confrontation between the two men.

Cast

Kim Seung-woo as Heo Bong-gu
Cha Seung-won as Yang Cheol-gon
Park Young-gyu as Park Yeong-gab
Kang Sung-jin
Lee Moon-sik
Yu Hae-jin
Jang Hyun-sung
Jang Hang-jun