The Boys (2023 South Korean Film)

The Boys (Korean: 소년들; RR: Sonyeondeul) is a 2023 South Korean crime drama film directed by Chung Ji-Young. The narrative is based on the real-life 1999 Samnye Nara Supermarket robbery and homicide case, which resulted in the wrongful conviction of three young men.

Plot

The film follows the investigation of a robbery and homicide that occurred at a supermarket in a small town. Three young men are arrested and subsequently convicted for the crime. Years later, Hwang Joon-Cheol (played by Sul Kyung-Gu), the chief of the original investigation team, begins to harbor doubts regarding the initial verdict and initiates a reinvestigation into the case.

Historical Context

The film is based on the Samnye Nara Supermarket incident, which took place on February 3, 1999, in Samnye, Wanju County, North Jeolla Province. During the robbery, a 77-year-old woman died by suffocation. Although three young men were initially captured and convicted, they were later found not guilty on October 28, 2016, following a second trial that overturned the original judgment.

Production

Principal photography for The Boys commenced on June 25, 2020, and concluded on September 26, 2020. The film was distributed by CJ Entertainment and released in South Korea on November 1, 2023.

Cast