The Unjust (2010 Film)

The Unjust (Korean: 부당거래; RR: Budanggeorae) is a 2010 South Korean crime thriller film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan. The film examines systemic corruption, focusing on the intersection of police investigations, prosecutorial power, and organized crime.

The Unjust promotional poster — Promotional poster for The Unjust.

Plot

Set against the backdrop of a series of high-profile murders targeting children, the film follows the intense pressure placed on the South Korean police force to apprehend a suspect. When the primary suspect is killed during a police operation, the National Police Agency, fearing public backlash and political fallout, decides to fabricate a case to close the investigation quickly.

Choi Cheol-gi (Hwang Jung-min), a capable detective who has been repeatedly denied promotions due to his lack of a police academy background, is tasked with orchestrating the cover-up. To secure his promotion, he enters into a dangerous arrangement with a gangster named Jang Suk-gu (Yu Hae-jin) to frame a convenient suspect. The situation becomes increasingly complex when a prosecutor, Joo-yang (Ryoo Seung-bum), begins investigating the case, leading to a power struggle fueled by personal vendettas and institutional corruption.

Cast

Hwang Jung-min as Choi Cheol-gi
Ryoo Seung-bum as Joo-yang
Yu Hae-jin as Jang Suk-gu
Ma Dong-seok as Ma Dae-ho
Cheon Ho-jin as Police Chief Kang
Lee Sung-min as Lead D.A.

Hwang Jung-Min — Hwang Jung-min as Detective Choi Cheol-gi.

Ryoo Seung-Bum — Ryoo Seung-bum as Prosecutor Joo-yang.

Ma Dong-Seok — Ma Dong-seok as Ma Dae-ho.

Cheon Ho-Jin — Cheon Ho-jin as Police Chief Kang.

Lee Sung-Min — Lee Sung-min as the Lead D.A.

Jeong Man-Sik — Jeong Man-sik as D.A. assistant Kong.

Woo Jung-Kook — Woo Jung-kook as Lee Dong-suk.

Song Sae-Byeok — Song Sae-byeok as Cheol-gi's brother-in-law.

Hwang Byeng-Gug — Hwang Byeng-gug as the public defender.

Jo Young-Jin — Jo Young-jin as Businessman Kim.

Scene from the film — A scene featuring the characters from the film.

Production

Principal photography for The Unjust commenced on April 15, 2010. The film was written by Park Hoon-jung and features cinematography by Jung Jung-hoon.

Film Festivals

The film was screened at several international film festivals, including the 61st Berlin International Film Festival in 2011 (Panorama section), the 35th Hong Kong International Film Festival, and the 12th Jeonju International Film Festival.