Korean Thriller ‘Big Deal’ Trailer Highlights a Soju Company in the 1990s

“This stuff is like nectar!” Ah, soju! Well Go USA has just released the official US trailer for a gripping Korean business thriller titled Big Deal, previously known as The Soju War (소주전쟁) in its native language. This film is set for a theatrical release in the US in early June, making it a timely addition to the cinematic landscape. The story unfolds during the tumultuous 1997 Asian financial crisis, focusing on Pyo Jong-rok, the CFO of Gukbo Group, a leading soju manufacturer grappling with financial distress. Enter Choi In-beom, an ambitious employee from the global investment firm Solqueen, who approaches Gukbo with a bold acquisition proposal. As these two characters, motivated by differing agendas, engage in a fierce corporate struggle, their dynamic evolves, with soju acting as a metaphorical link between them. This is truly The Soju Movie! Starring notable actors such as Yoo Hai-jin, Lee Je-hoon, Son Hyun-joo, Choi Young-jun, and Byron Mann. For those unfamiliar, soju is a clear spirit made from rice or other grains, akin to vodka, and while it’s immensely popular in Korea, its global reach is still growing. The intensity of this film is palpable.

Check out the official US trailer (+ poster) for Choi Yoon-Jin’s film Big Deal, directly from YouTube:

Set against the backdrop of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Gukbo, the leading soju company, teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. In the cutthroat world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), In-beom (Lee Je-hoon), a young and ambitious associate at Solquin, targets Gukbo as his first major project. Concealing his true intentions, In-beom presents himself to Jong-rok (Yoo Hai-jin), a dedicated executive at Gukbo, as a well-meaning consultant aiming to revitalize the company. However, as In-beom delves deeper into Gukbo’s operations, he uncovers unexpected twists that could change everything. Big Deal, or 소주전쟁 in Korean (translated as Soju War), is both written and directed by the talented filmmaker Choi Yoon-Jin, who is also behind the upcoming film Moral Hazard. Originally released by Showbox in Korea, Well Go USA is set to bring Big Deal to select US theaters starting on June 6th, 2025. Who’s excited to see this? Are you curious?

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