Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2025)

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Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (범죄와의 전쟁: 나쁜놈들 전성시대; Beomjoewaui Jeonjaeng: Nappeunnomdeul Jeonseongsidae; lit. War on Crime: The Golden Age of the Bad Guys) is a 2012 South Korean gangster film directed by Yoon Jong Bin and starring Choi Min Shik and Ha Jung Woo. The film is set in the 1980s and '90s in Busan when corruption and crime was so rampant that the government declared war on it in 1990.

Time praised the film, calling it "the Korean mob film Martin Scorsese would be proud of."

Contents

  • 1 Synopsis
  • 2 Plot
  • 3 Cast
  • 4 Soundtrack
  • 5 Production
  • 6 Reception
  • 7 In popular culture
  • 8 Awards and nominations
  • 9 Trivia
  • 10 Gallery
  • 11 Video Gallery
  • 12 References

Synopsis[]

Boasting an all star cast of Choi Min Shik (Oldboy, Lucy) and Ha Jung Woo (The Berlin File, The Chaser), Nameless Gangster chronicles the Korean government's war on corruption and organized crime in the 1980s, as seen through the eyes of a corrupt government official who finds his fate in the hands of two powerful mob bosses.[1]

Plot[]

South Korea, 13 October 1990. Following President Roh Tae Woo's declaration of a crackdown on organized crime, Busan businessman Choi Ik Hyun (Choi Min Shik) is arrested for embezzling billions of won from hotel construction companies, and is also charged with intimidation, kidnapping and assault. Busan public prosecutor Jo Beom Seok (Kwak Do Won) is in charge of the investigation, and especially the murder of hotel owner Heo Sam Shik (Kwon Tae Won) by mobster Kim Pan Ho (Cho Jin Woong), with whom Ik Hyun allegedly was connected.

Back in March 1982, Choi was a Busan customs officer who, along with colleagues, was already taking bribes and pilfering goods. After discovering 10 kilograms of hiropon (crystal meth) in a warehouse one night, he and colleague Mr. Jang (Kim Jong Soo) approach a friend of Jang's, gangster Choi Hyung Bae (Ha Jung Woo), to sell it to Japan's yakuza, with whom Hyung Bae has ties. Ik Hyun discovers that the younger Hyung Bae is also a member of the same Choi family clan from Gyeongju and the two form a close relationship. Ik Hyun leaves his customs job and becomes a full-time businessman, with Hyung Bae taking care of the underworld side and Ik Hyun protecting him with his high-level contacts.

In the mid-'80s the two forcibly take over a nightclub run by Miss Yeo (Kim Hye Eun) that is on the turf of Pan Ho. Following his humiliation, Pan Ho has the club raided by the police and Hyung Bae arrested, though Ik Hyun gets Hyung Bae released by using the Choi clan connection with Seoul public prosecutor Choi Joo Dong (Kim Eung Soo). In May 1987, Ik Hyun and Hyung Bae take their business to the next level, formally linking up with Japan's yakuza and having a connection with a hotel-casino, the Daedong, that is also on Pan Ho's turf. Pan Ho threatens a gang war with Hyung Bae, and Ik Hyun is forced to decide where his loyalties and self-survival lie.

Out of desperation, Ik Hyun meets up with Pan Ho without Hyung Bae's knowledge to solve the issues between the two gangs. A paranoid Hyung Bae, who has become increasingly annoyed by Ik Hyun trying to overpower him, has Ik Hyun beaten up and kicked out of the gang with a stern warning. When Ik Hyun is arrested by the prosecutor, he finally reveals all his connections to the underworld in order to save himself. However, he seemingly only reveals the whereabouts of Pan Ho, who has been hiding away from the authorities. In order to survive, Hyung Bae reconciles with Ik Hyun and they plan to escape together after Ik Hyun has his family sent away to America. However, as they are escaping Busan, the authorities catch up to them. It turns out that Ik Hyun had revealed Hyung Bae's whereabouts as well and has been playing him all along. Hyung Bae tries to kill Ik Hyun out of frustration but he is arrested and taken away. The prosecutor is given an award by the president for bringing down organized crime in Busan.

Twenty years later, Ik Hyun's son is now a law graduate from Seoul University and has joined the prosecutor's office. Despite having escaped the law and living a life of luxury, Ik Hyun is still suffering from guilt over how he betrayed Hyung Bae. While Ik Hyun is celebrating his first grandson's birthday with the rest of the family, Hyung Bae's voice is heard. Ik Hyun turns to face the camera and the screen turns to black.

Cast[]

  • Main Characters

  • Supporting Characters

  • Guest Roles

  • Choi Min Shik as Choi Ik Hyun
  • Ha Jung Woo as Choi Hyung Bae, a gang boss
  • Jo Jin Woong as Kim Pan Ho, a gang boss
  • Ma Dong Seok as Kim Seo Bang, Ik Hyun's brother-in-law
  • Kwak Do Won as Jo Bum Suk, a public prosecutor
  • Kim Sung Kyun as Park Chang Woo, Hyung Bae's gang underboss
  • Kim Jong Soo as Director Jang, a customs officer
  • Kim Jong Goo as Section Chief Jo Bong Goo, a customs chief officer
  • Kwon Tae Won as Director Heo Sam Shik, a nightclub co-owner
  • Kim Hye Eun as President Yeo, a nightclub co-owner
  • Go In Beom as Choi Moo Il, Hyung Bae's father
  • Song Young Chang as Lawyer Han, an attorney
  • Takeshi Nakajima as Jaidoku Ganeyama, a yakuza boss
  • Park Byung Eun as Choi Joo Han, Ik Hyun's son
    • Noh Tae Yeob as Young Choi Joo Han
  • Kim Young Sun as Ik Hyun's wife
  • Jang Woo Jin as Section Chief Seo
  • Kim Sam Il as Choi Doo Hyun
  • Kim Hong Pa as Head of Department Uhm
  • Kim Choon Gi as Park Ee Won
  • Sung Nak Kyung as Kang Sang Moo
  • Kim Eung Soo as Public Prosecutor Choi Joo Dong
  • Kwon Nam Hee as Ja Young
  • Lee Yoon Hee as a smuggler
  • Lee Hee Joon as a college student
  • Ahn Min Young as 40-year-old Yoo Mi
  • Lee Se Rang as Ik Hyun's younger sister #2
  • Lee Jin Hee as Ik Hyun's younger sister #3
  • Go Gyu Pil as a driver of the imitated firetruck
  • Kwon Yool as a driver of the imitated firetruck #3
  • Lee Kwang Ho as the rat kid
  • Yoon Jong Bin as a cameraman
  • Park Sung Kwang as the first birthday MC
  • Eo Joo Seon as a manager
  • Kwon Hyuk Soo as a member of the Ministry of Justice
  • Oh Man Seok as a chief prosecutor
  • Yoo Jae Myung as a team member
  • Kim Kwang Hyun as a team member #2
  • Kim Jin Hyeok as Hyung Bae's gang member #5
  • Lee Chul Min as Hyung Bae's gang member #6
  • Han Chul Woo as Hyung Bae's gang member #7
  • Son Byung Wook as Hyung Bae's gang member #8
  • Choi Ji Woong as Hyung Bae's gang member #9
  • Kang Hyun Joong as Hyung Bae's gang member #10
  • Yoo Sang Jae as Hyung Bae's gang member
  • Kim Jae Young as Pan Ho's gang member #5
  • Park Ki Duk as Pan Ho's gang member #6
  • Kim Sung Gi as Pan Ho's gang member #8
  • Lee Yoo Joon as Pan Ho's gang member #9
  • Han Sung Chun as Pan Ho's gang member
  • Lee Moo Nyoung as Pan Ho's gang member
  • Jang Nam Boo as Pan Ho's gang member
  • Lee Seung Joon as Pan Ho's gang member
  • Kim Chan Yi as a gang member
  • Han Soo Hyun as a gang member
  • Jung Gi Sub as a detective
  • Park Sang Gyu as Detective #2
  • Kim Min Jae as a sailor
  • Park In Soo as a sailor
  • Kang Shin Chul as Waiter #1
  • Kim Seo Kyung as Waiter #2
  • Kim Jin Sung as Waiter #3
  • Lee Ji Ha as a middle-aged woman with a bag carrier
  • Lee Joo Yeon as a university student
  • Kwak Hye Jin as a coffee shop lady
  • Kim Woo Jin as a businessman
  • Lee Seung Min as Joo Han's wife
  • Park Yong Je as a fairy president
  • Shin Yi Joon
  • Sung Ian
  • Lee Yu Jin
  • Soundtrack[]

    Main Article: Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time OST

    Production[]

    Choi Min Shik reportedly put on 10 kilograms for his role and Ha Jung Woo spent 8 hours putting on the fake body tattoos featured in the film.

    Reception[]

    Nameless Gangster attracted over 4 million admissions in 26 days of release. It drew 1 million in four days, 2.5 million in 11 days, 3 million in 17 days, and 3.5 million in 20 days. According to data provided by Korean Film Council (KOFIC) it topped the list of ten most-watched films in South Korea in the first quarter of 2012, with a total of 4.6 million admissions.

    Its success is notable as it was screened in February (traditionally a low season for movies), rated R, and screened less frequently due to its long running time of 133 minutes. Korean Film Biz Zone stated "the film has elements working against it for box office success. Despite that, "the return of" Choi Min Shik melded with top-rated actor of the day Ha Jung Woo is impressive. The two actors' presence is backed up by a solid supporting cast, giving the film a distinct flavor of a gangster classic."

    The film ranked #1 for three weeks, two of which were consecutive. It grossed ₩8 billion in its first week of release, and grossed a total of ₩36 billion after nine weeks of screening.

    On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes the film has 4 reviews, all are positive.

    In popular culture[]

    The film has been parodied in many popular variety shows on TV, such as Gag Concert and Infinite Challenge. Comedians aped the film characters' hairstyle and fashion, and the use of the phrase "Sara Itne" (살아 있네, akin to meaning 'fresh') and the song "I Heard a Rumor."

    It was also parodied by members of the boy band Shinhwa in their 2013 Shinhwa Grand Finale: The Classic in Seoul concerts in August 2013.

    Awards and nominations[]

    YearAwardCategoryRecipientsResult
    201248th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest FilmNameless Gangster: Rules of the TimeNominated
    Best DirectorYoon Jong Bin
    Best ActorChoi Min Shik
    Best ScreenplayYoon Jong Bin
    Best New ActorKim Sung KyunWon
    Best New ActressKim Hye EunNominated
    21st Buil Film AwardsBest FilmNameless Gangster: Rules of the Time
    Best DirectorYoon Jong Bin
    Best ActorChoi Min ShikWon
    Ha Jung WooNominated
    Best Supporting ActorCho Jin WoongWon
    Kwak Do WonNominated
    Best ScreenplayYoon Jong Bin
    Best New ActorKim Sung KyunWon
    Best New ActressKim Hye EunNominated
    Best CinematographyGo Nak Seon
    Best Art DirectionCho Hwa Sung
    Best MusicJo Yeong Wook
    49th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorChoi Min Shik
    Best Supporting ActorKim Sung Kyun
    Best New Actor
    32nd Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest ScreenplayYoon Jong BinWon
    6th Asia Pacific Screen AwardsBest Feature FilmNameless Gangster: Rules of the TimeNominated
    Best ActorChoi Min ShikWon
    33rd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest FilmNameless Gangster: Rules of the TimeNominated
    Best DirectorYoon Jong Bin
    Best ActorChoi Min ShikWon
    Ha Jung WooNominated
    Popularity AwardWon
    Best Supporting ActorKwak Do WonNominated
    Best ScreenplayYoon Jong BinWon
    Best New ActorKim Sung KyunNominated
    Best MusicJo Yeong WookWon
    Best CinematographyGo Nak SeonNominated
    Best Art DirectionCho Hwa Sung
    Best LightingLee Seung Won
    20th Korean Culture and Entertainment AwardsBest New ActorKim Sung KyunWon
    13th Busan Film Critics AwardsBest FilmNameless Gangster: Rules of the Time
    20134th KOFRA Film AwardsBest ActorChoi Min Shik
    7th Asian Film AwardsBest ActorChoi Min ShikNominated
    Best Supporting ActorHa Jung Woo
    Best NewcomerKim Sung Kyun
    Best ScreenplayYoon Jong Bin
    Best Art DirectionCho Hwa Sung
    Best Original ScoreJo Yeong Wook

    Trivia[]

    Gallery[]

    Video Gallery[]

    Nameless Gangster - OFFICIAL HD TRAILER - Korean Mobster Film - Choi Min-sik, Ha Jung-woo

    References[]

    Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2025)
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