The Executioner (2009 South Korean Film)

The Executioner (Korean: 집행자; RR: Jiphaengja) is a 2009 South Korean drama film directed by Choi Jin-ho. The narrative centers on the psychological and moral dilemmas faced by prison staff when a death sentence is carried out after a twelve-year hiatus in executions.

The Executioner promotional poster — Promotional poster for The Executioner (2009).

Plot

The film explores the tense atmosphere within a South Korean prison as the staff prepares for the first execution in over a decade. The story focuses on the internal conflicts of the guards and officials tasked with carrying out the sentence, examining the human cost of capital punishment.

Production and Release

The Executioner was written by Kim Young-ok and produced by Cho Sung-kyu and Yang Jong-gon. The film held its world premiere at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival on October 9, 2009, and was released theatrically in South Korea on November 5, 2009. It opened at number two at the South Korean box office, selling 166,074 tickets across 296 screens during its opening weekend of November 6–8, 2009, accounting for 16.9% of total ticket sales.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast portraying various prison staff and associated characters:

Cho Jae-hyun as Bae Jong-ho
Yoon Kye-sang as Oh Jae-kyeong
Park In-hwan as Prison Employee Kim
Cha Soo-yeon as Eun-joo
Cho Seong-ha as Yong-doo
Jeon Mi-sun as Yoon-sun
Jung Kyung-ho as Prison Employee Jang

Actor Cho Jae-hyun — Cho Jae-hyun, who plays Bae Jong-ho.

Actor Yoon Kye-sang — Yoon Kye-sang, who plays Oh Jae-kyeong.

Actor Park In-hwan — Park In-hwan, who plays Prison Employee Kim.

Reception and Festivals

The film was screened at the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival, where it received an Honorable Mention for the AQCC Prize. It was also featured in the "Korean Cinema Today - Panorama" section at the 2009 Pusan International Film Festival.

Actress Cha Soo-yeon — Cha Soo-yeon, who plays Eun-joo.

Actor Cho Seong-ha — Cho Seong-ha, who plays Yong-doo.

Actress Jeon Mi-sun — Jeon Mi-sun, who plays Yoon-sun.

Actor Jung Kyung-ho — Jung Kyung-ho, who plays Prison Employee Jang.

Still from The Executioner — A scene from the film.