Land of Happiness

Land of Happiness
Land of Happiness
	Theatrical release poster
Hangul	행복의 나라
Literal meaning	Land of Happiness
Revised Romanization	Haengbog-ui nala
Directed by	Choo Chang-min
Written by	Heo Jun-seok;
Produced by	Lee Jun-taek; Jang Jin-seung
Starring	Jo Jung-suk; Lee Sun-kyun; Yoo Jae-myung;
Cinematography	Hong Jae-sik
Edited by	Heo Seon-mi
Music by	Kim Tae-seong
Production; companies	Papas Films; Oscar 10 Studio
Distributed by	Next Entertainment World
Release date	August 14, 2024;
Running time	124 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Box office	US$4.8 million

Land of Happiness (Korean: 행복의 나라) is a 2024 South Korean legal drama film directed by Choo Chang-min, starring Jo Jung-suk, Lee Sun-kyun, and Yoo Jae-myung. The film is inspired by the real-life figure Tae Yoon-ki [ko], who served as the defense attorney for Army colonel Park Heung-ju [ko] in the aftermath of the assassination of Park Chung Hee.^[2] It was released theatrically on August 14, 2024.^[3]

Plot

Jung In-hoo, a master of legal battles, takes on one of the most challenging political trials in South Korean history by defending Park Tae-ju, the chief secretary of the intelligence agency implicated in the assassination of the president. Despite the overwhelming odds, with Tae-ju’s sentence seemingly predetermined due to his military status, In-hoo fights relentlessly to ensure a fair trial. However, his frustration boils over as he faces an increasingly unjust legal process.

Thirty minutes before the assassination, Tae-ju receives an order from the chief of the intelligence agency to subdue the bodyguards if necessary. The central issue in court becomes whether his actions were a "premeditated act of rebellion" or "obedience to orders under duress". Although In-hoo advises Tae-ju to testify in a way that could save him, Tae-ju remains steadfast, refusing to betray the trust placed in him.

Meanwhile, Jeon Sang-doo, the ambitious leader of the joint investigation team, harbors dangerous ambitions following the events of October 26. He manipulates the trial from the shadows, eavesdropping on proceedings and subtly steering the outcome by sending real-time notes to the court, all while mocking the determined In-hoo.

Cast

Jo Jung-suk as Jung In-hoo, Tae-ju's lawyer.^[4]^[5]^[6] Based on Tae Yoon-ki [ko].
Lee Sun-kyun as Park Tae-ju, a director's secretary of the Korea Central Intelligence Agency.^[4]^[5]^[6] Based on Park Heung-ju [ko].
Yoo Jae-myung as Jeon Sang-doo, joint investigation team leader.^[4]^[5]^[6] Based on Chun Doo-hwan.
Woo Hyun as Lee Man-sik, a representative of the defense team.^[6]
Lee Won-jong as Jeong Jin-hoo, Army Chief of Staff.^[6] Based on Jeong Seung-hwa.
Jeon Bae-soo as Bu Han-myeong, a trial defense attorney.^[6]
Song Young Kyu as Choi Yong-nam, a trial defense attorney.^[6]
Choi Won-young as Baek Seung-gi, a prosecutor.^[6]
Kang Mal-geum as Ok Jeong-ae, Tae-ju's wife.^[6]
Park Hoon as Kim Oh-ryong, Deputy Chief of Staff.^[6]
Lee Hyun-kyun as Jo Sang-cheol, a trial defense attorney.^[6]
Jin Ki-joo as Jo Soon-jung, In-hoo's girlfriend.^[6]
Yoo Seong-ju as Kim Young-il, Director of the Korea Central Intelligence Agency.^[6] Based on Kim Jae-gyu.
Kim Pub-lae as Kim Young-hyun, a military judge.
Kim Jae-chul as Jin Tae-gon, Sang-doo's subordinate and section chief at the Security Command. Based on Lee Hak-bong [ko].
Lim Ki-hong as Lee Tae-moo, a driver.
Park No-sik as a Korea Central Intelligence Agency official

Production

Filming

Principal photography began in October 2021 and ended in January 2022.^[7]

Release

The film will be screened as one of the film in the Special program in focus 'In Memory of Lee Sun-kyun' at the 29th Busan International Film Festival to be held from October 2 to 11, 2024.^[8]

Reception

Box office

As of August 30, 2024^[update], Land of Happiness has grossed $4.6 million with a running total of 670,487 tickets sold.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2024". KOFIC. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
^ Cho, Ji-young (July 22, 2024). "'행복의 나라' 조정석 "변호하고 싶을 정도로 욕망 끓었던 작품"" ['Land of Happiness' Jo Jung-seok "A work that made me want to defend it"]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean).
^ Kim, Hyeon-deok (May 10, 2024). 故 이선균 유작 ‘행복의 나라’, 8월 관객들 만난다 [공식] [The late Lee Sun-kyun's posthumous work 'The Land of Happiness' will meet audiences in August [Official]]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Naver.
^ ^a ^b ^c Yoo, Jeong-min (July 11, 2024). "故이선균·조정석·유재명, 대한민국 최악의 정치 재판 시작(행복의 나라)" [The late Lee Sun-kyun, Jo Jung-suk, and Yoo Jae-myung, the worst political trial in South Korea begins (The Land of Happiness)] (in Korean). MBC. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kim, Kyung-hee (July 15, 2024). "'행복의 나라' 조정석X이선균X유재명, 단박에 빠져들 캐릭터 소개" ['The Land of Happiness' Jo Jung-seok X Lee Sun-kyun X Yoo Jae-myung, introducing characters you'll fall in love with right away] (in Korean). MBC. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Yoo, Jeong-min (July 22, 2024). "조정석, 작정했다…'행복의 나라' 캐릭터 포스터 공개" [Jo Jung-seok, decided… 'Land of Happiness' character posters revealed] (in Korean). MBC – via Naver.
^ Lee, Nam-kyung (October 5, 2021). "'행복의 나라' 조정석X이선균X유재명 캐스팅…10월 1일 크랭크인(공식)" ['Land of Happiness' Jo Jung-seok X Lee Sun-kyun X Yoo Jae-myung Casting... Crank Start on October 1st (Official)]. MK (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
^ Ha Kyung-min (August 23, 2024). "'고운 사람, 이선균'… 부산국제영화제서 특별기획 상영" ['A Beautiful Person, Lee Sun-kyun'… Special Screening at Busan International Film Festival]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.

External links

Land of Happiness at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)
Land of Happiness at IMDb
Land of Happiness at HanCinema

[box:korea-1] "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2024". KOFIC. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.

[2] Cho, Ji-young (July 22, 2024). "'행복의 나라' 조정석 "변호하고 싶을 정도로 욕망 끓었던 작품"" ['Land of Happiness' Jo Jung-seok "A work that made me want to defend it"]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean).

[3] Kim, Hyeon-deok (May 10, 2024). 故 이선균 유작 ‘행복의 나라’, 8월 관객들 만난다 [공식] [The late Lee Sun-kyun's posthumous work 'The Land of Happiness' will meet audiences in August [Official]]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Naver.

[main-4] Yoo, Jeong-min (July 11, 2024). "故이선균·조정석·유재명, 대한민국 최악의 정치 재판 시작(행복의 나라)" [The late Lee Sun-kyun, Jo Jung-suk, and Yoo Jae-myung, the worst political trial in South Korea begins (The Land of Happiness)] (in Korean). MBC. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Naver.

[main2-5] Kim, Kyung-hee (July 15, 2024). "'행복의 나라' 조정석X이선균X유재명, 단박에 빠져들 캐릭터 소개" ['The Land of Happiness' Jo Jung-seok X Lee Sun-kyun X Yoo Jae-myung, introducing characters you'll fall in love with right away] (in Korean). MBC. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Naver.

[supporting-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Yoo, Jeong-min (July 22, 2024). "조정석, 작정했다…'행복의 나라' 캐릭터 포스터 공개" [Jo Jung-seok, decided… 'Land of Happiness' character posters revealed] (in Korean). MBC – via Naver.

[7] Lee, Nam-kyung (October 5, 2021). "'행복의 나라' 조정석X이선균X유재명 캐스팅…10월 1일 크랭크인(공식)" ['Land of Happiness' Jo Jung-seok X Lee Sun-kyun X Yoo Jae-myung Casting... Crank Start on October 1st (Official)]. MK (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.

[8] Ha Kyung-min (August 23, 2024). "'고운 사람, 이선균'… 부산국제영화제서 특별기획 상영" ['A Beautiful Person, Lee Sun-kyun'… Special Screening at Busan International Film Festival]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.

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