<Actor Kang Ha-neul speaks during a press conference for the movie "Yadang: The Snitch" at a theater in Seoul, April 7. Yonhap>

Korean crime thriller “Yadang: The Snitch,” is making a strong impression both at home and abroad as it continues its global rollout.

After opening in Indonesia on April 23 and in North America on April 25, distributor Plus M Entertainment confirmed Friday that the film will soon hit theaters in Vietnam, Mongolia, Taiwan, Australia, the U.K. and Thailand.

The film’s overseas expansion follows its success at the domestic box office. Since its release here on April 16, “Yadang: The Snitch” has drawn more than 3 million moviegoers in less than a month, becoming the top-grossing film of the year so far.

The movie’s popularity is driven by its tightly woven plot, unpredictable twists and the powerful performances of its leading cast, including Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin and Park Hae-joon. Audience ratings have remained consistently high, with CGV’s Golden Egg Index climbing to 97 percent and Lotte Cinema’s viewer score reaching 9.4 out of 10 in the second week.

“Yadang” is a Korean slang term for informants who provide information about drug dealers and buyers to the police or other law enforcement authorities.

Set in the dark underbelly of Korea’s drug trade, the film follows yadang Lee Kang-su (Kang), ambitious prosecutor Koo Kwan-hee (Yoo) and relentless detective Oh Sang-jae (Park), each with their own motives, as they become entangled in a high-stakes battle against organized crime.

Unlike typical crime thrillers, “Yadang: The Snitch” stands out by focusing on the informant’s perspective and delving into the moral ambiguities of trust and betrayal.

International distributors have voiced strong enthusiasm for the film, according to Plus M.

Well Go USA, which previously brought Korean hits like “Train to Busan” (2016) and “Exhuma” (2024) to North American audiences, praised the film’s suspenseful narrative and gripping performances. Mockingbird Pictures, which distributed Korean movies such as “Exhuma” in Vietnam, also highlighted the film’s intense drama and star-studded cast, expressing confidence that it will attract the attention of Vietnamese moviegoers.

CJ ENM Hong Kong, which distributes Korean movies across Southeast Asia, noted the film’s significant potential among Asian moviegoers and its alignment with the region’s growing appetite for Korean blockbusters.

The film also played a key role in helping the Korean film industry rebound in April, with both box office revenue and admissions rising for the first time in three months.

According to a report released Friday by the Korean Film Council, the industry recorded 36.1 billion won ($25.9 million) in revenue and 3.83 million admissions in April, both down more than 40 percent compared to the same period last year. However, after three consecutive months of decline in 2025, April saw a sharp turnaround, with revenue increasing by 129.8 percent and admissions rising by 129.6 percent compared to the previous month.

The agency noted that “Yadang: The Snitch” contributed significantly to this rebound, drawing 1.84 million moviegoers in April alone.

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Korea Times (click)