Yoo Hae-jin tackles ambition, nuance in crime thriller 'YADANG: The Snitch'

Veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin, fresh off the success of the 2024 occult hit "Exhuma," has returned to the big screen in the gritty crime thriller "YADANG: The Snitch." Playing an ambitious prosecutor entangled in the dangerous world of drug informants, Yoo delves into a character driven by a thirst for power, while consciously aiming to break audience expectations. "I just hope my new movie goes well," Yoo told The Korea Times during an interview at a cafe in Seoul Tuesday. “The weather is nice, so hopefully that energy carries into the theater. Although, when the weather’s this good, it might not be great for the box office,” he added with a laugh. "YADANG: The Snitch" explores the shadowy operations of "yadang," Korean slang for informants who provide information about drug dealers and buyers to law enforcement authorities. Yoo portrays Koo Kwan-hee, a prosecutor who uses information from a yadang, Lee Kang-su (Kang Ha-neul), to climb the career ladder, but clashes with a detective, Oh Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon), who is determined to stamp out the drug dealers. The film marks the 55-yea