Two male idols, Jung Woo-sung and Jo In-sung, unveil a dark tale of money, power, and sex

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family

An unprecedented acting powerhouse duo in Korean film history—Jo In-sung, Jung Woo-sung, Ryu Jun-yeol, Bae Seong-woo, Kim Eui-sung, and Kim Yea-jung—star together in an intense showdown, unveiling a web of secrets intertwined with money, power, and lust, posing the compelling question to society: “Who is the real king?” Directed by Han Jae-rim, who won Best Director at the Grand Bell Awards for his film “The Face Reader,” his powerful 2017 new work “Money, Power, Sex: The Inside Story” tells the story of a young prosecutor played by Jo In-sung who, in pursuit of more power, climbs the ranks by aligning with influential figures and manipulating both the legal and criminal underworld—until he is betrayed. The film surpassed 5.33 million admissions in Korea, setting the highest box office record for January in history, and topped the charts for eight consecutive days after its release!

The protagonist, Park Tae-soo (played by Jo In-sung), was originally a troublemaker who often hung out in shady places with Choi Du-il (played by Ryu Jun-yeol). One day, after witnessing his father being humiliated by a prosecutor, he realizes the importance of power. With his exceptional intelligence, he passes the bar exam and embarks on a path to chase power.

Tae-soo, who is inherently justice-driven, begins investigating a covered-up sexual assault case after becoming a prosecutor. This unexpectedly catches the attention of his senior Yang Dong-cheol (played by Bae Seong-woo), who persuades Tae-soo to turn a blind eye and teaches him “the best timing to expose the inside story.” Tae-soo is then drawn into the circle of influence led by Han Gang-sik (played by Jung Woo-sung), entangled with various profit-driven schemes. Despite multiple changes in political leadership, the power of Prosecutor General candidate Han Gang-sik becomes even more solidified, and his right-hand men, Park Tae-soo and Yang Dong-cheol, rise swiftly in status.

By chance, Tae-soo reunites with his childhood friend Choi Du-il (played by Ryu Jun-yeol), who has now become the heir to a gang and is tasked with eliminating Tae-soo’s rivals through illegal means. Later, Tae-soo marries the daughter of a chaebol, Sang-hee (played by Kim Yea-jung), which naturally brings him even closer to the center of power, allowing him to wield influence in both the legal and criminal worlds.

However, in a single moment, Tae-soo falls from heaven to hell. Because of Du-il’s mistake, Han Gang-sik angrily cuts ties with Tae-soo, while his wife Sang-hee leaves him after discovering evidence of his infidelity. Tae-soo then realizes he was nothing but a pawn that could be used and discarded at will, leading him to plan an earth-shattering revenge...

In an era of prolific star output, Jo In-sung does not blindly follow trends—he insists on choosing only quality scripts and avoids subpar roles. Director Han Jae-rim admits he was initially worried Jo In-sung would reject the offer, considering Jo hadn’t acted in a film for eight years and would certainly have high standards for his “comeback role.” However, this is a biographical-style film told from the perspective of protagonist Park Tae-soo, so the actor playing Tae-soo must possess outstanding acting skills and screen presence to portray a man whose wild journey spans 30 years. Thus, director Han Jae-rim had his sights set on Jo In-sung as soon as the script began development three years prior. After reading the script, Jo In-sung felt there was “no reason to refuse” due to the impeccable storyline and top-tier cast and crew. As “Money, Power, Sex: The Inside Story” received widespread acclaim upon release, both director Han Jae-rim and Jo In-sung confidently stated that the film met Jo’s expectations for a comeback project, a testament to the high praise the movie has received.