Three of South Korea’s most acclaimed actors—Lee Sung Min, Koo Kyo Hwan, and Yoon Kyung Ho—are set to headline the upcoming film Cartel, creating one of the most anticipated ensemble casts in recent Korean cinema.
According to an exclusive report, the trio has selected Cartel as their next project. Cartel will be directed by Uhm Yu Na, who co-wrote the 2017 hit A Taxi Driver before making her directorial debut with My Punch-Drunk Boxer in 2019.
Set in the late 1960s and early 1970s during South Korea’s military dictatorship, the political crime drama follows an intense power struggle fueled by political conspiracies and corruption. The film will explore the ambitions of those at the center of government power, as well as the people determined to expose the truth behind secret operations, collusion between politicians and the military, and efforts to cover up their crimes.
Lee Sung Min continues to enjoy a remarkable run of critically acclaimed performances. He won Best Supporting Actor at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards for his role in No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan Wook, and most recently appeared in Netflix’s Teach You a Lesson, where he portrayed Education Minister Choi Kang Seok, the founder of the Office for the Protection of Teachers’ Rights.
Meanwhile, Koo Kyo Hwan has further cemented his status as one of Korea’s busiest and most sought-after actors. Following the release of the romance film What If We, he continued his successful streak with the JTBC drama We Are All Trying Here and the zombie action film Colony. He also has four additional projects scheduled for release this year, including the science fiction action film Seeking the King, fantasy action movie REAWAKENED MAN, the comedy Gardeners, and Your Country, which he co-directed with his longtime partner, filmmaker Lee Ok Seop.
Yoon Kyung Ho has likewise remained in high demand. After winning praise for his performance as Professor Han Yoo Rim in Netflix’s The Trauma Code, he appeared in the box office hit My Daughter is a Zombie, the TVING drama The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, and the currently airing SBS series Agent Kim Reactivated. Beyond acting, he has also become a fan favorite on the YouTube variety show Pinggyego, where his witty personality has earned him recognition as an emerging entertainment star.
With Lee Sung Min, Koo Kyo Hwan, and Yoon Kyung Ho all balancing multiple film and television projects throughout 2026, the addition of Cartel further strengthens an already impressive slate of upcoming work.
As the political thriller delves into covert government operations, political corruption, military alliances, and the dangerous battle between those trying to conceal the truth and those determined to expose it, audiences are eager to see how three of Korea’s finest actors will bring this gripping story to life.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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