Kkabuljima

This film wasn't a comedy that caused me to laugh much, but instead had a decent amount of comedic irony that was entertaining. I enjoyed seeing its attempt to portray truth, with the gangsters having education-related difficulties where all they claim to know is how to fight. The gangsters are portraying older characters but the fighting was done well in a serious way and it was nice to see the older gangsters succeed in their pursuits.

There also is a dichotomy with the contrast between the gangsters and Eun Ji, the K-pop star. Eun Ji uses advertising and marketing for legal success and exploitation, not racketeering or blackmail like a gangster would use. However, Eun Ji does come from wealth accumulated by Dong Pal, the current gangster leader. Both Eun Ji and the gangsters do nonsensical things, but ultimately both groups of people are shown as humans that find their humanity with the gangsters avoiding anger and revenge while Eun Ji discovers love and reconciliation.

So, the film wasn't very popular and is difficult to find, but it is worth watching. It is hard to find comedy films about gangsters (especially the. Japanese Yakuza which seemed to influence this Korean film). The actions of gangsters really aren't sources of great comedy and if they are the directors often have trouble surviving after the film is released. That makes this film unique as safe-content with a human message.