"YADANG: The Snitch" Director Explains Casting Choices For Kang Ha Neul, Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Joon, And More

Mar 21, 2025

The director of the upcoming film “YADANG: The Snitch” has shared the reasons for its star-studded casting!

“YADANG: The Snitch” follows an informant who supplies inside information on South Korea’s drug trade, a prosecutor eager to rise through the ranks, and a detective willing to risk everything to bring down drug-related crime. As their goals collide, a high-stakes showdown unfolds.

First, director Hwang Byeong Guk shared the casting story for Kang Ha Neul, who plays law enforcement informant Lee Kang Soo. “I thought he was an actor who could convey a kind image, humor, and a dark inner side all at once,” said the director, adding that Kang Ha Neul perfectly captured the complexity of Lee Kang Soo’s character.

The director also praised Yoo Hae Jin, who plays Gu Kwan Hee, the man who offers Lee Kang Soo a job as an informant. “He has a talent for turning an ordinary character into an extraordinary one,” he said, commending Yoo Hae Jin for breathing life into the role and adding his own unique touch.

Explaining why he cast Park Hae Joon as Oh Sang Jae, a detective in the narcotics unit, director Hwang Byeong Guk said, “I met him while he was filming ‘12.12: The Day’ and immediately felt he was perfect for the role of Oh Sang Jae. Not only is he a great actor, but he also has a sharp sense of movement and staging.”

Director Hwang Byeong Guk also spoke about the casting process for Ryu Kyung Soo, who plays Cho Hoon, a member of Korea’s untouchable elite. “I gave him a handwritten letter with a passage from Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ‘Emile, or On Education,’” he shared. “I explained that compassion is the most universal human emotion, but Cho Hoon is a character completely devoid of it.”

The director also revealed why Chae Won Bin was chosen for the film. “I auditioned about 100 actors, and her performance stood out the most,” he said. Chae Won Bin will offer a fresh take on Um Soo Jin, a once-popular actress who falls from grace.