The Traffickers (2012 South Korean Film)

The Traffickers, also known by its literal Korean title Conspirators (Hangul: 공모자들; revised romanization: Kongmojadeul), is a 2012 South Korean suspense-thriller film directed by Kim Hong-Sun, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Kim Sang-Myun. Distributed by Time Story Group and Cinus Entertainment, the film was released in South Korea on August 30, 2012, with a runtime of 111 minutes.

Promotional poster for the film The Traffickers featuring the main cast members — Promotional poster for the film The Traffickers

Plot Synopsis

The story follows Young-Gyu (Im Chang-Jung), a former leader of a human organ trafficking ring who left the illegal trade following the death of a team member. Since quitting, he works as a smuggler of goods from China and has developed feelings for Yoo-Ri (Jo Yoon-Hee), a ticket agent working at a local international port terminal.

Yoo-Ri's father (Choi Il-Hwa) falls gravely ill and requires an organ transplant. Desperate, she approaches Dong-Bae (Shin Seung-Hwan), a loan shark and black-market organ dealer. Dong-Bae recruits Young-Gyu for the operation by leveraging his feelings for Yoo-Ri. Reluctantly, Young-Gyu reassembles his former crew, and they board a passenger ship bound for Qingdao, China.

Simultaneously, an insurance agent named Sang-Ho (Daniel Choi) takes his wife, Chae-Hee (Jung Ji-Yoon), on the same cruise ship to Qingdao. Unknown to Sang-Ho, Chae-Hee has been selected as the target for Young-Gyu's crew, who plan to kidnap her and remove her organs before the vessel reaches China.

Actor Im Chang-Jung portraying the character Young-Gyu — Im Chang-Jung as Young-Gyu

Cast and Characters

Actor Daniel Choi portraying the character Sang-Ho — Daniel Choi as Sang-Ho

Actress Jo Yoon-Hee portraying the character Yoo-Ri — Jo Yoon-Hee as Yoo-Ri

Actor Oh Dal-Su portraying the character Kyoung-Jae — Oh Dal-Su as Kyoung-Jae

Im Chang-Jung as Young-Gyu
Daniel Choi as Sang-Ho
Jo Yoon-Hee as Yoo-Ri
Oh Dal-Su as Kyoung-Jae
Jo Dal-Hwan as Joon-Sik
Jung Ji-Yoon as Chae-Hee
Lee Young-Hoon as Dae-Woong
Choi Il-Hwa as Chul-Soo
Shin Seung-Hwan as Dong-Bae
Kim Jae-Hwa as Choon-Ja
Lee Moon-Soo as Doctor Oh

Release and Accolades

Following its domestic theatrical release in August 2012, The Traffickers was screened internationally, including its United States premiere at the 12th Asian Film Festival of Dallas on July 18, 2013.

Still from the film The Traffickers showing a scene on a ship — Film still from The Traffickers

Director Kim Hong-Sun received the Best New Director award at the 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards held on November 30, 2012.