In a shocking move, the film Martial Law 12.3 (subtitle: PM 10:24), inspired by the unprecedented "12.3 Emergency Martial Law" incident in South Korea's constitutional history, has finalized its lead cast and will begin filming in the first half of the year.
This political drama reimagines the December 3, 2024 emergency martial law crisis, adding the writer's creative spin to probe what processes and alleged collusion unfolded that night.
The screenplay and direction are both led by Park Kyung-soo, CEO of IP Box Media1, while acclaimed cinematographer Jang Aram joins the project to capture the urgency of the incident with tightly crafted visuals.
The protagonist, Gye-young, is a figure who rose from serving as Prosecutor General in Seocho to becoming president in Yeouido. The story centers on the path that leads him to the extreme decision to declare martial law.
For the lead roles, Gong Hyung-jin makes his long-awaited big-screen return as President Gye-young. Lee Ga-ryeong, known for dramas like 'Queen's House' and 'Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce),' plays Geun-hee, Gye-young's wife and a corporate CEO. Adding gravitas to the ensemble, Lee Sang-hoon joins as Lee Yong-hyeon, Gye-young's senior from high school.
The three actors shared their thoughts on joining the project, saying, "The scenes of citizens defending the nation in and around the National Assembly still remain deeply moving."
With its casting lineup locked, Martial Law 12.3 is set to kick off principal photography in the first half of this year.