Jo Jae-hyeon Movies
This taut and tense thriller from South Korea stars Kim Kang-woo as Cheon-soo - a swimming instructor who reaches end of his tether when a gambling loss leaves him with years of crippling debt. An "out" suddenly arrives in the form of an offer from moneylender Kang (Jo Jae-hyeon) - one that promises to rid Cheon of his woes. Yet the solution also courts enormous risk: Kang proposes that he quickly work off his debt as a "marine boy" - a courier required to smuggle drugs by swimming great distances across the ocean. Realizing that his life already teeters on the edge of a precipice given the pay-or-die demands of the men he owes, Cheon opts to risk everything in the said capacity. The plot thickens, however, given the involvement of Yoo-ri. The latter is a young woman raised by Kang, her father's best friend, after her father mysteriously died. Yoo-ri strongly believes that Kang rubbed out her dad, and thus quietly plots vengeance against Kang. When Yoo-ri meets Cheon, romance blossoms between the two, and the lovers plan to abscond with the drug money and escape from the shadow of Kang's control. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kim Kang-woo, Jo Jae-hyeon, (more)
Directed by Kim Eui-seok, Cheongpung myeongweol (Sword in the Moon) is set in 17th century Korea, a chaotic time period in which the once Confucian society was threatened by an attempted Japanese invasion. The film is centered around an elite band of imperial guards hired to protect the old ways. Choi Ji-hwan (Choi Min-su) and Yun Gyu-yeob (Jo Jae-hyeon) make the backbone of the group, but unforeseen circumstances cause Yun to turn on Choi, the latter of which disappears from the scene after having been revealed as responsible for several murders. Yun's search results in apprehending swordswoman Shi-yeong (Kim Bo-gyeong), Choi's lover and partner in crime, who Yun tortures for information on Choi's whereabouts. Eventually, Choi and Yun meet and prepare for a final battle. The film also features Lee Jong-su, Jeon Seong-hwan, Gi Ju-bong, Yu Yeon-su, and Kang Shin-il. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- Starring:
- Choi Min-su, Jo Jae-hyeon, (more)
Directed by Min Boung-hun, Yirlama, Bari Yakhshi! (Let's Not Cry) features Muhammad Rahimo as Muhammed, who, violin case in hand, returns to the tiny village where he had spent his childhood. Despite his reputation as a violin prodigy, he seems terrified by the prospect of teaching lessons for the town children. As he re-accustoms himself to small town life, the town responds with further suspicion. It takes a local businessman to determine once and for all if Muhammed truly is a violin virtuoso, or a run-of-the-mill fraud. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- Starring:
- Muhammad Rahimo, Diaz Rakhmanitov, (more)
Korean director Kim Ki-duk's film begins with Han-ki (Jo Jae-hyeon), the leader of a gang of street thugs who patrol a Seoul red light district, becoming infatuated with Sun-hwa (Seo Weon), a college girl he glimpses in another part of the city. When he tries to force a kiss on her he is beaten up by her boyfriend, and his obsession takes an ugly turn. After discovering that she isn't as innocent as he originally thought, he finds a way to force her into prostitution on the street where he works. Her painful initiation becomes fodder for his voyeuristic impulses, and an uneasy, wholly unconventional relationship develops between them. ~ Tom Vick, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jo Jae-hyeon, Seo Weon, (more)




