The Fatal Encounter

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The Fatal Encounter

International poster

Hangul 역린

Hanja 逆鱗

Revised Romanization Yeonrin

McCune–Reischauer Yŏnrin

Directed by Lee Jae-kyoo

Produced by Choi Nak-kwon

Written by Choi Sung-hyeon

 Starring Hyun Bin
Jung Jae-young
Jo Jung-suk
Han Ji-min

Music by Mowg

Cinematography Go Nak-seon

Edited by Shin Min-kyung

Production Good Choice Cut Pictures

company

Distributed by Lotte Entertainment

Release date  April 30, 2014

Running time 135 minutes

Country South Korea

Language Korean

Budget US$9.6 million

Box office ₩29.9 billion

The Fatal Encounter (Hangul: 역린; RR: Yeokrin; lit. The King's Wrath) is a 2014 South
Korean film based on a real-life assassination attempt on King Jeongjo. Jeongjo is portrayed
by Hyun Bin, in his first role in a period drama and first acting project after being discharged
from mandatory military service.[1][2][3]
King Jeongjo (1752-1800) was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, nicknamed the "King of
Misfortune." When he was 10 years old, Jeongjo witnessed the death of his father Crown Prince
Sado, who was executed by a royal decree ordered by his grandfather, then-King Yeongjo.
During his reign, Jeongjo was subsequently caught in the midst of fierce party strife between
the Noron and Soron factions, and survived seven assassination attempts just in his first year as
king. The film is inspired by Jeongyuyeokbyeon, one such assassination attempt on Jeongjo by
his political opponents in 1777, the king's first year as the nation's ruler. The Fatal
Encounterdepicts the 24 hours leading up to that event in Jeongjo's life and those around him.[4][5]
This is the feature film debut of director Lee Jae-kyoo; he previously helmed the television
series Damo (2003), Fashion 70's (2005), Beethoven Virus (2008), and The King 2
Hearts (2012), as well as the online movie The Influence (2010).

Contents
 [hide]

 1Plot
 2Cast
 3Release
 4Box office
 5Awards and nominations
 6References
 7External links

Plot[edit]
In 1777, one year after he began his reign, King Jeongjo lives a perilous palace life amidst
opposition and threats from those around him who harbor political ambitions. He prepares
himself for possible attacks by working out alone in the palace. Jeongjo is a calm and
considerate man, but he is also afraid. The only one he trusts is his loyal court servant Gap-soo,
called the king's shadow.
When Gap-soo was young, he was sold to a cruel man named Gwang-baek, who illegally and
brutally trains orphaned children to become professional assassins. Gap-soo befriends Eul-soo,
another orphan who is a few years younger than him. When Gwang-baek is instructed to give
one of his children to become a court eunuch, he asks Gap-soo and Eul-soo to play the game
of rock-paper-scissors; Gap-soo purposely loses the game in an effort to protect Eul-soo. Thus,
Gap-soo is castrated and sent to the royal palace. There he meets Jeongjo, a young boy who is
still mourning his father's death. Meanwhile, Eul-soo continues enduring harsh training and
grows up as a merciless killer.
Years later, Eul-soo, now the deadliest member of the secret group of assassins, receives orders
to kill Jeongjo within 24 hours. He infiltrates the palace, where he falls in love with Wol-hye,
a gungnyeo (or female court servant). Jeongjo's mother Lady Hyegyeong is also locked in
dangerous conflict with the late King Yeongjo's much younger widow, dowager Queen Jeongsun.
Meanwhile, Gap-soo confesses his dark past to Jeongjo and swears to protect him.[6]

Cast[edit]
 Hyun Bin as King Jeongjo.[7][8][9][10][11]
 Jung Jae-young as Gap-soo/Sang-chaek, an assassin sent to kill the king who goes
undercover as a royal eunuch, but who becomes convinced of Jeongjo's fitness to rule.[12]
 Jo Jung-suk as Eul-soo/Sal-soo, an assassin hired to kill Jeongjo.[13][14]
 Cho Jae-hyun as Gwang-baek, who kidnaps orphaned children and trains them into ruthless
assassins.
 Han Ji-min as Queen Jeongsun, the queen dowager, consort of Jeongjo's grandfather King
Yeongjo, and Jeongjo's political rival.
 Kim Sung-ryung as Lady Hyegyeong of the Poongsan Hong clan, Jeongjo's mother, who is
desperate to save her son.
 Park Sung-woong as Hong Guk-yeong, a politician who strongly supports Jeongjo.
 Jung Eun-chae as Kang Wol-hye, a female court servant in charge of the king's clothing.
 Song Young-chang as Gu Seon-bok
 Lee Do-kyeong as Ahn Guk-rae
 Seo Yi-sook as Go Soo-ae
 Kim Min-jae as Choi Se-bok
 Kim Dae-myung as Kang Yong-hwi
 Kim Ju-wan as Hong Sang-beom
 Yoo Eun-mi as Bok-bing
 Seong Yu-bin as young Sang-chaek
 Chun Bo-geun as young Sal-soo
 Goo Seung-hyun as young Jeongjo
 Lee Jae-hee as young Wol-hye

Release[edit]
The Fatal Encounter was released in South Korea on April 30, 2014. The film also had a limited
theatrical run in 25 North American cinemas on May 23.[15]

Box office[edit]
The Fatal Encounter attracted 1.7 million admissions and ₩13.1 billion (US$12.7 million) on its
first five days in the theaters. The opening was the biggest for a local release in 2014, though it
trailed to debuts of Hollywood tentpoles Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Amazing
Spider-Man 2.[16][17]
Despite receiving mostly mixed to negative reviews from critics after its press screening,[18][19] the
period blockbuster has sold over 3.2 million tickets two weeks since its release.[20][21]
It grossed ₩29.9 billion and sold 3.85 million tickets in South Korea.[22]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Recipient Result

Best Cinematography Go Nak-seon Nominated

23rd Buil Film Awards Best Art Direction Cho Hwa-sung Nominated

Best Music Mowg Nominated

Best Art Direction Cho Hwa-sung Won

2014
Jeong Gyeong-
Best Costume Design Nominated
hee

51st Grand Bell Awards[23]

Best Music Mowg Nominated

Technical Award (martial

Yang Kil-young Nominated
arts)

Best Lighting Cha Sang-kyun Won

 Best Art Direction Cho Hwa-sung Won

1st Korean Film Producers

Association Awards
Kim Chang-
Best Sound Won
seop

20th Chunsa Film Art Awards[24] Technical Award Nominated

Best Composer Mowg Nominated

2015

9th Asian Film Awards[25]

Jeong Gyeong-
Best Costume Designer Nominated
hee

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ Lee, Sun-min (30 April 2013). "Hyun Bin set to appear in new film". Korea JoongAng
Daily. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
2. Jump up^ Lee, Hye-ji (29 April 2013). "Hyun Bin to Become King in Historical Film". TenAsia.
Retrieved 2013-06-05.
3. Jump up^ Hong, Grace Danbi (29 April 2013). "Hyun Bin to Return with His First Sageuk
Movie". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
4. Jump up^ Jin, Eun-soo (4 April 2014). "Hyun Bin back as a muscular King Jeongjo". Korea
JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
5. Jump up^ Conran, Pierce (2 May 2014). "In Focus: The Fatal Encounter". Korean Cinema Today.
Retrieved 2014-05-07.
6. Jump up^ Do, Je-hae (2 August 2013). "Period pieces dominate Korean cinema, TV". The Korea
Times. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
7. Jump up^ "Hyun Bin Says Acting a Challenge After Military Service". The Chosun Ilbo. 3 April
2014. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
8. Jump up^ "Hyun Bin Recalls Fitness Regimen Fit for a King for Latest Flick". The Chosun Ilbo. 16
May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
9. Jump up^ Lee, So-dam (17 May 2014). "Interview: Hyun Bin Regained His Love and Passion for
Acting After the Marines". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
10. Jump up^ Lee, So-dam (17 May 2014). "Interview: Hyun Bin's Back Muscles Took 3 Months to
Build but Disappeared in 2 Weeks". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
11. Jump up^ Kim, Su-yeon (30 May 2014). "HYUN Bin of THE FATAL ENCOUNTER: A Smart Actor
Whose Name Has Proven Trustworthy". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
12. Jump up^ Kang, Jung-yeon (3 July 2013). "Jung Jae-young to Join Hyun Bin's Pic". TenAsia.
Retrieved 2013-07-03.
13. Jump up^ An, So-hyoun (29 July 2013). "The King's Wrath Casts Jo Jeong Seok, Park Sung
Woong and Jung Eun Chae". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
14. Jump up^ Lee, Hye-ji (30 July 2013). "Cho Jung-seok Joins Hyun Bin's Film". TenAsia.
Retrieved 2013-07-30.
15. Jump up^ "The Fatal Encounter to open in North America in May". The Korea Herald. 7 April
2014. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
16. Jump up^ Ma, Kevin (6 May 2014). "Fatal Encounter has year's best opening". Film Business
Asia. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
17. Jump up^ Conran, Pierce (7 May 2014). "THE FATAL ENCOUNTER Scores Biggest Korean
Opening of 2014". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
 18. Jump up^ Sunwoo, Carla (25 April 2014). "Fatal Encounter deathly boring". Korea JoongAng
Daily. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
19. Jump up^ Lee, Claire (27 April 2014). "Fatal Encounter fails to be memorable". The Korea
Herald. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
20. Jump up^ Lee, Claire (11 May 2014). "Fatal Encounter draws 3m viewers". The Korea Herald.
Retrieved 2014-05-13.
21. Jump up^ Kim, Hee-eun (13 May 2014). "Hyun Bin's Fatal Encounter a box-office winner". Korea
JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
22. Jump up^ Cremin, Stephen (9 July 2014). "Market share of South Korean films plummets". Film
Business Asia. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
23. Jump up^ Conran, Pierce (24 November 2014). "ROARING CURRENTS Tops 51st Daejong Film
Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
24. Jump up^ Ma, Kevin (9 March 2015). "Hard Day leads Chunsa Film Art nominations". Film
Business Asia. Retrieved 2015-03-19.
25. Jump up^ Yoon, Ina (4 March 2015). "Korean Films and Artists Nominated for the Asian Film
Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2015-03-19.

External links[edit]
 Official website (in Korean)
 The Fatal Encounter at CJ Entertainment
 The Fatal Encounter at HanCinema
 The Fatal Encounter at the Korean Movie Database
 The Fatal Encounter on IMDb
Categories:
 2014 films
 Korean-language films
 South Korean films
 Films set in the Joseon Dynasty
 Lotte Entertainment films
 Films directed by Lee Jae-kyoo
 South Korean historical films
 South Korean action films
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