Major South Korean Movie ‘Crypto Man’ Set for Jan 2025 Release

Crypto Man, a major South Korean crypto-themed movie based on true events, is set to hit theaters in January.

The film is likely to garner worldwide attention not only for its real-life crypto “price crash” subject matter, but also due to the fact that it will star the late actor Song Jae-rim.

Song was found dead in his Seoul home less than a month ago, with a suicide note reportedly found at the scene.

Actor Song Jaerim has died at the age of 39 in an apparent suicide. pic.twitter.com/YKwEW6E0OZ

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 12, 2024

‘Crypto Man’ Set for Jan 2025 Release

The movie was in post-production at the time. Its Korean title translates to “Plummet.” JTBC reported that the film is slated to premiere on January 15 next year.

The filmmakers say that the movie is “based on the true story of a ground-shaking crypto crash.”

Investors lost a total of 50 trillion won ($35 billion) during the incident in question, the filmmakers added.

They added that it also covers “startup investments, stock day trading, and get-rich-quick crypto schemes.”

Song will play the lead role of Yang Do-yun, a “self-proclaimed tech and business guru” who “develops” an “altcoin called MOMMY.”

The movie will also focus on young characters who trade stocks by day and trade crypto by night, the producers said.

The film’s producers added that the suspected crypto scam the movie was based on claimed “a large number of victims.”

They added that courts have yet to make a final ruling on the case. As such, they said, the movie “underwent rigorous legal consultation.”

South Korea’s tourism industry is scrambling to reassure visitors after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law last week caused confusion and travel cancellations.https://t.co/6S2QTTxqKl

— The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드 (@TheKoreaHerald) December 9, 2024

But they also said the movie’s writers and director “drew” materials from a “thorough investigation” of the “legal cases” launched against the alleged scam.

Realistic Portrayal

The film’s director Hyun Hae-ri said she had aimed for “realism” with the film while also “incorporating darkly comedy elements.”

The popularity of crypto in South Korea has led a wide range of domestic filmmakers and movie studios to tackle related subjects in recent years.

A plethora of K-pop stars appeared in the 2021 release Twenty Hacker, a film that tells the tale of a devastating data breach on a fictional crypto exchange.

Also in 2021, a reality show focusing on crypto investors aired on a major South Korean cable channel.