The Outlaws (Korean: 범죄도시; lit. Crime City) is a 2017 South Korean crime action film written and directed by Kang Yoon-sung, and starring Ma Dong-seok, and Yoon Kye-sang.[2] It was released on October 3, 2017.[3][4] Set in 2004, the film revolves around Detective Ma Seok-do, who tries to control the gang-wars between Chinese-Korean gangs while also dealing with a ruthless loan shark named Jang-Chen.
The film is based on a May 2004 incident in the Chinatown of Garibong-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul when 14 Chinese-Koreans from the "Wang Geon-i faction" were arrested on charges of attempted murder, and an April 2007 incident in which 7 members of the Yanbian organization "Heuksa-pa", also based in the Garibong-dong, were arrested and 26 were indicted without detention.[5][6]
Jang Chen, bloodthirsty leader of the Chinese loansharking Black Dragon Gang, makes his own brutal moves to take over Chinatown along with his henchmen Sung-Rak and Yang-Tae. They kill Sung-Tae and take over Jang-I-Soo's casino. Enraged, Jang-I-Soo attacks the casino. Sung-Rak and Yung-Tae fight with Jang-I-Soo and his henchmen, but are interrupted by Ma, who arrests Sung-Rak. Yang-Tae escapes and informs Jang-Chen.
Ma and Jeon learn about Jang Chen's crimes and plan to arrest him. Jang Chen and Yang-Tae attack Jang-I-soo and his henchmen and kill them at Jang-I-Soo's mother's birthday party. Later, Jang Chen's location is revealed to hotelier and CEO Hwang. Jang Chen had killed Hwang's men in his hotel. Hwang's men try to kill Jang Chen in revenge but, he manages to escape. Hwang is later killed by Jang Chen, who learned of Hwang's attempt on his life. Detective Ma seeks the help of Chinatown citizens for help to catch the Chinese loansharks. They agree and start taking photos of the gang members.
Ma and his fellow police officers arrest all of them, including Yang-Tae. One of the police officers named Kang Hong-seok, sees Jang Chen and pursues him. However, he gets trapped and Jang Chen tries to run him over with a car. Ma saves him by crashing into Jang Chen's car. But, Jang Chen escapes. Ma chases after him but, loses sight of him after a while. Jang Chen reaches the airport to fly back to China. Ma finds Chen in the airport restroom and they fight. Ma manages to knock down Jang Chen and leaves him handcuffed in the restroom. The gang leaders are arrested and Jeon is congratulated by the commissioner where Ma and his team celebrate for solving the case. Just then, Ma is called by the commissioner to investigate another case.
Yoon Kye-sang as Jang Chen (Chinese: 張謙 / 张谦, Zhang Qian), a notorious crime lord, from Harbin, China, leader of the "black dragon gang" (Heilungbo, 黒龙波) a Triad gang, who comes to Garibong to collect debts, and is known for dismembering anyone who resists.[8]
The Outlaws opened in South Korea on October 3, 2017. By October 23, it grossed US$36.3 million from more than 5 million admissions.[11] One month after it was released, the film marked 6.05 million admissions, with US$44.1 million gross. By December 1, the film had reached 6.87 million admissions with a gross of US$51.8 million, making it the 3rd highest-grossing domestic film of the year in South Korea and the third best-selling R-rated Korean film of all time.[12][13][14]
^Jeong, Hui-chae (September 7, 2017). 킬라그램, 영화 ‘범죄도시’ OST 타이틀곡 ‘Dirty Dog’ 오늘 정오 발매 [Killagramz to release the title song 'Dirty Dog' for the film 'The Outlaws' OST today (7th) at noon]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved August 4, 2022.