12.12: The Day

After President Park is killed, South Korea plunges into a tense standstill. Martial law is declared as Defense Security Commander Chun Doo-gwang, with Hwang Jung-min in the lead, gathers a private band of officers bent on seizing power, while Capital Defense Commander Lee Tae-shin, portrayed by Jung Woo-sung, fights to keep the military from shaping politics. Lee believes soldiers should not decide government policy; Chun pushes for a swift reordering of authority. With the Defense Minister missing and generals undecided, the two men collide as the nation teeters between order and crisis. In Seoul, the streets become a pressure cooker where loyalties are tested and the future feels suddenly uncertain.

Directed by Kim Sung-soo, this historical political thriller gives a contemporary edge to a well known crisis. The screenplay, credited to Lee Ji-min, Kim Seong-tae, and Hong In-pyo, blends military procedure with strategic maneuvering and intimate moments, placing veteran actors in high pressure situations that test both duty and conscience.

The film offers a stark look at how power struggles unfold under pressure, and the performances carry the weight of that moment. Hwang Jung-min and Jung Woo-sung deliver restrained, intense work that makes the costs of power feel personal. The movie invites discussion about democracy, authority, and the responsibilities of leadership that linger long after the final frame.

Critics praise the brisk pacing and precise focus on moral ambiguity rather than sensational drama. The story probes the line between national loyalty and personal ambition, while showing how factionalism corrodes trust. It asks what happens when memory and principle collide with political expedience, offering a sobering portrait of rule under pressure.

Box office data for 12.12: The Day is not publicly disclosed, making it hard to gauge its commercial reach beyond limited release.