Veteran

An aging detective finds his case complicated when a longtime associate is badly hurt. He pursues a pampered heir to a vast conglomerate, a man who treats the law as a toy. The hunt fuses hard edged police work with street level grit, sharp humor, and a relentless cat and mouse dynamic. As the mystery deepens, the line between vengeance and justice blurs, forcing the veteran to weigh loyalty against accountability and confront a system that protects the powerful. The tone moves between grit and sly humor as new suspects surface and loyalties shift, keeping the tale brisk while hinting at a larger system at work. The film balances humor with danger, never letting the tension slacken for everyone always.

Directed by Ryoo Seung wan, Veteran arrives from an original screenplay rather than a book or comic. The film blends tight action sequences with darkly comic social satire, delivering a brisk, crowd pleasing tone.

With a budget of 7,528,230 dollars, the movie earned about 87,970,000 worldwide, signaling strong commercial performance for a South Korean action crime comedy and boosting the profile of its star cast.

The film sparked discussion about power and corruption, with audiences appreciating its sharp caricature of corporate elites and its savvy blend of high stakes action with humor. It helped cement Hwang Jung Min as a leading figure in Korean genre cinema and influenced later thrillers that mix satire with suspense.

Critics praised the film for its brisk tempo, bold tonal shifts, and strong performances, while identifying core themes of vigilante justice, class disparity, and accountability. The movie treats crime as a social issue, not just a personal vendetta.