Seoul, South Korea – Director Ryoo Seung-wan's crime action thriller "Smugglers" clinched the best picture award at the Blue Dragon Awards, one of South Korea's most prestigious film awards. The film is set in the 1970s and follows a gripping narrative involving two female divers embroiled in a smuggling operation.
According to Yonhap News Agency, "Smugglers," starring Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah, is set in a serene seaside village where the main characters find themselves unexpectedly entangled in high-stakes smuggling. The film's engaging plot, dynamic action sequences, and strong performances by its cast, including the veteran actresses, garnered positive reviews from both audiences and critics.
The best actor award was won by Lee Byung-hun for his role in the disaster thriller "Concrete Utopia," which portrays the life of apartment building residents in a post-earthquake Seoul. Lee had previously received the same award at the Daejong International Film Awards earlier in the month.
Eom Tae-hwa, the director of "Concrete Utopia," was awarded best director. Meanwhile, Jung Yu-mi earned the best actress award for her performance in the horror-thriller "Sleep" directed by Jason Yu. In the film, Jung plays Soo-jin, a woman grappling with her husband's strange nocturnal behaviors and resorting to supernatural beliefs to address his sleepwalking symptoms.