“Badland Hunters” (Korean: 황야) is a 2024 South Korean action film set in a post-apocalyptic Seoul, directed by Heo Myung-haeng in his directorial debut. Serving as a standalone sequel to “Concrete Utopia” (2023), it depicts the struggle for survival in a chaotic wasteland three years after the events of the previous film. Producer Byun Seung-min is the sole returning member of the original crew.
Featuring Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, and Roh Jeong-eui, the movie is an original Netflix production and premiered on January 26, 2024.
CHARACTERS
- Ma Dong-seok portrays Nam-san, an unwavering hunter in the wasteland.
- Lee Hee-joon takes on the role of Yang Gi-su, a doctor who managed to survive the catastrophe.
- Lee Jun-young stars as Choi Ji-wan, Nam-san’s trusted companion.
- Roh Jeong-eui plays Han Su-na, a brave young girl abducted by Gi-su.
- Ahn Ji-hye depicts Lee Eun-ho, a sergeant from the special forces.
- Jang Young-nam appears as a teacher.
- Lee Han-joo portrays Lee Joo-ye, a teenage girl taken captive by Gi-su.
- Park Hyo-jun embodies Tiger, a former adversary of Nam-san.
- Seong Byeong-suk takes on the role of Su-na’s grandmother.
STORYLINE
In the aftermath of a devastating event in Seoul, Nam-san, an unwavering hunter of the wasteland, along with his comrade Choi Ji-wan and fellow survivors, endure a challenging existence in their village. They brave the barren lands, scavenging for necessities to sustain their community. Their struggles intensify when Su-na, a villager, is abducted by a renegade scientist named Dr. Yang Gi-su. Gi-su, conducting illicit experiments to achieve immortality by injecting individuals with a serum, inadvertently causes the demise of numerous teenagers.
Desperate for more resources for his serum, Gi-su orchestrates a scheme to lure teenagers to his compound within an apartment complex. Learning of Gi-su’s unethical practices, Nam-san, Ji-wan, and military sergeant Lee Eun-ho take action to rescue Su-na. It is revealed that Gi-su’s experiments were driven by his desire to revive his deceased daughter So-yeon, who perished during the city’s downfall.
In a showdown at the compound, Nam-san, Ji-wan, and Eun-ho confront mutant soldiers and successfully liberate Su-na. However, Gi-su flees with So-yeon’s body, pursued by an enraged mob. Amidst the chaos, Gi-su accidentally causes So-yeon’s demise. In the ensuing confrontation, Nam-san ends Gi-su’s life, and together with Su-na and Ji-wan, returns to their village.
