Boss (2025): Cast, Plot, Release Date & Where to Watch – Gangsters, Tango, and a Battle for Power

The Korean mob is about to get a chaotic, comedic twist. Boss (보스 / Boseu), an upcoming South Korean action-comedy directed by Ra Hee-chan, brings together betrayal, ambition, and absurd humor in the fight for the ultimate throne: the boss’ chair. Set to premiere at the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025, before hitting theaters across South Korea in October 2025, this film is already shaping up to be one of the year’s most entertaining crime spectacles.

🔥 A Fight for the Throne—With a Side of Chaos

The film follows three contenders battling for the position of mob boss, each driven by wildly different motivations:

• Soon-tae (Jo Woo-jin) – the top contender, but he doesn’t actually want the throne. His dream? To conquer Korea with his Chinese restaurant Mimiru. As he jokes, “The only empire I want to rule is one filled with noodles.”

• Kang-pyo (Jung Kyung-ho) – a man with power, charisma, and connections in the organization. But his heart isn’t in crime—it’s in tango. For him, every step on the dancefloor is as important as every move in the mob.

• Pan-ho (Park Ji-hwan) – the only one who truly wants to be boss. Unfortunately, everyone else thinks he’s utterly unfit for the role.

And to make things even messier, Tae-gyu (Lee Kyu-hyung), an undercover cop, infiltrates Mimiru disguised as a delivery man. What starts as a mob rivalry soon spirals into a riotous mess of betrayal, slapstick, and explosive confrontations.

🌟 The Cast of Boss

The film boasts a powerhouse ensemble, blending comedy with intensity:

• Jo Woo-jin as Soon-tae – the unlikely mob contender turned restaurant mogul dreamer.

• Jung Kyung-ho as Kang-pyo – the gangster whose soul belongs to tango.

• Park Ji-hwan as Pan-ho – the underdog desperate for respect.

• Lee Kyu-hyung as Tae-gyu – the undercover cop stirring the chaos.

• Oh Dal-su as In-sul – the seasoned elder adding wit and wisdom.

• Hwang Woo-seul-hye as Ji-yeong – Soon-tae’s supportive yet sharp-tongued wife.

• Jung Yoo-jin as Yeon-im – a figure tangled in the mob’s inner circle.

• Ko Chang-seok and Lee Sung-min in pivotal roles that round out the mayhem.

🎭 Tone and Style

Directed by Ra Hee-chan, best known for stylish action and sharp humor, Boss walks the line between gritty gangster drama and laugh-out-loud comedy. Imagine The Godfather colliding with Kung Fu Hustle and spiced up with uniquely Korean sensibilities—complete with traditional music, eccentric rivalries, and absurd twists.

The film’s mix of violence, comedy, and cultural flair makes it a fresh entry into Korea’s crime-comedy tradition, evoking classics like Tazza and Veteran.

🌍 Premiere and Release

• World Premiere: September 18, 2025 – Busan International Film Festival (Korean Cinema Today: Special Premiere)

• Theatrical Release (South Korea): October 2025, aligned with the Chuseok holiday season, one of Korea’s biggest box office periods.

• International Sales: Finecut acquired rights in early 2024, introducing the film at Hong Kong’s FilMart, ensuring Boss will likely find audiences worldwide.

🎬 Why Boss Could Be 2025’s Crime-Comedy Hit

What sets Boss apart is its refusal to play straight with the mobster genre. Instead of a predictable fight for power, we get characters chasing food empires, tango competitions, and unfit dreams of leadership—all while an undercover cop throws gasoline on the fire.

It’s a gangster story, yes—but one where absurdity reigns supreme. As one character says, “Every boss wants power. But some of us just want dumplings or dance.”

With its top-tier cast, witty direction, and festival buzz, Boss (2025) could easily become one of Korea’s most talked-about releases this year.

📺 Final Details

• Title: Boss (보스 / Boseu)

• Genre: Action, Comedy

• Director: Ra Hee-chan

• Production Company: Hive Media Corp.

• Distributor: Mindmark

• Release: October 2025 (South Korea) | September 18, 2025 Festival Premiere

With its mix of gangster grit, absurd comedy, and larger-than-life characters, Boss (2025) is shaping up to be more than just another mobster flick—it’s a fresh reinvention of the genre. Director Ra Hee-chan blends sharp humor with explosive tension, giving us a story where loyalty, betrayal, and ambition collide in the most unpredictable ways. Whether it’s dumplings, dance, or the dream of becoming kingpin, every character in Boss has something worth fighting for—and that chaos is exactly what will make this film unforgettable.

As the world premiere at Busan International Film Festival draws near, one thing is certain: this is a gangster comedy you won’t want to miss when it hits theaters this October 2025.