Public Enemy Returns is a 2008 South Korean action thriller film directed by Kang Woo-suk. It is the sequel to Public Enemy (2002) and Another Public Enemy (2005), also directed by Kang.
2007 was a poor year for South Korean cinema, largely due to the reduced screen quota from 146 to 73 days as part of the 2007 free trade agreement between the US and South Korea. This resulted in production costs rising, a series of box office failures, and the number of Korean films sold overseas dropping. During May 2008, only 7.8% of films shown in South Korea were Korean, the lowest level since records began in 2000. It was hoped that the Korean film industry might rally behind Public Enemy Returns. The film sold 4,337,983 tickets nationwide and was the 4th most attended film of 2008.
Synopsis
In debt and out of money, Kang Chul-joong (Sol Kyung-gu) is tired of being a cop and looking to retire. But his boss gives him one last case, an investigation of the president of Geo Seong Enterprises, Lee Won-sool (Jung Jae-young), and some recent murders.