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New World
Wrapped in cold neo-noir paranoia, this tragic crime thriller transforms suffocating betrayal into a ruthless baptism of authority—where brotherhood bleeds into ambition like crimson ink dissolving in frozen glass.
New World
New World

신세계

"Three Men. Three Ways. To A Different World."

21 February 2013 South Korea 134 min 7.4 (554)

Director: Park Hoon-jung

Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Choi Min-sik, Hwang Jung-min, Park Sung-woong, Song Ji-hyo

Drama Crime Thriller Loyalty vs. Betrayal Identity Erosion and Corruption Power, Ambition, and Succession Institutional Morality vs. Criminal Honor Self-Preservation and Pragmatism

New World — Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Lee Ja-sung

Lee Jung-jae

Archetype: Reluctant Undercover Agent / Tragic Antihero Key Trait: Intense internal control masking deep anxiety and latent lethality.

Motivation

Personal survival and protecting his pregnant wife.

Character Arc

Begins as an exhausted, terrified undercover cop yearning for freedom; evolves into a cold, decisive mafia patriarch who takes total control.

Jung Chung

Hwang Jung-min

Archetype: Flamboyant Mob Boss / Tragic Brother Key Trait: Unpredictable warmth paired with explosive cruelty.

Motivation

Expanding Goldmoon’s power while protecting his inner circle.

Character Arc

Shifts from a vulgar, comedic executive into a devastatingly sharp, fiercely protective figure who chooses to save his brother over his own life.

Section Chief Kang Hyung-cheol

Choi Min-sik

Archetype: Ruthless Handler / Cynical Mastermind Key Trait: Unyielding arrogance hidden behind a disheveled, chain-smoking demeanor.

Motivation

Controlling Goldmoon from the shadows to maintain public order at any cost.

Character Arc

Remains steadfast in his cold utilitarian mindset, sacrificing every agent under his command until his own machinations backfire lethally.

Lee Joong-gu

Park Sung-woong

Archetype: Cold Challenger / Ruthless Rival Key Trait: Elegant, venomous arrogance.

Motivation

Securing the top throne of Goldmoon for the Jaebum faction.

Character Arc

Aggressively pursues the chairmanship, but gets manipulated into a bloody gang war by Chief Kang, ultimately accepting his execution with stoic pride.

Shin Woo

Song Ji-hyo

Archetype: Tragic Handler / Disposable Pawn Key Trait: Unflinching composure under severe pressure.

Motivation

Duty to the police force.

Character Arc

Works stoically as Ja-sung's Go tutor and communications link until her identity is discovered, leading to her tortured execution.

Cast

Lee Jung-jae as Lee Ja-sung
Choi Min-sik as Kang Hyung-chul
Hwang Jung-min as Jung Chung
Park Sung-woong as Lee Joong-gu
Song Ji-hyo as Shin-woo
Kim Yoon-sung as Seok-mo
Na Kwang-hoon as Yang Moon-seok
Park Seo-yeon as Han Joo-kyung
Choi Il-hwa as Jang Su-ki
Ju Jin-mo as Director Go
Jang Kwang as Mob Director Yang
Kwon Tae-won as Mob Director Park
Kim Hong-pa as Mob Director Kim
Lee Kyung-young as Seok Dong-chool
Ryoo Seung-bum as Police Constable Kang Chul-hwa

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