From the bottom of the school rankings to the king of private loans, 'Private Loan Boy' starring Yoo Sun-ho and Kang Mi-na is released

The film 'Money Boy' is a teen crime action movie that depicts the process of Kang-jin (played by Yoo Sun-ho), who is at the bottom of the school hierarchy, transforming into a powerful figure through the private loan business. The protagonist, Kang-jin, was someone who endured bullying from school bullies, but through his accidental encounter with the private loan business, he overturns the oppressive class structure using the power of money. He rises to the number one rank by overpowering Nam-young, who used to bully him, and enjoys his power as he grows closer to his crush, Da-young (played by Kang Mi-na).

The Illusion of Power Built with Money and the Collapsing Class Structure

The film captures the process of Kang-jin, who came to dominate the school with money, being destroyed by the very private loan system he created. The crisis begins when students who borrowed money collectively refuse to repay, and the illusion of power that Kang-jin believed in is revealed as his followers and even Da-young turn their backs on him. Through the themes of school violence and youth private loans, the work deals with the futility of power obtained through money and the destruction caused by human desire.

Questions Regarding the Wealth Gap in Schools and the Absence of 'Good Adults'

From the planning stage, Director Hwang Dong-seok focused on the issue of stratification caused by the wealth gap within schools. Director Hwang stated his intention, "I wanted to talk about the fundamental reason why class issues arising from the wealth gap occur in a place where students should purely be pursuing their dreams." The school in the film is depicted as a microcosm of a stratified society, showing an environment where only individuals who exploit students' interests exist, without any 'good adults' to listen to the children's stories. Through this, Director Hwang poses questions about why the space of a school has become stratified.

Screen Debuts of Rising Stars such as Yoo Sun-ho and Kang Mi-na

This work marks the screen debut of rookie actors including Yoo Sun-ho, Kang Mi-na, Lee Il-jun, and Shin Su-hyeon. Yoo Sun-ho and Kang Mi-na were previously known to the public through the audition program 'Produce 101' series. Director Hwang Dong-seok revealed that Yoo Sun-ho was the first to be selected during the casting process, noting that the actors were carefully chosen to embody the characters' class-based images. Other cast members include Yoo In-su, Lee Il-jun, Shin Su-hyeon, Lee Chan-hyeong, Seo Hye-won, and Yoon Byeong-hee.

Press Preview Held and Production Background

The film 'Money Boy' held a press preview on the 13th at CGV Yongsan IPARK Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Director Hwang Dong-seok and the main cast, including Yoo Sun-ho and Kang Mi-na, attended the event. Recalling the filming environment, Director Hwang, who directed 'Rhino Running on the Shoulder' (2022), said, "Even in the cold weather in early January this year, we filmed passionately to create a story that goes beyond a typical 'school drama'."