Big Deal
Big Deal
The friendship and personal conflict between Pyo Jong-rok and Choi In-beom are a dramatic narrative, not facts confirmed in actual M&A records. It has not been established that Kukbo Group, Pyo Jong-rok, Choi In-beom, and Solqueen are a one-to-one biographical recreation of the actual Jinro case with only the names changed.
OVERALL TRUTH BASIS · Fact-based dramatization
A work inspired by Jinro's 1997 crisis and the subsequent M&A process. Although an actual corporate-history framework exists, the company names, people, and relationships were heavily adapted, and Choi Yoon-jin was removed from the project after filming and the first edit; the final credits list Choi as “on-site director.”
The Jinro Group's 1997 bankruptcy and Jinro's restructuring
The process in which Jinro was selected as a company subject to normalization in 1997, went through composition and corporate reorganization, and was acquired by the Hite Brewery consortium in 2005.
FACT / FICTION
Verification 11
Fact / Fiction verification
11 records<Big Deal> is a Korean drama film released on May 30, 2025.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The official KOFIC database confirms the release date and genre.
View 1 sources
- Big Deal (2025)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
The KOFIC runtime is 103 minutes.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The KOFIC film database lists a runtime of 103 minutes.
View 1 sources
- Big Deal (2025)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
The film reconstructs, with inspiration from actual events, a takeover battle over a soju company during the 1997–98 foreign exchange crisis.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- A Yonhap review describes it as “inspired by a real-life story.”
View 1 sources
- (Movie Review) Big Deal연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
In reality, Jinro was selected as a company subject to normalization in April 1997 and filed for composition proceedings in September.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- HiteJinro's KRX disclosures record the proceedings by date.
View 1 sources
- 하이트진로 회사 연혁·회사정리절차KRX KIND / 하이트진로 공시 · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
The Jinro Group went bankrupt in September 1997.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- This is confirmed in a Yonhap retrospective article about chairman Jang Jin-ho.
View 1 sources
- 진로그룹 전성기 이끌다 몰락…장진호 전 회장연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
In reality, Jinro was acquired by the Hite Brewery consortium in 2005.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The KRX disclosures and Yonhap confirm the acquisition process.
View 2 sources
- 하이트진로 회사 연혁·회사정리절차KRX KIND / 하이트진로 공시 · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
- 진로그룹 전성기 이끌다 몰락…장진호 전 회장연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
It has not been established that Kukbo Group, Pyo Jong-rok, Choi In-beom, and Sol Queen are 1:1 biographical recreations of the actual Jinro events with only the names changed.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Yonhap describes the work as inspired by actual events and introduces the characters as part of the film's narrative.
View 1 sources
- (Movie Review) Big Deal연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
The friendship and personal conflict between Pyo Jong-rok and Choi In-beom are a dramatic narrative, not facts confirmed in actual M&A records.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- A Yonhap review says that the changing relationship between the two men is central to the film.
View 1 sources
- (Movie Review) Big Deal연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
Choi Yoon-jin handled filming and the first edit, but the final theatrical release credits Choi as “on-site director,” not director.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Yonhap reported the director contract dispute with the production company and the final credits.
View 1 sources
- 인수 전쟁이 드러낸 인간의 여러가지 본성…영화 '소주전쟁'연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
The current KOFIC film database also lists no director in the Director field, displaying only production and producer information.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The director credit is blank in the current KOFIC film database.
View 1 sources
- Big Deal (2025)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
Therefore, the work's director metadata should note both Choi Yoon-jin's substantial directing involvement and the absence of a final director credit.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- This assessment reflects both Yonhap's reporting and the current credit status in KOFIC.
View 2 sources
- 인수 전쟁이 드러낸 인간의 여러가지 본성…영화 '소주전쟁'연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
- Big Deal (2025)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
CHARACTER ↔ PERSON
Characters and real people
석진우
Fictional composite character최인범
Fictional composite character표종록
Fictional composite characterOther related people
Choi Yoon-jin
Film on-site director · Formerly contracted directorSources used
- Big Deal (2025)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
- (Movie Review) Big Deal연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
- 하이트진로 회사 연혁·회사정리절차KRX KIND / 하이트진로 공시 · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
- 진로그룹 전성기 이끌다 몰락…장진호 전 회장연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
- 인수 전쟁이 드러낸 인간의 여러가지 본성…영화 '소주전쟁'연합뉴스 · Major news · Grade AOpen source →