Dead Man () is a 2024 South Korean crime thriller film written and directed by Ha Joon-won in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Cho Jin-woong, Kim Hee-ae, and Lee Soo-kyung. The film was released on February 7, 2024.
The film dives into the underworld of figurehead CEOs, individuals who rent out their names to front companies. It follows Lee Man-jae, the ace of this shady industry, who is falsely accused of embezzling â©100 billion and sold into an illegal prison in China after being used in a corporate scam tactic. Presumed dead, he returns to trace those who exploited his name and reclaim his stolen identity and life.
Dead Man marks the directorial debut of Ha Joon-won, previously known for co-writing Bong Joon-ho's The Host (2006). Ha spent five years conducting extensive research into real-life name leasing and identity fraud. His investigation included interviews with figurehead CEOs, individuals who remain hidden in plain sight while fronting shell companies for illicit gain.
Principal photography began in November 2021 and ended in February 2022.
, Dead Man has grossed $1.7 million with a running total of 237,563 tickets sold.