Ryu Jun-yeol turns abusive in 'No Tomorrow'

Ryu Jun-yeol, second from right, from movie “No tomorrow” / Courtesy of Naver

By Kwon Ji-youn

Ryu Jun-yeol, who catapulted to stardom on tvN’s “Reply 1988,” will play a villain in the film “No tomorrow.”

The actor, 29, will star alongside Bae Sung-woo, Park Hyo-joo, and Lee Hyun-wook in the crime thriller, set for a March 3 release.

The film is based on the so-called “salt farm incident” that made headlines in Korea in 2014. It was reported that two disabled people were forced to work under slave-like conditions on salt farms, which led to wider inhumane labor conditions across the salt industry being exposed

The narrative follows the mysterious deaths of island salt farm workers, and the efforts of a television reporter, the only witness and survivor, who falls into a coma while working on a story about the salt farm.

Ryu and Hyeri from "Reply 1988" / Courtesy of tvN

Ryu will play the salt farm owner’s son, Ji-hoon, who physically and verbally abuses the workers.

In “Reply 1988,” he played a student who falls in love with a childhood friend, but his best friend also has feelings for her.

Ryu is expected to join the ranks of Yoo Ah-in, Namgung Min and Lee Dong-ha, who are known for convincing portrayals of violent and abusive people. According to the producers, Ryu has undergone a significant makeover for role.