'The Match' set for theatrical release after Yoo Ah-in's drug scandal

Actor Lee Byung-hun is seen in a poster for the movie “The Match,” which will be released on March 26. Lee plays legendary go player Cho Hun-hyun. Courtesy of BY4M Studio

"The Match," a movie centered on the board game go, or "baduk," in Korean, whose release was indefinitely postponed due to lead actor Yoo Ah-in’s drug use allegations, will finally meet audiences on March 26, its distributor BY4M Studio said Monday.

"The Match" explores the mentor-disciple relationship and rivalry between two of Korea's real-life go legends, Cho Hun-hyun and Lee Chang-ho. Lee Byung-hun, known for his role in "Squid Game," portrays Cho, while Yoo steps into the shoes of Lee Chang-ho.

Cho, the first Korean winner of the world's top go competition, took Lee Chang-ho, a go prodigy, as his disciple in 1984. They lived together in the same house, practicing go. Lee Chang-ho remains Cho's only student to date.

The narrative follows Cho as he attempts to rise to the top again after suffering a shocking defeat against his disciple in their first encounter.

There was a time when Cho was known as the "King without a crown" after losing many titles to his disciple. However, he quit smoking, improved his physical fitness through hiking and went on to win various tournaments, including senior competitions, until he stopped playing go after becoming a lawmaker in 2016. In 2020, he returned as a go player and has been active in senior tournaments.

Originally, "The Match" was scheduled to meet viewers around the world through Netflix, but the release of the movie became uncertain due to drug use allegations against Yoo. Later, the new distributor, BY4M Studio, acquired the film and decided to release it next month.

Still, the released movie poster only features the charismatic image of Lee Byung-hun. Although Yoo also plays an important role in the film, his image does not appear on the poster in light of the drug scandal.

Yoo was indicted in October 2023 on charges including injecting propofol 181 times from 2020 to 2022. He was sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial in September and appealed. The second trial is scheduled for Tuesday.

"The Match" is directed by Kim Hyung-ju, known for his 2017 movie "The Sheriff in Town,” and produced by Moonlight Film, which produced "A Violent Prosecutor" (2016) and "The Spy Gone North" (2018).