# Whistle Blower (film)

Whistle Blower (Korean: 제보자; RR: Jeboja) is a 2014 South Korean film directed by Yim Soon-rye.
Though fictionalized, the film is based on real-life scientist Hwang Woo-suk, who was at the center of one of the largest investigations of scientific fraud, named the Hwang affair, in recent memory. Hwang, then a professor of biotechnology at Seoul National University (SNU), gained international renown in 2004 after claiming that he had successfully carried out experiments cloning human embryonic stem cells. In 2005, an anonymous tip from whistleblower Ryu Young-joon, a former researcher at Hwang's lab, led to MBC program Producer's Note uncovering Hwang's ethical violations and fabricated data, which was confirmed by an SNU investigative panel in 2006. Hwang's research was discredited and in 2009, a South Korean court convicted him of embezzlement and bioethical violations.

## Plot

TV news producer Yoon Min-cheol is desperate for a scoop for his investigative journalism program PD Chase. One day, he receives a tip that The Newman Medical, the biggest sterility clinic in Korea, buys ova illegally. But while investigating, he is shocked to discover that scientist Lee Jang-hwan seems to be involved in the case. Lee had gained widespread acclaim and press attention following his groundbreaking experiments cloning human embryonic stem cells, and is considered a national hero whose research may mean the cure to several illnesses. As Yoon hesitates whether to pursue such a revered and powerful figure, he gets an anonymous call from Shim Min-ho, a young scientist who works for Lee's lab. Shim claims that Lee's stem cell research has largely been fabricated and unethical, and the two join forces to expose Lee's scientific fraud and bring the truth to the public, despite its disbelieving and harsh reaction.

## Cast

* Park Hae-il as Yoon Min-cheol
* Yoo Yeon-seok as Shim Min-ho
* Lee Geung-young as Lee Jang-hwan
* Park Won-sang as Lee Sung-ho
* Ryu Hyun-kyung as Kim Mi-hyeon
* Song Ha-yoon as Kim Yi-seul
* Kim Kang-hyeon as Lee Do-hyeong
* Kim Soo-an as Shim Soo-bin
* Kim Joong-ki as Priest Park
* Nam Myeong-ryeol as Professor Yoo Jong-jin
* Hwang Jae-won as Park Soo-hyeon
* Park Ji-so as Yoon Ji-ho
* Jang Gwang as President of broadcasting station
* Kwon Hae-hyo as General manager of broadcasting station
* Choi Yong-min as Minister of Science and Technology
* Han Gi-joong as Government administration director
* Jeon Su-ji as Researcher
* Kim Won-hae as Taxi driver in the middle of the night
* Lee Mi-do as Yoon Min-cheol's wife
* Kim Young-jae as Press conference moderator
* Hwang Jeong-min as Middle-aged woman in a shanty

## Box office

Upon its release on October 2, 2014, Whistle Blower topped the box office on its three-day opening weekend, with 563,539 admissions and a gross of ₩4.5 billion (US$4.2 million). It dropped to third place on its second and third weeks, earning ₩12.1 billion (US$11.3 million) from 1.7 million admissions.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2014 | 34th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Critics' Top 10 | Whistle Blower | Won |
| 2014 | 51st Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | Whistle Blower | Nominated |
| 2014 | 51st Grand Bell Awards | Best Director | Yim Soon-rye | Nominated |
| 2014 | 51st Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | Park Hae-il | Nominated |
| 2014 | 51st Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Lee Geung-young | Nominated |
| 2014 | 51st Grand Bell Awards | Best Editing | Kim Sun-min | Nominated |
| 2014 | 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film | Whistle Blower | Nominated |
| 2014 | 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Director | Yim Soon-rye | Nominated |
| 2014 | 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actor | Park Hae-il | Nominated |
| 2014 | 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Lee Geung-young | Nominated |
| 2015 | 20th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Chun-hyeong | Nominated |
| 2015 | 51st Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Lee Geung-young | Nominated |
| 2015 | 51st Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Chun-hyeong | Nominated |