EXCLUSIVE: Contents Panda has landed world sales rights to Ran 12.3, a documentary that captures the chaotic night in 2024 when martial law was declared in South Korea.
The film, directed by Lee Myung-se, is already making waves at the local box office, beating Hollywood sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 in presales. It marks the first political documentary to top the country’s presales chart since Intention, Kim Ji-young’s 2018 film on the Sewol ferry disaster.
South Korean sales agent Contents Panda will introduce Ran 12.3 to international buyers at the Cannes market in May.
The documentary captures that events that unfolded on the night of December 3, 2024, when then-president Yoon Suk-yeol unexpectedly declared emergency martial law in a televised address at 10:27pm, citing “anti-state forces” and the threat from North Korea.
Shortly thereafter, political activity was outlawed, the military was ordered to censor all media and a large police presence was deployed at the National Assembly in central Seoul. It sparked immediate protests that saw thousands of citizens assemble – in defiance of Yoon’s decrees – and some 190 lawmakers rush to the main hall of the assembly building to vote against the martial law bid.
Tables and chairs were used to barricade the doors in the face of armed soldiers as helicopters transported special forces to the site. At 1:01am, the lawmakers unanimously voted to lift the declaration. Yoon was impeached two weeks later and sentenced on February 19 this year to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection.
The documentary chronicles how the night unfolded in chronological order, using videos and photographs provided by 283 citizens, records from 65 lawmakers’ offices, on-site reporting by journalists and footage from YouTubers. The film avoids narration and interviews, instead being driven by the raw footage. Stylised drawings are also used – illustrated by Lee Kang-hoon – to depict figures and helicopters. The score is by acclaimed composer Cho Sung-woo.
It marks the first documentary by director Lee, who is known for crime thriller Nowhere To Hide, which played at Sundance in 2000; period martial arts feature Duelist, which was selected for Toronto in 2005; and psychological drama M, which premiered at Toronto in 2007.
The title “Ran” translates into “chaos” or “turmoil”.
In December 2025, a crowdfunding campaign for post-production support, organised by Wag the Dog, reached 110% of its target and raised $675,000 (KRW1bn) from around 15,000 contributors.
Produced by Production M, the film received a local release through distributor NEW on Wednesday (April 22), debuting in second place behind local horror sensation Salmokji: Whispering Water and commanding more than 21% of total box office revenue.
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