After four years of production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other problems, "Concrete Market," a highly awaited Korean film set in the same post-apocalyptic universe as "Concrete Utopia," finally hits theaters. Originally planned as a seven-part drama, the project was reformatted into a theatrical release.

It was about life after a massive earthquake and the struggle for survival in Hwanggung Market, the only place that kept an apartment complex standing. Residents trade using canned goods instead of cash for food, fuel, and medication.

Hwanggung Market is ruled by Park Sang Yong, enacted by Jung Man Sik. According to AllKpop, "Kim Tae Jin, portrayed by Hong Kyung, works under Park, tasked with collecting the canned goods. The arrival of outsider Choi Hee Ro, played by Lee Jae In, disrupts the market's fragile order. Hee Ro sneaks in to steal goods but uncovers Park Sang Yong's secrets, leading to conflicts with Park's right-hand man, Park Cheol Min."

It was produced by Climax Studio, creators of "Concrete Utopia," "D.P.," and "Hellbound." Part of a common universe, each story is standalone; it's centered around the Hwanggung apartment complex, with each tackling different facets of life in its aftermath.

Director Hong Ki Won expressed his emphasis on a new point of view that the movie will provide to viewers. He told Wikitree, "This is an original story focused on life after the earthquake. It's an independent film centered on Hwanggung Market. I hope audiences enjoy it as a fresh perspective and a new film experience."

Actors Hong Kyung and Lee Jae In, once up-and-coming talents at the start of filming in 2021, have become leading stars in recent years. Lee reflected in a recent press event, "It's been so long since I watched a film in a theater, and the two hours flew by. I was surprised at how fun it was to see our filmed work on screen."

She continued, "The film meaningfully focuses on younger generations. What may seem ordinary can be disastrous for youth, and everyone copes differently. Tae Jin leans on others, Hee Ro acts maturely—there are elements audiences can relate to."

Jung Man Sik accentuated the more youth-oriented narrative, relaying to allkpop, "This is a story of minors surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. Even teenagers living in an intact world face challenges. I think this film will resonate with that generation, and I hope families come together to watch it."

While it was originally going to be a Lotte Cinema exclusive, "Concrete Market" now opens nationwide on December 3, competing with Ha Jung Woo's "The People Upstairs" for audiences that are curious about the next development in Korea's apocalyptic cinematic universe.