From villain to reluctant hero: Heo Sung Tae returns in Korean action-comedy film

After leaving a lasting mark on global audiences as one of Squid Game’s most chilling antagonists, Heo Sung Tae pivots sharply into action-comedy territory with The Informant, a fast-paced Korean film landing exclusively in Ayala Malls Cinemas beginning February 4 under the A-Reel Asia banner.

This time, Heo steps into the shoes of Oh Nam Hyuk, a disgraced detective clinging to one final chance at redemption. Once tipped for success, Nam Hyuk’s career collapses after a botched mission, pushing him to gamble everything on a dangerous plan: activating a secret asset embedded deep within a smuggling ring. What begins as a calculated move quickly snowballs into a wild chain of events, dragging the detective into an escalating mess of crime, unlikely alliances and absurd miscalculations.

Rather than leaning solely on brute force, The Informant thrives on contrast — pairing relentless action with physical comedy and emotional beats. Car pursuits collide with comic mishaps, while high-stakes confrontations are punctuated by unexpected humor, delivering the kinetic rhythm Korean genre films are celebrated for.

The film has already earned attention on the international circuit. It opened the New York Asian Film Festival and went on to receive the Best Foreign Language Film award at the Asia International Film Festival, signaling its appeal beyond domestic audiences and cementing its status as a crowd-friendly genre standout.

The Informant screens as part of A-Reel Asia, Ayala Malls Cinemas’ curated platform spotlighting notable Asian films across genres and regions — from South Korea and Japan to India, Indonesia and China. The initiative aims to bring acclaimed and entertaining Asian stories to Filipino moviegoers on the big screen.

The Informant opens exclusively on February 4 at select Ayala Malls Cinemas including Glorietta 4, Market! Market!, Feliz, Fairview Terraces, TriNoma, Cloverleaf, Marquee, Harbor Point, Manila Bay, Nuvali and Vermosa.

Tickets are now available via www.sureseats.com.