Bong Tae-kyu x Kang Mal-geum Starring! The Most Ripe Debut Work of the Year 'High Sugar Content' Releases on December 10!

The actors Kang Mal-geum, with a diverse acting spectrum, and Bong Tae-kyu, with an irreplaceable presence, deliver a high-concentration performance in the family comedy-drama 〈High Sugar Content〉 (The Price of Goodbye), which is set to release on December 10, along with the first poster and trailer. It is a family comedy-drama that depicts a fake funeral business trying to fund a nephew's medical school tuition with the father's funeral money.

〈High Sugar Content〉 is a deep exploration of the 'family' ties that no one can choose, intertwined by blood, combined with immersive suspense and black comedy. It is the feature debut of the emerging director Kwon Yong-jae, who has been recognized at various domestic and international film festivals for short films like 〈Goodbye! Good Mommy〉, 〈Condolences〉, and 〈Sweet Deal〉, and it is set to have its first public screening in the feature showcase of the Seoul Independent Film Festival 2025, which opens on November 27.

The film 〈Lobby〉, 〈Chansili is Not Lucky〉, and the Netflix series [Bamboozled], MBC drama [The Red Sleeve Cuff], etc., showcases the versatile actor Kang Mal-geum, who has been active across films, TV, and OTT platforms, and the irreplaceable actor Bong Tae-kyu, who has heightened dramatic immersion in various genres with his unique performances in SBS dramas [Penthouse], [Return], and the film 〈Mina's Stationery Store〉, portraying the sour reality of siblings. Along with them, veteran actor Jang Ri-woo, who has been active in numerous independent films, the promising new actor Jeong Sun-beom, and the uniquely present Yang Mal-bok complete the high-density family chemistry. With a smooth script that traverses comedy and tragedy and solid direction, it is the most mature feature debut of the year that captures 'fun', 'meaning', and 'chemistry' all at once.

The released first poster captures attention with the siblings 'Seon-young' and 'Il-hwa' peeking out from behind a funeral altar. Additionally, just by looking at the offerings with only one of each, it evokes a sense that this is not an ordinary funeral. Especially under the phrase 'The condolence money comes first', the lines “Why are you here?” and “I came to make money” placed next to the hidden characters create an unpredictable tension about whether they are in a confrontational relationship or will unexpectedly cooperate. The title of the film placed in the center adds a kitschy atmosphere, amplifying the anticipation of what kind of story this unusual funeral will hold.

The first trailer released starts with a doctor's remark to prepare for the father's last moments. The family of the younger brother 'Il-hwa', who had lost contact after receiving a call from the eldest daughter 'Seon-young', arrives at the hospital, and a strange tension builds between 'Seon-young' and 'Il-hwa'. Soon, it is revealed that they came not for the father's funeral but for the condolence money, and due to a mistake by 'Il-hwa's' wife 'Hyo-yeon', the obituary message is sent out before the last moments. To make matters worse, 'Il-hwa' discovers a loan shark who has followed them to the hospital and ultimately declares, “Let’s hold our father’s funeral now,” leading the situation into a new phase. The trailer, with the tagline “A bittersweet funeral business for the family's future,” hints at the bizarre alliance of the sour family and greatly stimulates the audience's curiosity.