Foreigners (Waeguk)

Two countries: South Korea, an economic powerhouse; North Korea, a rogue nation with nuclear capabilities. Two foreigners—waeguk—from Minnesota: Ben, coming to terms with his homosexuality; Durst, dreaming of himself as a James Dean tough guy. They teach English-as-a-second-language at a private school in Seoul. The school is also the front for a drug-smuggling gang headed by its owner, Mr. Kim. Ben and Durst are drawn into the illicit trade—for the excitement and the money. When some on-the-run farmers from the North show up, followed by some less savory characters, a simple smuggling operation turns a lot more dangerous. A unique new voice in crime, Mark Rapacz takes you on an unputdownable odyssey deep into this violent Korean underworld where nothing is quite what it seems and life is as ephemeral as a knife blade glinting under neon lights.