Tough as Iron (Korean: 깡철이; RR: Ggangcheoli) is a 2013 South Korean action drama film written and directed by Ahn Gwon-tae, starring Yoo Ah-in and Kim Hae-sook in the title role.

[1][2][3] Gang Cheol (whose name means "iron" in Korean[4]) was once a legendary street gangster in Busan,[5] but he put away his fists and cleaned up his act for the sake of his mother Soon-i, who has dementia.

Things are going well for him; he now works as a stevedore at a loading dock and is pursuing a relationship with Soo-ji, a free-spirited woman from Seoul vacationing in the port city.

Cheol is ordered to kill a visiting Japanese Yakuza boss whose death will enable Sang-gon's ascension within the Korean branch of the mob organization.

It also received a limited theatrical release in the United States (October 11, 2013) and Japan (May 2014).