There has been a handful of movies with the central theme of North Korean spies in the South.

The more serious ones like Shiri, featured a tough-as nails spy trained to live among South Koreans as one of us, but putting on her real face when the time came for her to execute missions.

And then there were other comical movies that featured spies as being more human, vulnerable and even not much different from ordinary people.

And along came this movie. SPY written and directed by Woo Min-ho.

In tune with the current trend, like the Avengers and The Thieves...
it features a fairly star-studded cast.

The main character that starts things off is played by Kim Myeong-min.

Ever since his role as Admiral Yi Sun-shin in a successful TV period drama, he skyrocketed
to fame, and has been celebrated as one of the most driven and talented actors in Korea.

But his choice of movies as of late have been somewhat questionable.

I am willing to give two thumbs down for more than half the movies he starred in.

Regardless... Kim plays a very likable character.
A man who weasels his way around the law, smuggling viagra and other products illegally
and selling it to the right bidder.

His company is disguised to be a normal, law abiding one.

And of course, as the title suggests...
he is originally a North Korean spy.


Song Break: 인생은 한방 - 타이푼, 에스더


Kim's character has been living in the South for quite some time now.

And he has adjusted well.
He is no different from your typical South Korean husband and father.

Married to a South Korean woman and raising a son, it would not seem surprising at all for him to have forgotten about his roots.

But not really.

He is as dedicated to his North Korean family and employers as to his South Korean counterparts.

He sends money to his mom in the North, he responds immediately to any missions sent his way from the North Korean Govt.

But then, he falls into a dilemma when a ruthless North Korean team leader is dispatched to carry out the latest mission.

Along with Kim's character are other spies that seem to have forgotten why they're here.

These include Jeong Kyeo-woon's character who has settled as a cow herder in rural parts, busy with his anti FTA protests.

Yeom Jeong-ah's character, a single mother who runs a real estate agency.

Byeon Hee-bong plays a very very old spy that longs to return to the North, having spent too much time in the South.

Adding a little twist into the mix is a South Korean intelligence agent who has been tracing Kim's movement for years...

but has somewhat grown sympathetic towards how the North Korean spy actually has a life and tries hard to provide for both his families.

Interesting to note is Yoo Hae-jin's acting.
Usually he plays the loud, comical sidekick.
But here, he plays someone serious, and bad to the bone.

Song Break: 사랑을 믿어요 - 김나영, 씨엘


BG: Money Money - 배기성

BG: Reason - 바비킴