Gongjak

If you're looking for fun and entertainment, then this isn't the movie you should be watching. It's not your ordinary spy movie packed with action, but rather lots of diplomacy, dialogues and relationship building between people with power carried by a classical 80s setting.

For much of the movie, The Spy Gone North unfolds as a competent espionage thriller. Then the final 30 minutes elevate it to something more a compelling tale of murky politics and unlikely friendship. The tension comes from the fraught atmosphere of mistrust and barely hostility between North and South Korea. Any moment, masks could be ripped off and a gun could go off.

Director Yoon decided to not stick to the typical Hollywood-style spy flick and the result is a new, tense and even darkly comical spy film.

In summary, "The Spy Gone North" is not just an exceptional film within its genre but stands as a formidable entry in the espionage genre. This film is a must-watch for aficionados of the genre and anyone who appreciates cinema that marries intelligence with emotional depth.

I am a fan of intrigue/spy thrillers, and I noticed this in the TV schedule so recorded it, initially I thought it was a serial, I did not know anything about it or which country it was about or made by.

I was pleasantly surprised upon opening it, that it was a South Korean movie, having seen a couple from there before, and it turned out to be a lucky move to record it, as it turned out to be excellent.

It starts off as a spy scam, whereby the South Koreans send a spy to pretend to be a business man to infiltrate the north, but evolves into a political thriller, with a few twists and a bit of a opposite buddy's near the end, apparently it's a true story!

Hollywood used to make films like this, but can't seem to do it anymore, It is in the film noir style, and very well made, excellent direction and very good actors, the photography is good, but the best is the character interplay. 60 years ago this might have been a Humphrey Bogart film, like an oriental Maltese Falcon. Watch as soon as you can. Brilliant

A top flight spy movie. Full of tension, twists and intrigue. Set in what is probably the most intriguing cold war of all time.

This is an excellent movie on all accounts. The fact that it is based on historical events makes it even more special.

Watch it and love it!

It's slow but if patience is applied, the movie come to life. It's captivating and intriguing to see. Not your gun totting spy movie but brilliant on its own

This is a korean spy thriller drama about, a true incident of espionage on north korea from the southern sister, via channals in mother china. its an exremely complex plot, but the very good acting by the main actors make this as seeworthy as the east west spy thrillers of the 70's and 80's made by usa , european and soviet filmakers.

its very well worth a thought that the korean issue is a still ongoing conflict, and every time a film like this is put on the market, their northern counterpart usually creates skin attacks and mortar shelling on the DMZ, or starts some navy maneuvers that usually are not announced, or burns up some fireworks that USA and japan gets der untergang spasms from, south korea are doomed anyway if some dirt like that should happen.

one might critizice the slow pace of this film, but its done with a cause, and well worth waiting for. the filmography are true fantastic in all aspects, with the punch of a feinsmeaeckers finrgerspitz, it brings us through great aerials to excitingly focused dialouges.

a darn good thriller thinks the grumpy old man, with recommendations.