Recently, director Ryoo Seung-wan‘s film ‘HUMINT‘ caused quite a stir on Netflix. Everyone must have heard the news that it was released on Netflix just 49 days after its domestic theatrical release and even reached number one among non-English films. To be honest, its theatrical performance was a bit disappointing, as it didn’t even reach 2 million cumulative viewers. But it really took off on OTT. This work has raised quite a few questions for the Korean film industry, going beyond a simple spy movie.
The Real Reason ‘HUMINT’ Hit #1 on Netflix?
Ryoo Seung-wan’s ‘HUMINT’ is an action-spy film set in Vladivostok, Russia, depicting the fierce confrontation and poignant romance between North and South Korean intelligence agents. With a stellar cast including Jo In-sung, Park Jung-min, Shin Se-kyung, and Park Hae-joon, it garnered significant buzz even before its release. Although it regrettably only attracted 2 million viewers domestically, it achieved global success by topping the non-English film category on Netflix just 5 days after its release. Several factors contributed to this global resurgence:
- The immense reach of global OTTs: Netflix boasts over 200 million subscribers worldwide. It clearly demonstrated that films that didn’t fully realize their potential domestically can find new audiences through Netflix. These days, people who subscribe to multiple OTTs simultaneously are sometimes called ‘Ogu’ (a Korean term for someone who subscribes to five or more OTTs). As more ‘Ogu’ emerge, the influence of OTT platforms grows even larger.
- The harmony of Ryoo Seung-wan’s ‘familiar taste’ and ‘freshness’: This film shares a worldview with director Ryoo Seung-wan’s previous work ‘The Berlin File’ while adding romance to the action, enriching the emotional lines. In particular, the intense performances of actors Jo In-sung and Park Jung-min received critical acclaim from audiences.
- Reigniting the ‘holdback controversy’: Its release on Netflix just 49 days after its domestic theatrical release reignited the chronic ‘holdback’ issue in the Korean film industry. It effectively posed a profound question about the era of simultaneous theatrical and OTT releases.
‘HUMINT’, Not Just a Simple Spy Thriller?
This film doesn’t just focus on action like gunfights or car chases. Director Ryoo Seung-wan stated in several interviews that he delved deeper into ‘human’ emotions in this work. Rather than the cold and rational portrayal of traditional spy films, he focused on the characters’ internal conflicts and complex relationships.
- Director’s intentional direction: Director Ryoo Seung-wan reportedly prioritized the characters’ emotional lines over action techniques. Perhaps that’s why, even in action scenes, the film gives the impression that the characters’ emotions are condensed and exploding. He pursued action that leaves a lasting impression rather than just immediate exhilaration.
- ‘Human drama’ disguised as ‘espionage’: The characters in the film are entangled and agonized within the trap of ‘HUMINT’ amidst the special circumstances of the division of Korea. This delivers a profound message to the audience beyond a simple spy thriller.
- Polarizing emotional excess: Of course, some viewers pointed out that the spies were too swayed by emotion. However, the director can be interpreted as having seen this as a device to express the last remaining humanity within the system.
Real-life ‘HUMINT’, Not Always Like the Movies?
The film ‘HUMINT’ takes its title from ‘HUMINT,’ which stands for human intelligence. In reality, HUMINT refers to the activity of collecting information through people. Unlike SIGINT (signals intelligence) or TECHINT (technical intelligence) which use advanced equipment like satellite imagery or wiretapping, it’s a method of obtaining secret and sensitive information through intelligence agents or internal collaborators. While the film dramatically portrays the essential aspects of HUMINT, reality is different.
- Information reliability issues: Information obtained through people is inevitably susceptible to distortion based on the informant’s subjectivity or intentions. This is why the reliability of informants must be constantly verified.
- High risk: Not only informants but also agents collecting information face immense danger. Life-threatening situations, as seen in movies, are commonplace.
- Balance with technical intelligence: In modern information warfare, not only HUMINT but also various information collection methods like TECHINT and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) are crucial. While technological advancements allow for efficient collection of vast amounts of information, HUMINT ultimately remains indispensable for understanding human intentions or intimate information that technology alone cannot grasp.
Ultimately, director Ryoo Seung-wan’s ‘HUMINT’ was more than just a well-made action film; it was a work that made us reconsider the essence of information and human values. Its success on Netflix showcased new possibilities for Korean cinema but also brought complex issues within the film ecosystem to the surface. It will be quite an interesting point to watch how the Korean film industry navigates this trend going forward.