The Spy Gone North

"In the lasting days of the Cold War."

2018 2h 18m KO

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 226

DramaHistoryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

South Korea, 1993. An agent of the National Intelligence Service is sent to Beijing to infiltrate a group of North Korean officials with the ultimate goal of obtaining information about their nuclear program.

“In the lasting days of the Cold War.”

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Cast

Hwang Jung-min
Heuk Geum-seong / Park Seok-yeong
Lee Sung-min
Ri Myeong-woon
Cho Jin-woong
Choi Hak-seong
Ju Ji-hoon
Section Chief Jeong Moo-taek
Jeong So-ri
Lee Hong-seol
Kim Hong-pa
Kim Myung-soo
Ki Joo-bong
President Kim Jong-il
Kim Eung-soo
Department Head Kim

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Yoon Jong-bin
Writers: Yoon Jong-bin, Kwon Sung-hui
Languages: Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean
Countries: South Korea

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 0% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 8 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Yoon Jong-bin, shot by Choi Chan-min. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Cho Young-wuk. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kim Sang-bum shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Hwang Jung-min and Lee Sung-min and Cho Jin-woong carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In the lasting days of the Cold War.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Yoon Jong-bin directs. Choi Chan-min behind the camera. Cho Young-wuk scores. Kim Sang-bum cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in South Korea. Dialogue in Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 0% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 8 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean.
4Directed by Yoon Jong-bin, shot by Choi Chan-min. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Cho Young-wuk. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Kim Sang-bum shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Hwang Jung-min and Lee Sung-min and Cho Jin-woong carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "In the lasting days of the Cold War.".
9IMDB entry: tt8290698 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 11 themes, including "undercover agent", "spy", "based on true story", "political campaign".

The technical file

Cinematography: Choi Chan-min
Original score: Cho Young-wuk
Editing: Kim Sang-bum
Production design: Park Elhen
Costume design: Chae Kyung-hwa
Makeup / hair: Diana Choi
Runtime: 138 min · 2h 18m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $17,000,000
Box office: $3,175
Return: 0% of budget
Original language: KO
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: The Spy Gone North (2018)

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Yoon Jong-bin

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Community reviews

What people are saying

SWITCH.2019-09-09
★ 8/10
Along with impressively slick cinematography via Choi Chan-min and some outstanding production design (Taipei stands in for Beijing and North Korea), the film provides some fascinating insights into Korean history following the Cold War and the transition from a tightly-controlled to a more democratic South Korea. You don’t need to know much about Korean politics to enjoy ‘The Spy Gone North’; you only need an appreciation for political intrigue and tension-inducing filmmaking in general. - Jake Watt Read Jake's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-the-spy-gone-north-engrossing-espionage-escapades
Alunauwie2025-09-29
★ 10/10
The Spy Gone North masterfully adapts the true story of ex-spy Park Chae Seo, offering a gripping espionage thriller grounded in real-world politics. With flawless cinematography, compelling performances, and impressively realistic sets (all filmed in South Korea), the film delivers both suspense and substance. This is a must-watch for fans of spy dramas craving authenticity and cinematic excellence. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)