Double Agent (2003 Film)

Double Agent (Korean: 이중간첩; RR: Ijung Gancheob) is a 2003 South Korean espionage thriller directed by Kim Hyeon-jeong. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the film explores the complex lives of intelligence operatives working within the tense political climate of the 1980s.

Promotional poster for the film Double Agent

Plot

The narrative follows Lim Byeong-ho (Han Suk-kyu), a North Korean defector who arrives in South Korea in 1980 after a harrowing escape in East Berlin. Upon his arrival, he is subjected to intense interrogation and torture by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). Eventually, he is recruited by Baek Seung-cheol (Cheon Ho-jin) to serve as a training officer for operatives specializing in North Korean territory.

While working within the South Korean intelligence apparatus, Lim maintains a secret identity as a North Korean spy. He receives orders from Yun Su-mi (Ko So-young), a sleeper agent posing as a radio DJ. As the two orchestrate a fake romance to facilitate their communication, they find themselves developing genuine emotional attachments, complicating their mission and their survival in a high-stakes environment.

Cast

The film features a prominent ensemble cast of South Korean actors:

Han Suk-kyu as Lim Byeong-ho
Ko So-young as Yun Su-mi
Cheon Ho-jin as Baek Seung-cheol
Song Jae-ho as Song Kyeong-man
Ryu Seung-soo as Lee Sang-ok

Production

Double Agent was produced by Koo & Film and distributed by Showbox. It was released in South Korea on January 24, 2003, with a total runtime of 123 minutes.