South Korea has proven time and time again that it knows how to make a compelling drama, but the nation is also adept at a spy thriller, as the Overseas Location trilogy has proven.
The third part, Humint, which follows South and North Korean agents as they clash in the Russian city of Vladivostok, hails from director Ryoo Seung-wan, who also directed the previous two films, The Berlin File and Escape from Mogadishu, which were released in 2013 and 2021.
The film has been taking the world by storm, amassing over 11 million views in its first five days. It's also soared to the top spot in Netflix's streaming charts in multiple nations, including the United States, South Korea, Romania and Bahrain. But one market where it hasn't made a dent is in the United Kingdom, where it hasn't even cracked the Top 10.
The response to the film has touched lead actor Zo In-sung, who took to X to say: "Overwhelmed by incredible reception for HUMINT as it claims the pinnacle of the global rankings. To see our project resonate as the number one non-English film worldwide is a distinction that truly humbles the entire team. Deepest gratitude for navigating this journey with us."
The synopsis for Humint, which is short for human intelligence, reads: "A South Korean agent hunts a drug ring in Russia and goes head-to-head with a North Korean operative — pulling both into peril and tangled secrets."
Reception
Fans have been enjoying the new entry in the franchise, as one enthused: "It was an impressive spy story with its realistic and cold atmosphere; I watched it in one sitting. The film's fast-paced yet dignified structure, the characters' human flaws well-developed; it was great to see the duo of #JoInSung and #ParkJeongMin together, especially in such an action-packed context."
A second posted: "Have you managed to catch Humint on Netflix? Builds slowly but by the end wow, peak action cinema with impeccable editing," while a third added: "It's a spy thriller of remarkable technical craftsmanship, staging, and plot. Plus, when the action arrives, it unleashes completely. The two Koreas facing the mirror… so different, so alike. It's on Netflix. Don't miss it!"
© NetflixA fourth commented: "Finally got around to watching HUMINT that I was curious about. The story's tough to follow, but the action is amazing—way too cool, I love stuff like this. Just... the ending is so sad... Korea never wraps things up with a happy ending; they casually go for brutal conclusions. But that's what makes it real and interesting."
In a review for the South China Morning Post, James Marsh penned: "Viewers with the patience to sit through a deliberately paced hour of shady encounters in dingy nightclubs and snow-driven back alleys will be richly rewarded by a second half showcasing some of the best heroic bloodshed in recent memory."
Who stars in Humint?
The film stars Zo In-sung (Spring Day), who had also appeared in the franchise's second entry, Escape from Mogadishu. Also joining the cast are Park Jeong-min (Keys to the Heart), Park Hae-joon (Believer), Shin Se-kyung (Captivating the King) and Jung Yoo-jin (Snowdrop).
© NetflixRounding out the cast are Lee Shin-ki (The Worst of Evil), Robert Maaser (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), Kang Ha-kyung (Alchemy of Souls) and Lee Jun-young (Goodbye to Goodbye).
