The Spy Gone North (2018)

This is a spy film based on the true story of 'Black Venus,' a covert operation by South Korea's Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) in the mid-1990s. The movie follows ANSP agent Park Seok-young (codename: Black Venus, played by Hwang Jung-min) who infiltrates North Korea's elite by posing as a businessman to uncover the truth behind their nuclear development. Through meticulous planning and acting, he successfully gains the trust of North Korean External Economy Commission Director Ri Myung-un (played by Lee Sung-min) and is on the verge of succeeding in his mission, even meeting the supreme leader Kim Jong-il. However, ahead of the 1997 South Korean presidential election, he witnesses a political conspiracy where the ANSP leadership in the South colludes with North Korean elites to plan the 'Gunpowder Plot' (a request for provocation along the DMZ) to extend the current regime's power. This revelation triggers a change in Black Venus's psychology, leading to the climax. Rather than flashy action scenes, the film is a well-made movie that builds tension through psychological warfare between the main characters. The final scene, where Park Seok-young and Ri Myung-un look at each other after time has passed, and the gifts they gave each other are shown in close-up, was the best scene for evoking emotion.