Officer Black Belt (무도실무관/Mudosilmugwan) is a martial arts cop drama from South Korea. This K- Movie deals with bleak subject matters and despicable criminal activities.
The reel hero Officer (Black Belt) Lee Jung-Do is portrayed by real-life hero Kim Woo-Bin. We have explained the reasons why we are calling Kim Woo-Bin, a real-life hero here.
“Officer Black Belt” Is A Martial Arts Cop Drama From South Korea, It Delves Into The Bleak Subject Matters
Trailer (Official): Officer Black Belt (2024/South Korean) Movie
Spoiler Free Review: Officer Black Belt (2024/South Korean) Movie
The synopsis/summary
A proficient martial artist Lee Jeong-Do (Kim Woo-Bin) has a ninth-degree black belt in judo, tae kwon do, and kendo. So, he has dedicated himself to helping those in need and joins forces with a probation officer Kim Seon-Min (Kim Seong-Gyoon) to tackle and avert serious crime (s) while serving as a martial arts officer.
Incheon, Paju-Si, and Seoul in South Korea served as the filming sites for the movie. The basic storyline of the film moves along the familiar line of crimes and punishments.
Kudos to writer & director Joo-hwan Kim (aka Jason Kim)
We watched and reviewed the Bloodhounds (2023) Series by the same show creator Joo-hwan Kim (aka Jason Kim), a year ago. That action-comedy series was also packed with high-octane fight scenes. In that show, the creator Jason Kim focussed his another social issue that afflicts South Korean society, viz., the Loan Sharks.
Now, with this Officer Black Belt (2024) Movie, the writer and director Jason Kim delves into the grim social issues of criminals indulging in Child abuse and Child pornography. Using the backdrop of martial artists and other crime fighters, once again creator Jason Kim highlights the legal and social gaps that exist in society that deal with such abusers. It seems that Jason Kim is using entertainment platforms to focus on burning issues. And also use the opportunity to criticise the prevalent social and legal norms in the society. Using his compelling narrative, Jason Kim manages to point out the loopholes in the legal and policing frameworks in child sexual assault cases in his nation.
The real-life hero actor Kim Woo-Bin plays the martial artist convincingly
A few years back, we remember reading an article about the lead actor and K-drama hero Kim Woo-Bin, wherein he was battling a life-threatening nasopharyngeal cancer.
Model and actor Kim Woo-Bin recounted his journey with the transformative diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer, which he received in 2017. In light of this rare diagnosis, his agency published an official statement revealing that he had begun radiation therapy and would be stepping away from his professional engagements in the entertainment field.
Several months later, in a heartfelt and poignant revelation, he spoke about having completed his cancer treatment. As a consequence, he was exempted from the requirement of mandatory military service. Finally, in 2019, the positive news was conveyed, confirming that Kim Woo-Bin had achieved a full recovery diagnosis. (News Source:- Newspapers)
Now, in the last quarter of 2024, we were more than happy to see Kim Woo-Bin in this martial arts film. Not only does he look physically fit but also makes his presence felt.
And, what else did we like about this Korean movie
In this film, we are shown the heartwarming professional partnership between young (martial arts) officer Lee Jung-Do (Kim Woo-Bin) and the senior probation officer Kim Seon-Min (Kim Seong-Gyoon). In addition, Officer Lee shares a strong friendship bond with his friends Moisture (Kim Yo-Han), Earthworm (Cha Wang-Hyeon), and others.
We liked the depiction of warm and cordial relationships in this film. However, to be honest, this movie is about heinous crimes and vile criminals. So, other ensemble actors do not have much to do, except the protagonist Lee, the deuteragonist Kim and the antagonist Kang. The action sequences are very well choreographed and filmed.
The rating
| FM Rating | 3.50/5 |
The conclusion
It is a thought-provoking movie, that uses a mix of action and comedy to entertain us. All in all, Officer Black Belt is a good time-pass K-drama film for modern martial arts aficionados.
Key Details about this 2024 South Korean Movie
| Genre | Action, Comedy, Crime |
| Original Language | Korean |
| Duration | 1 hour 49 minutes |
| Writer | Joo-hwan Kim (aka Jason Kim) |
| Director | Joo-hwan Kim (aka Jason Kim) |
| Cast | Kim Woo-Bin (Lee Jung-Do), Kim Seong-Gyoon (Kim Seon-Min), Lee Hyun-Geol (Kang Gi-Jung), Kim Yo-Han (Moisture), Cha Wang-Hyeon (Earthworm), etc. |
| Network | Netflix |
Poster: Officer Black Belt (2024/South Korean) Movie
Spoilers Alert: Detailed Storyline & Ending Explained
Detailed Storyline of this K-Movie
From the delivery man at a family restaurant
Lee Jung-Do (Kim Woo-Bin), is a carefree fried chicken delivery worker with an unwavering passion for computer gaming. In addition to his modern gaming enthusiasm, he possesses impressive martial arts combat skills. He holds third-degree black belts in tae kwon do, judo, and kendo, which collectively classify him as a ninth-degree martial artist. Therefore, in every sparring match, Jeong-do effortlessly overpowers his competitors.
To become a martial arts officer and seek justice
As he was returning home from work one day, he saw a confrontation between a person wearing an ankle monitor and a police officer. Jeong-do stepped in, showcasing his martial arts proficiency to subdue the individual. The officer, impressed by his intervention, introduced Jeong-do to his colleagues at the police department. Later they invited him to fill in during his recovery.
As a result, Jeong-do takes on the position of a martial arts officer. There he works in tandem with his newly assigned sidekick, probation officer Kim Seon-Min (Kim Seong-Gyoon), in the fight against crime. In the quest for justice, Lee Jeong-Do not only seeks retribution but also learns significant lessons about his own identity and what truly brings him happiness.
Ending Explained of this K-Movie
Fighting the villain & criminal Ki-Jung
The release of Ki-Jung, a child abuser who has served twenty years in prison, incites a strong backlash from the South Korean community. With many residents calling for the government to ensure he remains incarcerated indefinitely. This outcry leads Lee Jung-Do to closely monitor Ki-Jung’s activities.
Lee Jung-Do soon finds that Ki-Jung is now implicated in a more serious crime concerning child pornography videos.
Trying to stop the child pornography racket
On that particular night, Lee Jung-Do examines Ki-Jung’s building in search of evidence. There, he stumbles and hears the anguished cries of a child. He immediately alerts the neighbours to summon the police and forcefully enters the building. To his dismay, he discovers a small girl bound and a camera recording the incident, with Ki-Jung masked. Jung-do attempts to fight against Ki-Jung and his associates but is regrettably stabbed and beaten in the process. By the time the police arrive on the scene, Ki-Jung and his accomplice have already made their escape.
Lee Jung-Do is urgently taken to the hospital.
Finally, the villain Ki-Jung is caught, Lee Jung Do & friends are awarded
Following his recovery, Lee Jung-Do finds out that the police are still pursuing Ki-Jung. However, the police have been unable to track him down due to the destruction of his monitoring anklet. He also learns that the young girl he rescued is suffering from severe trauma. So, she is reluctant to leave her home.
Consumed by intense anger, Lee Jung-Do, along with his friends Earthworm, Moisture, and Writer K, sets out to track down Ki-jung’s employer. They soon ascertain Ki-Jung’s precise location and hasten to prevent him from perpetrating further crimes. In the ensuing final confrontation, an injured Lee Jung-Do uses his martial arts expertise to subdue Ki-Jung and his associates, subsequently turning the criminals over to the authorities.
The scene at the end
In the movie, Lee Jung-do and his friends named above are presented with exemplary service awards by the President of South Korea. Moreover, Lee Jung-Do is visibly touched when he sees the young girl he rescued from Ki-Jung attending the ceremony to express her heartfelt thanks for the new life he has given her.
The last frame of the Officer Black Belt movie presents Lee Jung-do, who has taken on the role of a full-time martial arts officer. Lee and his senior officer Kim Seon-Min quickly respond to prevent another ex-convict from instigating trouble. So, the movie ends on a positive and happy note.
Poster and Featured Image of Officer Black Belt (2024/South Korean) Movie | Pictures Credit: Netflix and Canva.com