As a long-time martial arts enthusiast and avid fan of Korean cinema, I must say that “Officer Black Belt” has truly captured my attention! The blend of action, comedy, and a dash of reality is a winning combination for me.
A film titled “Officer Black Belt” is a Korean action movie that debuted on Netflix on September 13, 2024. This movie is inspired by the debatable law enforcement method in South Korea that uses GPS-powered ankle bracelets. The plot revolves around Lee-Jeong Do (Kim Woo-Bin), a cheerful delivery man who happens to be a ninth-degree martial arts expert due to his multiple black belts.
On one particular day, Lee-Jung finds himself encountering a brutal criminal assaulting a police officer, who was wearing a LoJack device on his ankle. Utilizing his martial arts abilities, Lee-Jung intervenes and swiftly subdues the attacker. In response, he is promptly invited to join the police force. Initially taking on a part-time role as a substitute, Lee-Jeong’s dedication soon grows into a full-fledged career. Accompanied by a trusty sidekick, he employs his Judo, Kendo, and Taekwondo skills to apprehend criminals. Contrary to the humorous tone suggested by its title, Officer Black Belt boasts a more authentic portrayal of law enforcement than one might initially expect.
What Happens in Officer Black Belt?
Under the guidance of director Joo-hwan Kim, the film titled “Officer Black Belt” is an amusing blend of martial arts, crime, and comedy, drawing inspiration from authentic Korean law enforcement protocols. The narrative revolves around Lee-Jeong, a dedicated chicken delivery worker and avid gamer, who possesses an optimistic demeanor. While delivering food to a customer, Lee-Jeong witnesses a police officer being attacked by a criminal wearing a GPS-enabled ankle bracelet. In a moment of spontaneity, Lee-Jeong leaps into action, utilizing his three earned third-degree black belts in Judo, Kendo, and Taekwondo to swiftly overpower the assailant as a highly skilled ninth-degree martial artist.
Following the street rescue of a police officer, this officer invites Lee-Jeong to the police station and proposes he temporarily replace him while he recovers from injuries. Initially hesitant, Lee-Jeong agrees and eventually contributes to the police force by employing non-lethal martial arts techniques to apprehend violent criminals. As his methods prove effective, Officer Black Belt is granted increasing authority to combat crime in Seoul. To aid his mission, Lee-Jeong enlists Kim Seon-Min (Kim Sung-Kyun) as a sidekick. Besides him, characters such as Earthworm (Cha Wang-Hyeon), Moisture (Kim Yo-Han), and Writer K (Kang Hyoung-Suk) are also present in this narrative.
How True Is Officer Black Belt?
Though the characters in “Officer Black Belt” aren’t directly modeled on real people, their concept draws from a grain of reality. In South Korea, a law enforcement measure was put into practice where high-risk criminals were monitored closely by attaching GPS tracking devices to their ankles. The intention behind this was to enhance the safety of cities like Seoul by identifying and locating violent individuals and chronic offenders with criminal records more easily. However, privacy concerns arose among the public, leading to discussions about the effectiveness of such a policy.
Since 2008, the Korean tracking policy has stayed in effect. Not only is the policy significant, but the authenticity of “Officer Black Belt” also extends to its core concept. In this policy, actual martial artists from Korea were enlisted to aid probation officers when routine arrests became heated verbal or physical disputes. These martial artists would intervene physically if required and assist during interviews as well. This fundamental law forms the basis for the narrative of “Officer Black Belt”, with writer/director Joo-Hwan Kim using firsthand accounts to enrich the storyline.
The Inspiration Behind Officer Black Belt, Explained
Besides finding ideas from the contentious surveillance system for criminals that South Korea has implemented over the past 16 years, director Joo-Hwan Kim was additionally influenced by a real-life event on the street concerning this program when creating the plot for his Korean action comedy. As reported in Chosun Daily:
In a recent interview, Director Kim Joo-hwan shared that the idea for his movie was sparked by observing a resident in his neighborhood using an electronic bracelet. To ensure authenticity when depicting the realm of martial arts and probation officers on screen, he sought advice from experts in the field throughout the film’s production process.
Beyond drawing from personal experiences, actor Kim Woo-Bin underwent rigorous martial arts training in order to deliver an authentic portrayal. He added approximately 17 pounds for the character and practiced three to four hours every day across multiple martial arts styles. Speaking about his role, Woo-Bin mentioned:
I found myself captivated by the transformation of my character’s life – from a person who primarily socialized with friends, to an individual who discovers purpose and responsibility in his new position. I eagerly anticipate the audience resonating with this shift.
Regarding Sung-Kyun, the actor portraying Lee-Jeong’s assistant probation officer Kim Seon-Min, he expressed his delight about collaborating with director Joo-Hwan. Furthermore, he also mentioned:
In the past, I’ve been captivated by the colorful and skillfully constructed narratives in Director Kim’s prior projects, which made me eager to contribute to this film. Additionally, the opportunity to collaborate with Kim Woo-bin was an added incentive for me.
As a devoted admirer, I too found myself captivated by the guiding function of the martial arts probation officer. In my performance, I strived to encapsulate this essence, expressing it through, “I sought to embody that aspect in my acting.
Officer Black Belt is available to stream on Netflix.
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2024-09-22 00:31