Confidential Assignment 1 and 2 ~ Action Comedy K-Dramas Made for Hyun Bin Fans

Fans of Hyun Bin are likely anxiously awaiting the release of “Made in Korea Season 2”. Meanwhile, they might enjoy watching the popular action-comedy movies “Confidential Assignment” and its sequel “Confidential Assignment: International”.

Season 2 of the Korean crime thriller series “Made in Korea” will premiere on September 9, 2026, on Disney+ and Hulu. PopGeeks Review: Made in Korea S1 (2025)

• Confidential Assignment (2017) was first made available to U.S. audiences as a digital rental and purchase title, and then later became available on subscription streaming platforms (Viki, Amazon Prime, etc.).

• Confidential Assignment: International (2022) became available on Tubi (U.S.) sometime before August 16, 2026.

It’s fun to watch them both back-to-back like a double feature. In both films, Lim Cheol-Ryung, a North Korean agent working on an undercover assignment, is teamed up with a South Korean detective, Kang Jin-Tae. Their onscreen chemistry is comedy magic!

What About a Triple Feature?

Even more fun? You could wait and doa triple feature. But that would require a lot of patience. Confidential Assignment 3, (tentatively titled “Confidential Assignment: The Final”), is officially in development. Actors are in talks to reprise their roles and work on this film should begin in 2027. [News 360s. “Confidential Assignment 3 Update: Will Hyun Bin & YoonA Return?” YouTube, 4 Apr. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifhdIK6G2tw&t=123s.]

(1) Confidential Assignment (2017)

• IMDb: 6.7 out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: 8.2 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 3.2 out of 5 stars
• Amazon customers: 3.6 out of 5 stars
• Where to watch: Viki and Amazon Prime

PLOT SUMMARY:

Lim Cheol Ryung, a highly skilled officer from North Korea’s special investigation unit. After a violent betrayal within his own ranks, Lim Cheol Ryung is tasked with traveling to South Korea to capture a dangerous criminal who has fled North Korea with stolen master plates used for counterfeiting.

Upon arriving in Seoul, Lim Cheol-Ryung is assigned to work with a South Korean officer – the local counterpart: Detective Kang Jin-Tae. He is a seasoned but somewhat overworked cop. But most importantly, he’s honest. Kang Jin-Tae is assigned to keep an eye on the North Korean agent, but prevent him from accomplishing his mission. The South Koreans believe they have not been fully improved of NK’s real agenda. They want to capture and take credit for apprehending the bad guy. This assignment is confidential, but it’s not supposed to be dangerous. All Kang Jin-Tae needs to do is distract Lim Cheol-Ryung. Easy peasy. Right? NOT!

As the investigation unfolds, the duo navigates Seoul’s criminal underworld. Kang Jin-Tae never knew toilet paper could be a deadly weapon used in mortal combat. (O.o) The partnership between Lim Cheol-Ryung and Kang Jin-Tae evolves from reluctant cooperation to genuine teamwork and mutual respect.

Main Characters:

• Lim Cheol-Ryung (played by Hyun-Bin,“Made in Korea S1”, “The Point Men”, “Harbin”, “Rampant”, “Crash Landing on You”, “Memories of the Alhambra”, “Ireland”, “The Fatal Encounter”)
• Kang Jin-Tae (played by Yoo Hae-Jin, “Big Deal”, “Yadang: The Snitch”, “Exhuma”, “The Night Owl“, “The Battle Roar to Victory”, “A Taxi Driver”, “Veteran”, “The Classified File”, “The Pirates”)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

‘Confidential Assignment’: Film Review | The Hollywood Reporter

[Herald Review] ‘Confidential Assignment’ Is Familiar but Entertaining Mix of Humor, Drama, Action. | The Korea Herald

Review | Film review: Confidential Assignment – buddy cop comedy bridges the two Koreas | South China Morning Post

TRAILER/TEASER:

Rotten Tomatoes Indie. “Confidential Assignment Official Trailer 1 (2017) – Hyun Bin Movie.” YouTube, 24 Jan. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSBGOM94PD4.

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(2) Confidential Assignment: International (2022)

• IMDb: 6.6 out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: 8.3 out of 10 stars
• Where to watch: Tubi TV

PLOT SUMMARY:

This movie brings together North Korean, South Korean, and American agents in a high-stakes, multinational pursuit. In the first film, the target was a North Korean defector who stole stolen master plates intending to print and circulate counterfeit money. This time his target is another North Korean drug dealer who heads a crime organization that sells “red pills”.

The story begins in New York USA where an FBI agent has been trying to bring him to justice. North Korean detective Lim Cheol-Ryung is sent to NYC to track him down. FBI Agent Jack successfully apprehends the drug-dealing criminal. However, he must now hand him over to Lim Cheol-Ryung. The FBI agent objects because he wants to expose the entire criminal organization. He reluctantly cooperates with the North Korean agent. While transporting both the criminal and Lim Cheol-Ryung, the police cars are ambushed by the criminal’s henchmen and they help him escape. The bad guy heads to Seoul and Lim Cheol-Ryung follows him.

From Dynamic Duo to Tenacious Trio

Upon his return to South Korea, Lim Cheol-Ryung reunites with Detective Kang Jin-Tae, who gets assigned because … nobody else wants the job. Kang Jin-Tae is currently assigned to the Cyber Crime unit but wants to go back to his old job. Partnering with Lim Cheol-Ryung is a chance to redeem himself and get back to fieldwork solving cases in the Major Crimes unit.

FBI agent Jack enters the picture because he insisted on pursuing the fugitive under U.S. jurisdiction. The dynamic duo is now a tenacious trio. The three investigators must unravel a web of international crime, involving forged documents, hidden alliances, and high-tech money laundering operations.

Main Characters:

• Lim Cheol-Ryung (played by Hyun-Bin)
• Kang Jin-Tae (played by Yoo Hae-Jin)

• US FBI Agent Jack (played by Daniel Henney, Nominated for Best Supporting Actor, 2022 (43rd) Blue Dragon Film Awards) Daniel Henney and Hyun Bin also worked together in “My Lovely Sam Soon”. He is an American actor and this K-drama brought him into the international spotlight when he made his television debut as Dr. Henry Kim.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Confidential Assignment 2: International Review | Kai-Fong, Hong Kong

Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022) Review. | Cityonfire.Com

TRAILER/TEASER:

Viu Singapore. “[Trailer] Confidential Assignment 2: International.” YouTube, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOqvOqnf0pk.

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