Kim Woo Bin, Kim Sung Kyun Give an Inside Look at Their "Officer Black Belt" Characters

Kim Woo Bin, Kim Sung Kyun, and director Jason Kim of Officer Black Belt express their admiration for real-life martial arts and probation officers.

Officer Black Belt is an action K-movie that tells the story of Lee Jung Do (Kim Woo Bin), a third dan in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo, who works with probation officer Kim Sun Min (Kim Sung Kyun) to monitor electronic anklet wearers 24/7 to prevent crimes. 

Director Jason Kim (Bloodhounds, Midnight Runners) said that he had long known about the profession of martial arts officers, and the story began with the question: Can a person who values their own happiness above all else sacrifice their life for the happiness of others? Can even an ordinary person harbor such great love? Feeling that martial arts officer was the most suitable profession to find answers to his questions, and recognizing the opportunity to tell a story different from those of police officers or firefighters, he began developing the story of Officer Black Belt. 

Before filming began, Kim Woo Bin, who plays martial arts officer Lee Jung Do, and Kim Sung Kyun, who plays probation officer Kim Sun Min, visited the Suwon Probation Office, where they listened to the real-life stories of martial arts officers and probation officers to gain a deeper understanding of their roles. Kim Woo Bin expressed his admiration, saying, "By meeting and talking to real martial arts officers, I realized they were doing such incredible work that we were unaware of."

Kim Woo Bin spared no effort to portray Lee Jung Do, which required him to train in all three disciplines of taekwondo, judo, and kendo simultaneously. He also noted, "I was particularly struck by the way Jung Do, a young man who used to seek only fun, changes after taking up the job of a martial arts officer, and the emotions he experiences during that transformation were moving."

Kim Sung Kyun, after visiting the probation office, shared how much he learned by observing the probation officers' efforts, not just in controlling or subduing the individuals under their supervision but also in helping them adapt to society. Inspired by this, he emphasized, "I focused on the humane aspect of people managing people, which is something that machines cannot do."

Director Kim introduced Officer Black Belt as "the story of an ordinary young man who realizes that he can do something for the world and gradually grows into a hero of the common people," and aimed to give a heartfelt message while balancing entertainment. 

Netflix's Officer Black Belt shines a spotlight on the unseen efforts of martial arts officers and probation officers who work tirelessly to ensure public safety, promising not only the thrills of an action movie but also a deep resonance through the story of unsung heroes.

Officer Black Belt will premiere on September 13, only on Netflix. Watch the Inside Look video here. 

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