Heists, Car Chases, and Corrupt Politicians in 1980s Korea

The year is 1988, and South Korea for the first time in its history, has been selected to host the Olympics. Fresh on the start of a new democratic government, things are starting to look up for citizens after years of violence, censorship, and the impacts of colonialism and war. Korean cinema often holds an investigative lens to this turbulent era in history, whether it is directly speaking about what happened during dictatorships, like in Im Sang-soo’s The President’s Last Bang, or taking on the burden through a singular fictional character, such as in Lee Chang-dong’s 1999 film Peppermint Candy. But in real life, many figures from the era are still alive or only recently died, such as former dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who was responsible for horrific events. Some movies, such as Netflix’s newest release, Seoul Vibe, linger on the edge of democracy and tragedy, giving new life to history.

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Seoul Vibe was first introduced to the world in December 2020, when the production company announced that they were going to produce a movie under this title starring actors Yoo Ah-in and Go Yoon-jung, who ultimately did not join the film. Netflix was confirmed to be the distributor of the film, and, months later during the summer of 2021, the ensemble cast was revealed. Filming began that summer, and despite a couple of bumps due to COVID-19 positivity among the cast and crew, the movie was slated to be released as a part of Netflix’s August 2022 rotations. With a run time of approximately two hours and twenty minutes, Seoul Vibe thrusts viewers back into the past when Korea was not the same country the world knows today. There is a twist: it is a heist film with a comedic twist woven throughout the story.

However, one of the movie’s biggest draws is the stars themselves. The main character, Park Dong-wook, is portrayed by Yoo Ah-in. Yoo previously made appearances in Lee Chang-dong’s Burning, opposite actor Steven Yeun, and the zombie film #Alive. Go Kyung-pyo, one of the stars of Park Chan-wook’s upcoming film Decision to Leave, Lee Kyu-hyung (All Of Us Are Dead), Park Ju-hyun (Extracurricular), and former Wanna One member Ong Seong-wu round out the main cast. Guest appearances include idol and rapper Song Min-ho and D.P.’s Kim Sung-kyun.

A Group of Drivers and Mechanics Set Out to Do the Impossible

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Seoul Vibe takes place in 1988, during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. The 1988 games were a critical turning point in Korean history, as in 1987, the country officially transitioned into a phase no longer run under dictatorships, leading the nation into the beginning of what it is now today. Dubbed “the Miracle on the Han River,” the Olympics in 1988 marked the beginning of economic growth that led the country out of the unrest that began with the Korean War and the turbulence of the 1970s and 80s. But in this movie, the camera takes to the streets of Seoul after a brief prelude in Saudi Arabia, where the main character, Park Dong-wook, is introduced. Along with his loyal companion Joon-gi (Ong), Dong-wook returns to Seoul from Saudi Arabia only to find out that the city is rapidly modernizing to accommodate the Olympics.

One by one, new characters are brought into the mix. There is the vibrant Yoon-hee (Park), who is Dong-wook’s younger sister. Oh Woo-sam (Go) is the group’s DJ, while Bok-nam is someone who knows the city’s streets inside out. Things quickly go amiss after the group reunites, as they are now spearheading an investigation against some of the old guards of Korean politics. Corruption and bribery are rampant in this town, and it is up to them, a driving team passionate about cars, to try and take down some of the bad in the world. How do they do that? By posing as couriers for a mobster (Moon So-ri) and a former military general (Kim Sung-kyun). Kim’s character holds an uncanny resemblance to former dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who died in 2021.

This task is so big the group even considers teaming up with the leader of their rival gang (Song) to get the job done. There are no frills when it comes to the story outside of this, and the villains are fleshed out to be even eviler than one could even imagine at some points. Fans of Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver may notice some similarities in Seoul Vibe beyond the fact both films feature quite a bit of car chases and races. Seoul Vibe’s editing and setup hit a little too close to home when compared to Baby Driver, which has a similar visual style. However, it would be unfair to call the movie a copy of Baby Driver, as it has merits outside of what may overlap between the two films.

Related: Money Heist: Korea—Joint Economic Area Review: A Remake of a Thrilling Heist Series

A Nostalgic Throwback with Bite

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With its gaudy eighties jewelry and attire, dirt car races, and shaky handheld cameras, Seoul Vibe can be summed up as a vibe. It captures the essence of an entire era through the lens of one group dismantling a money laundering scheme, tying it together with the broader historical context going on in South Korea at the time. Seoul Vibe has an excellent cast tying it all together, really selling the fact these characters are good friends and accomplices in crime for a long time now. The humor works well throughout the film, appropriately landing at certain moments to maximize its effectiveness, but if there is one thing to be said about the movie, it is this: it feels like a cartoon adapted for live-action. Each scene seeps with the retro 1980s aesthetics, cranking it up to the max in others, and embraces how the plot progresses in the same way a comic book is read. Perhaps it is because this story has been done before many times, and in Seoul Vibe it is twisted to add overlying commentary about the state of society at the time.

In one scene towards the beginning, Dong-wook is amazed that their friend, a taxi driver, brings McDonald’s while picking them up at the airport. “Seoul has McDonald’s?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. The first Mcdonald’s in South Korea, conveniently located in the Apgujeong neighborhood, opened up during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. However, these tend to be suppressed to little moments, making it less obvious for those unfamiliar with the setting’s nuances. This is a city on the cusp of a great change, a pivotal moment of history, and the McDonald’s scene establishes that fact early on. Even when the new guard moves on towards greener pastures — lovingly decided as the city of Los Angeles — the old guard remains in the shadows, hoarding the money they stole and living in a country that has moved on without them.

But if something is disappointing about Seoul Vibe, it is that it deserves to be seen with a group of people, not for streaming. It is a comedic action film at its core, and the plot does not attempt to complicate itself much outside of that genre. This is a big heist to pull off against some of the country’s biggest people in the past, and, as the viewer is constantly reminded throughout, the stakes are high. The beloved protagonists are threatened with jail time in the beginning if they do not go through with the mission, so if they fail in what they set out to do, then there are going to be some pretty big consequences. It is important to remember, though, that Seoul Vibe has a lot of political commentaries baked into it. There is the heist element propelling the plot forward, but these are everyday people going up against what was once the political backbone of their society. Audiences love it when common folk goes up against forces and figures much bigger than them, which is what ultimately makes this movie even more satisfying to watch.

Regardless, Seoul Vibe is entertaining. On the surface, from the premise alone, it seems like it could have entered political thriller territory, but it keeps things lighthearted while constantly reminding us what the stakes are and what will happen. The plot and characters are fairly predictable, but one cannot help but cheer for them anyways. Packed with its old-school references and flair for stylish visuals and scenes, Seoul Vibe is worth a weekend watch. It may not reinvent the genre and topics it covers throughout the movie, but it offers a bit more than mindless action and car chases.

Seoul Vibe is available to stream exclusively on Netflix as of August 26, 2022.

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