HUMINT (2026) Korean Movie: Jo In-sung vs Park Jung-min in a High-Stakes Korean Spy Thriller

One of the most anticipated Korean films of 2026 is officially on the radar. HUMINT, the upcoming spy action thriller from blockbuster filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan, is set to explode into theaters on February 11, 2026, perfectly timed for the Lunar New Year holiday season.

Packed with political tension, international espionage, and an elite cast led by Zo In-sung and Park Jeong-min, HUMINT is shaping up to be one of the biggest Korean action releases of the year.

🎬 What Is HUMINT About?

HUMINT (short for Human Intelligence) is a Korean spy action film centered on a dangerous investigation unfolding near the Vladivostok border in Russia — a volatile region where international crime and political agendas collide.

As criminal activity escalates, South Korean and North Korean secret agents are dispatched to the same territory, each pursuing their own objectives. What begins as an investigation quickly turns into a deadly game of surveillance, deception, and power, where trust is impossible and every move could trigger international consequences.

This is espionage stripped of glamour — cold, paranoid, and brutally realistic.

🕵️‍♂️ A Clash of Intelligence Agencies

Director Ryoo Seung-wan leans into ideological conflict, not just action spectacle. The story thrives on:

• Rival intelligence agencies operating in the same shadowy space

• Conflicting loyalties and hidden motives

• Personal survival vs national duty

Unlike traditional spy films where good and evil are clearly defined, HUMINT thrives in moral gray zones — a signature strength of Korean political thrillers.

🎭 Cast & Characters

The casting alone makes HUMINT a must-watch:

• Zo In-sung as Manager Jo A National Intelligence Service (NIS) black-ops agent tracking international crime networks.

• Park Jeong-min as Park Geon A sharp, relentless North Korean State Security leader sent to Vladivostok.

• Park Hae-joon as Hwang Chi-seong North Korea’s Consul General, deeply suspicious of Park Geon’s presence.

• Shin Se-kyung as Chae Seon-hwa A North Korean restaurant worker whose encounter with Agent Jo changes everything.

• Kim Eui-sungIn a key supporting role adding political weight and tension.

Each character operates with incomplete information — making every interaction feel like a loaded weapon.

🎥 Director Ryoo Seung-wan’s Return to Espionage

Known for films like Veteran and Escape from Mogadishu, Ryoo Seung-wan excels at blending large-scale action with political realism. With HUMINT, he returns to international territory, focusing on:

• Tactical realism

• Grounded action choreography

• Political distrust between nations

This isn’t flashy spy fantasy — it’s tense, methodical, and unsettling.

📅 Release Date & Film Details

• Title: HUMINT (휴민트)

• Release Date: February 11, 2026

• Country: South Korea

• Language: Korean

• Genre: Spy / Action / Political Thriller

• Distributor: Next Entertainment World (NEW)

The Lunar New Year release slot signals major box-office confidence, traditionally reserved for Korea’s biggest films.

🔥 Why HUMINT Is One of 2026’s Most Anticipated Korean Films

✔ Elite cast with proven global appeal

✔ A director known for politically charged action

✔ North vs South Korean espionage — always explosive

✔ International setting rarely explored in Korean cinema

If you’re a fan of intelligent spy thrillers, HUMINT is not optional viewing — it’s essential.

HUMINT looks poised to deliver taut storytelling, layered performances, and real geopolitical tension. With Jo In-sung and Park Jung-min facing off under Ryoo Seung-wan’s direction, this could become one of the definitive Korean spy films of the decade.

Expect betrayals.

Expect silence to be deadlier than bullets.

And expect nothing to be what it seems.