HUMINT (휴민트) is a 2026 Korean spy-action film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, following a National Intelligence Service black agent who travels to Vladivostok to chase down the truth behind an informant's death, only to recruit a new source inside a North Korean-run restaurant. Released on February 11, 2026, the film shares its universe with Ryoo's earlier spy thriller Berlin, continuing the director's run of grounded, hard-hitting espionage stories after Mogadishu and Smugglers.
Plot
The story follows Manager Jo, an NIS black agent tracking an international crime network across Southeast Asia, whose investigation is upended when one of his human intelligence sources dies in what's officially ruled an accident. A final coded message left behind by the informant convinces Jo the death wasn't accidental, and the trail leads him to Vladivostok, a port city in Russia's Far East. There, Jo makes contact with Chae Seon-hwa, a woman working at a North Korean-run restaurant who appears to be an ordinary overseas laborer — until Jo notices cracks in her composure that hint at deeper fractures within the regime she serves, and he ultimately chooses her as the asset for a new HUMINT operation.
Cast and Direction
Zo In-sung stars as Manager Jo, marking his third collaboration with director Ryoo Seung-wan after Mogadishu and Smugglers. Park Jeong-min plays Park Geon, in his third film with Ryoo following Alive-era and Smugglers-era collaborations, while Park Hae-joon takes on the film's antagonist role as Hwang Chi-seong. Shin Se-kyung rounds out the main cast as Chae Seon-hwa, the North Korean restaurant worker at the center of Jo's new operation. HUMINT is Ryoo Seung-wan's 14th feature film as director.
Reception and Where to Watch
HUMINT opened during the Lunar New Year box office window, a period that also featured the sageuk blockbuster The King's Warden, and drew roughly two million admissions in Korean theaters — a solid but comparatively modest run next to that season's biggest earner. Critical reception highlighted Ryoo's typically brutal, sound-heavy action choreography and pointed to strong supporting performances, while some reviewers noted a more mixed response to lead performance choices in the film's tensest confrontations. The film later moved to Netflix, where it remains available to stream.
HUMINT at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Director | Ryoo Seung-wan |
| Genre | Action, spy thriller |
| Runtime | 119 minutes |
| Korean Release | February 11, 2026 |
| Lead Cast | Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Park Hae-joon, Shin Se-kyung |
| Shared Universe | Connected to Ryoo Seung-wan's earlier film Berlin |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HUMINT mean?
HUMINT is a real intelligence term combining "human" and "intelligence," referring to information gathered through human sources such as spies or informants, which is the operation type at the center of the film's plot.
What is HUMINT about?
It follows an NIS black agent investigating an informant's suspicious death, whose search leads him to Vladivostok and to recruiting a new intelligence source working at a North Korean restaurant.
Who stars in HUMINT?
The main cast includes Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Park Hae-joon, and Shin Se-kyung.
Is HUMINT connected to other Ryoo Seung-wan films?
Yes, it shares its universe with Ryoo Seung-wan's earlier spy thriller Berlin, and marks his third film working with lead actor Zo In-sung.
Where can I watch HUMINT?
After its Korean theatrical run, the film became available to stream on Netflix.
Streaming availability can change by region and over time — check Netflix's current listings for HUMINT before planning to watch.