Season 1 • Episode 16
LatestThe fictional story begins after the execution of real-life North Korean general Jang Sung-taek. One day an order comes down from North Korea, reactivating erstwhile spy Park Hye-rim who has spent decades in South Korea as an ordinary housewife. She is given the mission to turn and bring in her own son, Kim Seonu. Cool-headed, quick-witted genius Seonu is an information analyst on North Korea working for the NIS. His girlfriend Yoon-jin is a tour guide for Chinese tourists who cannot speak Chinese, and they fell in love when Seonu helped her translate. Hye-rim is suddenly forced to choose between her son and country, and risks her life to see the choice through.
Acting
Bae Jong-ok's mildest expressions cut deepest.
Writing
Mom-son spy cat-and-game hits different.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jang Sung-taek's real 2013 execution made this pitch-black; airing during actual North Korea tensions gave it documentary-adjacent dread.
HERO Jaejoong was fresh from military service—his actual discharge eerily mirrored Seonu's institutional loyalty themes.
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