Korean Spy Film Research Since The 1990s

Since 1990 s, Korean films, based on its artistic attainments and successful marketing operation, have broken up monopolies form Hollywood films in its local movie markets. They have stepped out of its own country and been exerting great influence on Asian countries like China and even across the world. Korean films, being more influential and competitive, have become the production center of Asian films and have formed unique national features and cultural connotation of their own.The Korean film Swiri, released in 1990, not only witnessed a renaissance in the development of Korean films, but also marked a new develop phase of spy films in Korea. After that, the categorization of Korean spy films went on their way and has rapidly seized the views of Korean audiences by their advantages in legendary heroism, thrilling and suspenseful plots,unique and vivid characters, the ups and downs in the rhythm and deep national feelings of their films, setting off a new upsurge of box office. To look into the reasons of its success, Korea enjoys exceptional advantage in its creating subjects due to the ever-lasting espionage activities between the South and North Korea ever since the cold war. Besides, the special affections between the two countries, complicated and confusing, has injected a strong sense of national emotion into Korean spy films. This study, targeting the spy films in Korea since 1990 s, has analyzed the influence brought by politics, economic, military and diplomatic activities between North and South Korea before and after the cold war; dissected the features in Korean films' narrative mode, theme setting up, image language and ideology; explored the national sentiments and cultures contained in Korean spy films. Based on which, this study has summed up the way to success for Korean local films and how can Chinese national films take them into use in their development.