Start your engines for Seoul Vibe, the newest South Korean blockbuster film on Netflix.
Seoul Vibe is about a group of five racers who collectively go by the name Sanggye-dong Supreme Team. Conflict starts when Dong-wook (Yoo Ah-in) and Joon-gi (Ong Seong-wu) came back to South Korea with "men in black" chasing them for being illegal couriers of firearms in Saudi Arabia.
The wild goose chase took place at their base, in the "maintenance of visible areas," or the redevelopment neighborhood of the city before it was gutted ahead of the 1988 Olympics.
Sanggye-dong Supreme Team then is recruited by the Prosecutor Ahn Pyeong-wook (Oh Jung-se) to help take down the illegal movements of funds in the government. This is in exchange for the dismissal of their criminal cases. They will also be granted a visa to move to the US so they can fulfill their dreams as racers.
Joining Dong-wook and Joon-gi are Woo-sam (Ko Gyung-pyo) a DJ, Bok-nam (Lee Kyu-hyung) the group's human navigator, and Yoon-hee (Park Ju-Hyun) leader of the biggest biker club in Seoul and Dong-wook's younger sister. Each has expertise needed to unveil the VIP slush fund operation.
One can point out that the film could be the Fast & Furious Korean version. However, Seoul Vibe, despite its fictional characters and scenarios created by writers Shin Soo-A and Moon Hyun-sung, is gleaned from the history of South Korea during its transition phase in 1988 while escaping the brutal regime of the late dictator Chun Doo-hwan to a democratic society.
Aside from the plot that sparks curiosity in viewers, it is the film's enchanting plays of color scheme and groovy music that makes retro vibe pop up.
"It is a fun and brainless action film. It does not convey a deep message to the audiences but does show some of the important historical elements of the time," said Yoo Ah-in during a press conference at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas last 23 August.
Directed by Moon Hyun-sung, Seoul Vibe balances the exposure of corruption, the silliness of the endearing characters and their remarkable driving skills.
Seoul Vibe is now streaming on Netflix worldwide.