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Secretly, Greatly

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Secretly, Greatly
Promotional poster
Hangul
은밀하게 위대하게
Hanja
隱密하게 偉大하게
RREunmilhage widaehage
MRŬnmirhage widaehage
Directed byJang Cheol-soo
Written by
  • Yun Hong-Gi
  • Kim Bang-Hyeon
Based on
Covertness
by Hun
Produced byKim Yeong-min
Starring
CinematographyChoe Sang-ho
Edited byKim Sun-min
Music by
Distributed byShowbox/Mediaplex
Release date
  • 5 June 2013 (2013-06-05)
Running time
123 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$42.6 million[1]

Secretly, Greatly (Korean: 은밀하게 위대하게; RR: Eunmilhage widaehage) is a 2013 South Korean action comedy-drama film starring Kim Soo-hyun, Park Ki-woong, and Lee Hyun-woo, who play North Korean spies who infiltrate South Korea as a village idiot, a rock musician, and a high school student, respectively. They assimilate to small-town life while awaiting their orders, until one day, due to a sudden power shift in the North, their mission turns out to be an order to commit suicide.[2][3][4][5]

The film is based on the 2010 spy webtoon series Covertness by Hun.[6][7] Upon its release on 5 June 2013, the film broke several box office records in South Korea: the highest single-day opening for a domestic film, most tickets sold in one day for a domestic film, the biggest opening weekend, the highest-grossing webtoon-based film, and the fastest movie to reach the million, two million, three million, and four million marks in audience number. Movie pundits attribute its success to a large teen audience turnout.[8][9]

Synopsis

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A group of spies called the 5446 Corps were trained by North Korean elite special forces since their youth, ostensibly towards the lofty goal of unifying Korea. They are ambitiously dispatched to South Korea, where each assumes a disguise. The story protagonists are three men who masquerade as a village idiot, an aspiring rock musician, and a high school student. As time passes without further orders from the North, the three spies gradually get used to life as ordinary members of a small neighborhood until one day, their mundane lives are turned upside down when a "secret and great" mission is suddenly assigned to them. Due to the events of the 2002 Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, South Korea demands the names, location, and rank of 30 North Korean spies active in the South, promising financial aid to the North on the condition that Pyongyang turns in their spies. To prevent the 5446 Corps from falling into enemy hands, the North Korean government orders them to take their own lives. Meanwhile, their North Korean army instructor, Kim Tae-won, crosses the border to eliminate those who refuse to obey.[10][11][12][13][14]

Cast

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Principal

[edit]
North Korean top agent who beat out 20,000 other competitors and has an uncanny ability to read people; disguised as a village idiot.[15][16]
Son of the high-ranking North Korean official Rhee Moo-Hyuk, he is almost as skilled as Ryu-hwan; disguised as an aspiring rock musician.
The youngest secret agent in North Korean history; disguised as a high school student.

Supporting

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  • Son Hyun-joo – Colonel Kim Tae-won, 5446 Corps training chief[17]
  • Park Hye-sook – Jeon Soon-im, "Market granny"
  • Kim Sung-kyun – Seo Soo-hyuk, NIS team leader
  • Go Chang-seok – 2nd Lieutenant Seo Sang-gu / Professor Seo Young-guk
  • Jang Gwang – Go Hwi-sun, "Old man Go"
  • Shin Jung-geun – Mr. Park, the barber
  • Hong Kyung-in – Jo Doo-seok, Soon-im's son
  • Lee Chae-young – Heo Jeom-ran, nicknamed "Ran"[18]
  • Park Eun-bin – Yoon Yoo-ran
  • Choi Woo-shik – Yoon Yoo-joo, Yoo-ran's younger brother
  • Joo Hyun – Rhee Moo-hyuk, 5446 Corps founder and Hae-rang's father
  • Goo Seung-hyun – Hwang Chi-woong
  • Jo Yong-jin – Hwang Se-woong, Chi-woong's younger brother
  • Lee Yeon-kyung – Chi-woong and Se-woong's mother
  • Kim Young-jin – Kim Hee-kwan, former MPAF head
  • Uhm Tae-goo – Hwang Jae-oh
  • Moon Won-joo – Choi Wan-woo
  • Kim Beop-rae – NIS director
  • Lee Min – department head
  • Yoon Won-seok – Deong-chi
  • Park Jeong-gi – strike force team leader
  • Lee Jae-woo – North Korea military officer
  • Go In-beom – Choi Jin-tak, NIS chief
  • Lee Bo-hyeon – NIS agent
  • Yook Se-jin – NIS agent
  • Kang Eun-tak – NIS agent
  • Park Jang-shik – NIS agent
  • Won Hyeon-jun – NIS agent
  • Heo Seok – NIS agent
  • Son Jun-young – young Ryu-hwan
  • Hong Tae-ui – young Hae-rang
  • Sung Yu-bin – young Hae-jin
  • Kim Do-gyun – audition judge

Reception

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With 498,282 tickets sold on the day of its release, Secretly, Greatly recorded the highest single-day opening to date (by a domestic film) in South Korea, surpassing the record previously held by The Host, which opened with about 450,000 tickets sold in 2006.[19][20][21] Within 36 hours after its release, the film drew 1,011,025 viewers, becoming the fastest movie to reach the million mark in audience number in the nation.[22][23] For its second day (which coincided with Korea's Memorial Day holiday), it recorded the largest admission total for a single day (by a domestic film), with 919,035 viewers.[24] 72 hours after its release, the number of tickets sold for Secretly, Greatly crossed the two million mark, the fastest film to ever do so.[25] On its fifth day, total ticket sales broke the three million mark, as the fastest record of all time.[8][26][27] The film recorded the biggest opening weekend, with a total of 3,491,294 viewers, beating Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which opened with 3,356,316 viewers in 2011.[28][29] It also became the highest-grossing webtoon-based movie in the nation, surpassing the 2010 film Moss, which sold 3,408,144 tickets.[30] On its eighth day, Secretly, Greatly became the fastest movie to reach the four million mark in audience number, tied with The Host, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Thieves, and Iron Man 3.[31][32] By the twelfth day, it drew five million viewers.[33] In 19 days, it became the fourth highest-grossing film of 2013 in the nation, behind Miracle in Cell No. 7 (12.32 million), Iron Man 3 (8.99 million), and The Berlin File (7.16 million), garnering over 6.96 million in audience numbers.[34]

International release

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The film was released in multiple territories across Asia and North America.

In North America, it was the centerpiece presentation of the 12th New York Asian Film Festival, held on 11 July 2013.[35] It subsequently opened in New York City and Los Angeles, before screening in 10–15 US other cities.[35] The 17th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada, showed the film in mid-July, and Secretly, Greatly was officially released in the rest of the country later that month.[35]

In Asia, the film was first screened in Singapore and Taiwan in July, before rolling out in Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand.[35] The film was also shown at the 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival and won the NH Nonghyup Citizen's Choice Award.[36]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2013 20s Movie Star – Male Kim Soo-hyun Nominated
Men's Fantasia Award[37] Won
NH Nonghyup Citizen's Choice Award Secretly, Greatly Won
Best New Actor Kim Soo-hyun Won
Best Supporting Actress Park Hye-sook Nominated
Best New Actor Lee Hyun-woo Nominated
Nominated
Best New Actor Kim Soo-hyun Nominated
2014 Best New Actor (Film) Won
Most Popular Actor (Film) Won
Best Young Actor Lee Hyun-woo Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Secretly, Greatly". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Ji, Yong-jin (18 January 2013). "Thrilling Mix of Comedy and Tragedy in Secretly Greatly". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Ji, Yong-jin (5 April 2013). "Comic action drama about two Koreas creates curiosity Secretly Greatly". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Jin, Eun-soo (17 April 2013). "Actor Kim Soo-hyun returns to screen as a goofy N.K. spy". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Jang, Sung-ran (24 May 2013). "Secretly Greatly's Hidden Story: Greatness of Mise-en-scene Expressed on Screen". Korean Cinema Today. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Lee, Hwa-jung (4 December 2012). 끝까지 봐야만 알 수 있는 세계. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (6 May 2013). "Heartthrobs jazz up North Korean spy story". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Secretly Greatly Blazes Trail at Box Office by Tapping Teen Audience". The Chosun Ilbo. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Yun, Suh-young (10 June 2013). "Secretly success shows teen power at box office". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Park, Eun-jee (21 September 2012). "The Spy, Covertness offer different takes on espionage". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  11. ↑ Suk, Monica (28 September 2012). "Kim Soo-hyun's Film Adaptation of Covertness Finalizes Cast to Begin Production". 10Asia. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  12. ↑ An, So-hyoun (26 March 2013). "Kim Soo Hyun's Be Covert, Be Great Finishes Filming". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Secretly Greatly (2013)". The Chosun Ilbo. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Now Showing". The Korea Times. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Hong, Lucia (30 April 2012). "Kim Soo-hyun lands role of North Korean yeah spy in new movie". 10Asia. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  16. ↑ An, So-hyoun (29 April 2013). "Kim Soo Hyun Poses Like a Fool in Main Poster for Be Covert, Be Great". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Lee, Hye-ji (18 September 2012). "The Chaser Star Eyes Role in Kim Soo-hyun's New Movie". 10Asia. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  18. ↑ named Heo Ih-ran in the webtoon
  19. ↑ Lee, So-dam (6 June 2013). '은밀하게 위대하게' 첫날 49만명...흥행역사 새로 썼다. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Lee, Sun-min (7 June 2013). "Secretly Greatly is off to a good start". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 7 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ↑ Frater, Patrick (10 June 2013). "Secretly begins Greatly". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  22. ↑ '은밀하게 위대하게' 개봉 36시간 만에 관객 100만 돌파. The Women's News (in Korean). 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  23. ↑ Kang, Jung-yeon (7 June 2013). "Kim Soo-hyun's Secretly Greatly Makes Record Debut". 10Asia. Retrieved 7 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. ↑ Conran, Pierce (7 June 2013). "Secretly Greatly Sets Biggest Debut for Korean Film". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  25. ↑ Jo, Ji-yeong (8 June 2013). '은밀하게 위대하게' 개봉 72시간 만에 '200만명' 돌파. TV Report (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  26. ↑ '은밀하게 위대하게' 300만 돌파... 김수현 팬미팅 현장 공개. WowTV (in Korean). 9 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  27. ↑ "Korean film about N.K. spies tops 3 million in attendance". The Korea Times. 9 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  28. ↑ Hwang, Seong-woon (10 June 2013). 박스줌인: 〈은밀하게 위대하게〉, 얼마나 더 '위대한' 흥행이 이어질까. 10Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  29. ↑ Lee, Eun-ah (10 June 2013). "Secretly Greatly Leaps to Top of Korea's Box Office". 10Asia. Retrieved 10 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  30. ↑ Kim, Ga-yeon (10 June 2013). '은위대', '이끼' 넘고 웹툰원작 영화 최고 흥행 기록. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  31. ↑ Lee, So-dam (13 June 2013). '은밀하게 위대하게' 8일만에 400만 돌파...최단기간 타이. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Record-setting Secretly Greatly Sells 4-Million Tickets in 8 Days". The Chosun Ilbo. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  33. ↑ Kim, Ye-na (16 June 2013). 은밀하게 위대하게 500만 관객 돌파, 개봉 12일 만..."1천만 코앞". Kyeonggi Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  34. ↑ Lee, So-dam (23 June 2013). '은밀하게 위대하게' 600만 돌파, 2013 흥행 TOP4 등극. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Conran, Pierce (5 July 2013). "Secretly Greatly Invades Asia and North America". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  36. ↑ Conran, Pierce (27 July 2013). "10 Days of Fantastic Films at PiFan". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  37. ↑ Conran, Pierce (19 July 2013). "PiFan Opens Its Doors for 10 Days of Fantastic Film". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
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