The Netflix movie Officer Black Belt might seem like it’s an action comedy about martial arts, like other films in the genre like Kung-Fu Panda or The Karate Kid, but it’s actually a crime thriller about police officers in Seoul which follows Police Officer Kim Sun Min and Martial Arts Officer Jung-do-ssi as they team up to take down dangerous criminals across the city. In the cast and character guide of Officer Black Belt, I am going to explore the skin of these two officers and a whole bunch of other folks with whom they came in contact throughout the film.
Spoilers Ahead
Jung-do-ssi
Played by Kim Woo Bin, Jung-do seemed like a fun and carefree guy who loved to hang out with his friends, play video games, practice judo, and deliver food around the neighborhood, whenever he got the time. For Jung-do, life was simple, and he enjoyed it without too much responsibility. But everything changed one night when he rescued Officer Cho from a criminal. That brave act caught the attention of the probation office in Seoul, and soon Jung-do found himself working as a martial arts officer there.
In the beginning, Jung-do was the kind of guy who got a thrill from using a taser on criminals trying to run or hide as it was an adrenaline rush, and he loved the excitement of chasing down bad guys. But over time, as he went after more criminals, he started to enjoy the challenge even more. What truly transformed Jung-do was his senior, Director Kim Sun-min, as he showed him that this job wasn’t just about the chase or the thrill—it was about changing lives and protecting people. Jung-do realized this firsthand when he saved his favorite hairdresser from a dangerous assaulter, and that moment hit him hard. From then on, Jung-do took his job seriously. One of the biggest challenges Jung-do faced was going after a notorious child molester, Kang Ki-jung. After being released from jail, Kang got right back to business. But, Jung-do went after him but ended up getting stabbed while Kang escaped. Still, Jung-do didn’t give up. With the help of his close friends, he finally tracked Kang down and captured him. Jung-do didn’t just want to be a cop anymore—he wanted to be a true protector, like a superhero for his community. What started as fun with tasers and showing off his martial arts skills turned into a mission to save lives for him.
Kim Sun-min
Director Kim Sun-min, played by Kim Sung Kyun, worked in the probation office and was in charge of monitoring criminals who were released from jail. He used to track their GPS locations through ankle tags. If the battery on the device was running low or the criminals tried to avoid the system, he and his team would step in to handle matters personally. His role was crucial in making sure that these offenders, who had committed serious crimes like assault or murder, didn’t go back to their old business. What stood out about Director Kim was his dedication and patience really.
Even with 12-hour shifts and a job that didn’t allow for a proper sleep schedule, Director Kim never complained or treated his work as a burden, and more than body power, he was the brains behind the operation. Kim’s passion for the job started when he was a child after he survived a near-fatal car accident when a group of police officers broke the car window and rescued him. From that moment, he knew he wanted to be like them. However, Kim had a physical condition that prevented one of his legs from growing properly, so he had to wear special shoes. This made it difficult for him to become a regular police officer who could chase down criminals. Instead, Kim found his calling as a probation officer to monitor dangerous offenders like sexual predators and murderers who were recently released from prison. He couldn’t fight them directly, so he needed someone strong to handle that side of things—a martial arts officer, and that’s when he hired Jung-do. Together, they became a team and arrested many criminals, but Kim’s approach wasn’t always harsh.
Some offenders were on the verge of harming themselves or others, and Director Kim made it his mission to help them understand the importance of their lives. He always encouraged them to prioritize their well-being and the safety of others because he knew that without this mindset, they would only continue to fail in life. During their mission to capture the notorious child molester, Kang Ki-jung, things got dangerous. Kim was severely attacked by Kang’s gang, and his neck was broken during the fight, but thankfully, his nerves were not damaged, and he recovered quickly. Throughout it all, Kim acted like a proud mentor, especially when he saw how much Jung-do had proved his worth, and Kim knew he’d made the right decision in hiring him. We’re sure that Director Kim and Jung-do have more battles ahead, and their teamwork will continue to make a difference in the city of Seoul.
Officer Cho
Kim Yool Ho played the role of Officer Cho Gyeong Sa, the very same officer that Jung-do saved at the beginning of the movie. As the story went on, we saw Cho fearlessly putting himself in danger to protect others by going after some of the most dangerous criminals. What really stood out was his courage, especially when he went after Kang Ki-jung, the notorious child molester, alongside Director Kim Sun-min. In that critical moment, Cho risked everything to protect his senior. When Kang’s men attacked them, Cho didn’t back down and fought bravely to save Director Kim, but the criminals were ruthless. They beat him so badly that Officer Cho became brain-dead. His heart couldn’t take it, and he tragically passed away from cardiac arrest. Officer Cho was young, full of potential, and dedicated to his job, so his death was a heartbreaking moment in the film, but this inspired Jung-do to fight back against these notorious criminals even more.
Lee Yang Ho
Son Sang Yeon played the role of Lee Yang Ho, who was a dangerous twenty-year-old young man who went to jail for assaulting a middle school girl. After serving his time, he was released but didn’t change his behavior. When the police called him to charge his ankle monitor, he ignored the warnings and, despite everything, assaulted another girl in his apartment. Thankfully, Jung-do and Officer Kim arrived just in time, and even though Lee Yang Ho tried to run away, Jung-do’s martial arts skills kicked in, and he managed to catch him. But that wasn’t the end of Lee Yang Ho’s story. Later, he got involved with Min Wook, played by Kim Yo Han, under whom he started making obscene videos. Lee Yang Ho tried to outsmart the police once again, but in the end, he was finally arrested. Jung-do and the team made sure he didn’t get away with his crimes.
Kang Ki-jung
Lee Joong Ok played the role of Kang Ki-jung, the notorious child molester who, even after serving four years in jail, went right back to his criminal ways. He really demonstrated that saying, “Once a criminal, always a criminal.” The police tried to get him to change, warning him to stop committing crimes, but Kang didn’t listen. He continued doing horrible things, and at one point, he even stabbed Jung-do and ran away while making obscene videos of a child. At the end, with the help of Jung Do-ssi, he was busted and captured and was reported, which was really a win for the police precinct. We hope he will this time be locked in jail for a long time.
