Native Title	굿뉴스
Also Know as	Gut Nuiuseu, Gunnyuseu, 굿늬우스
Director	Byun Sung-Hyun
Writer	Byun Seong-Hyeon, Lee Jin-Seong
Distributor	Netflix
Air Time	Friday
Content Rating	15+ - Teens 15 or older
Runtime	136 minutes
Genre	Crime, Action, Thriller, Black Comedy, Period, Disaster
Language	Korean
Country	South Korea
Release Date	2025-10-17

"Good News" is a razor-sharp disaster thriller laced with dark comedy, reimagining a real-life hijacking as a farcical tale of international absurdity and bureaucratic bravado. Directed by Byun Sung-hyun, this Netflix original transforms tense geopolitics into a genre-bending romp, starring Sul Kyung-gu in a shadowy lead role.

Overview

"Good News" (Korean: 굿뉴스) is a 2025 South Korean disaster thriller film co-written and directed by Byun Sung-hyun, known for The Merciless and Kill Boksoon. Produced by Star Platinum with cinematography by Cho Hyoung-rae, editing by Kim Sang-beom, and music by Kim Hong-jip and Lee Jin-hee, it runs for 136 minutes and is rated TV-MA for mature themes including violence and language. Inspired by the 1970 hijacking of Japan Airlines Flight 351 by the Japanese Red Army, the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 5, 2025, in the Special Presentations section, followed by a Gala Presentation at the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on September 18, 2025. It streams globally on Netflix starting October 17, 2025.

Plot Synopsis

In 1970, shortly after departing Tokyo's Haneda Airport for Fukuoka's Itazuke Airport, a Japan Airlines passenger plane is seized by nine members of the Japanese Red Army Faction, armed with guns and knives. Demanding to be flown to Pyongyang for political asylum, the hijackers' plan unravels due to the lack of diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea. As the crisis escalates, a multinational task force from Japan, South Korea, and the United States convenes in Seoul. Enter "Nobody," a enigmatic operative summoned to orchestrate a covert intervention. With input from intelligence agencies, the team deploys outlandish tactics: blocking runways during refueling, hijacking radio signals, and disguising Gimpo International Airport as Pyongyang to lure the plane to safety. Amid the frenzy, Korean Central Intelligence Agency head Park Sang-hyun issues desperate orders, while Air Force lieutenant Seo Go-myung grapples with the moral weight of the deception. What unfolds is a high-wire act of diplomacy, propaganda, and sheer improvisation, questioning the blurred line between heroism and farce in the face of potential catastrophe.

Cast & Characters

"Good News" features a powerhouse ensemble blending Korean and Japanese talents, delivering layered performances in this multinational crisis.

Main Cast

Sul Kyung-gu as "Nobody": The disheveled, shadowy fixer whose unconventional methods and piercing insight make him the operation's linchpin. Sul Kyung-gu described the role as "existing on the boundary between normal and abnormal," alien to those around him.
Hong Kyung as Seo Go-myung: The ambitious Air Force lieutenant thrust into negotiations, torn between resolve and inner conflict. Hong was drawn to the character's "unyielding ambition" and lack of purity.

Supporting Cast

Ryoo Seung-bum as Park Sang-hyun: The mustachioed KCIA chief commanding the mission with eccentric flair, approaching his role as "childlike innocence mixed with recklessness."
Takayuki Yamada as Shinichi: The Japanese Deputy Minister of Transportation scrambling to manage the fallout and protect passengers.
Show Kasamatsu as Denji: The steely leader of the hijackers, unwavering in his ideological zeal.
Includes Shiina Kippei as Captain Kubo, Kim Sung-oh as Co-pilot Maeda, Yamamoto Nairu as Asuka (hijacker deputy), and others like Kim Seung-o, enhancing the chaotic ensemble.

Reception

TIFF Premiere Acclaim

Following its TIFF premiere on September 5, 2025, "Good News" has earned acclaim as a "riotously entertaining black comedy," blending suspense with satire.

High Praise from Critics

It has been called a "genre-mashing, tone-blending thriller-comedy," with praise for the "fantastic, multi-layered performances" and "nimble" script.

Strong Review

One review awarded it 4/5, lauding its exploration of "truth, propaganda, and international cooperation."

Mixed Feedback on Pacing

Some critics noted its "energetic and astutely paced" vibe but critiqued the length, while others hailed the "tense and hilarious" balance.

Fun Facts & Highlights

Real-Life Inspiration with a Twist

Loosely based on the 1970 Japan Airlines hijacking, the film amps up the absurdity with tactics like runway blockades, while the hijackers chant lines from the manga Ashita no Joe, nodding to 1960s counterculture.

Festival Double Debut

World premiered at TIFF's Special Presentations, followed by BIFF's Gala, showcasing its global appeal before Netflix's October 17 rollout.

Enigmatic "Nobody"

Sul Kyung-gu's character embodies the film's core question: "What is the truth?" His rumpled outsider vibe fuels speculation about his North Korean ties or spy past.

Multinational Chaos

Features Japanese stars like Takayuki Yamada amid Korean leads, mirroring the plot's diplomatic frenzy; filming recreated Gimpo as Pyongyang for authenticity.

Cast Insights

Hong Kyung highlighted Seo Go-myung's "fascinating" moral ambiguity, while Ryoo Seung-bum leaned into Park Sang-hyun's "eccentric" whimsy for comedic edge.

Genre Mash-Up

Blends thriller tension with Burn After Reading-style farce, earning nods as "one of the most stimulating films of the year" from Ruben Peralta Rigaud.

Final Thoughts

"Good News" masterfully turns a harrowing historical footnote into a whip-smart satire, where geopolitical blunders become uproarious triumphs. Byun Sung-hyun's direction, paired with Sul Kyung-gu's inscrutable lead and a crackling ensemble, delivers a film that's as thought-provoking as it is side-splitting – questioning propaganda's power while reveling in human folly. In 2025's thriller landscape, it's a breath of fresh, chaotic air, proving that sometimes, the best news is the unbelievable kind.