Escape (2024) is a South Korean action thriller directed by Lee Jong-pil, featuring Lee Je-hoon as Sergeant Lim Gyu-nam and Koo Kyo-hwan as Major Ri Hyun-sang. The narrative centers on Sergeant Gyu-nam, a decorated North Korean soldier stationed near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), who becomes disillusioned with his country’s regime and decides to defect to South Korea in pursuit of a better future. β
Gyu-nam meticulously plans his escape, but his intentions are inadvertently exposed when he intervenes to stop a fellow soldier, Kim Dong-hyuk, from deserting. This act brings him to the attention of Major Hyun-sang from the State Security Department, who, recognizing Gyu-nam from their shared past, elevates him to a position of trust within the military hierarchy. β
Despite this newfound status, Gyu-nam remains resolute in his desire for freedom. He eventually makes a daring escape with Dong-hyuk, leading to a relentless pursuit by Major Hyun-sang. During the chase, Dong-hyuk is fatally wounded, entrusting Gyu-nam with a family keepsake before his death. Gyu-nam’s journey culminates at the border, where, despite sustaining injuries inflicted by Hyun-sang, he successfully crosses into South Korea and is taken into custody by South Korean soldiers. β
The film concludes with Gyu-nam adapting to his new life in South Korea. A year later, he is seen pursuing business opportunities and fulfilling a promise to deliver Dong-hyuk’s necklace to his family, symbolizing his commitment to honoring his comrade’s memory and embracing the freedom he sought. β