Review: Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (2022) dir. Na Hyun

The city of Shenyang in Northeast China sits on the border of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea—and as the largest city in the region bordering the world’s most elusive country, it serves as the mingling and work hub for the world’s spies. At least, that’s the catalyzing premise for Na Hyun’s Yaksha: Ruthless Operations.

After the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) discovers their Shenyang office, fronted as a travel agency, is filing false reports, they dispatch special investigator Han Ji-hoon (Park Hae-soo). The leader of the Black Team spies at Shenyang, Jee Kang-in (Sol Kyung-gu)’s abrasive style earned him the nickname “Yaksha.” Yeom Jeong-won (Jin Kyung), the director of the NIS, explains the nickname to Park before dispatching him in shifty ghost-like terminology, referring to mischievous and potentially evil Buddhist spirits. Her message is clear: he is a shady character.

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