[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" Episode 2

Berlin (played by Park Hae-soo) is the more obvious headliner for "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" than Tokyo, since he's both the on-the-ground leader for the money heisting squad and is also played by the more recognizable actor. But I can see why "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" waited until the second episode to give exposition to his backstory. It somehow contains even cruder and more ludicrous North Korean stereotypes than Tokyo's does.

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Basically, Berlin's mother attempted to take him across the border as a child, was killed for her efforts, and then Berlin was locked up in a North Korean prison. Normally I would write North Korean prison camp, but it really does just look indistinguishable from any other random prison, mostly since it's indoors, and Berlin was kept mostly in solitary confinement. This apparently didn't stop him from leading a revolt and escaping to freedom, somehow.

The exact reasoning behind why Netflix approved "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" becomes clearer with each episode. They saw that "Crash Land On You" became popular for its North Korean commentary, and decided to do more of that. The problem is that "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" has much more in common with the goofiness of "Steel Rain" than it does the down-to-earth quality of "Crash Landing on You" as its North Korea commentary is absurd caricature.

I count "Squid Game" as another influence. While that more outrageous drama received plaudits for its portrayal of a North Korean character, she was nowhere near as ludicrously drawn as a tragic figure. It also helped that "Squid Game" felt no need to make a deeper commentary on her character than just to say that life as a defector in South Korea sucks. For a show premised around a death game, that's all we really needed to know.

To be fair, "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" does have more going on than just the politics. But that stuff manages to be even dumber somehow. The Professor is asking weirdly creepy questions to Negotiator Seon about her sex life under the guise of hostage negotiation. We only know that Manager Jo (played by Park Myung-hoon) is a bad guy because he's a philandering creep, when logically he should be the hero in this hostage situation. "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" can't even claim to be portraying ambiguous characters. The situations are too contrived and stupid for that.

Review by William Schwartz

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"Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" is directed by Kim Hong-seon-I, written by Choi Sung-joon-I, Kim Hwan-chae, Ryoo Yong-jae, and features Yoo Ji-tae, Kim Yunjin, Park Hae-soo, Jeon Jong-seo, Lee Won-jong, Park Myung-hoon. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2022/06/24~Now airing, Fri on Netflix.