‘Good News’ turns 1970 Yodo hijacking into sharp satire, earning critical praise

What if Pyongyang Airport were actually Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport in disguise — complete with North Korean flags, soldiers in uniform, and flower-bearing greeters? That’s the bold premise behind “Good News,” director Byun Sung-hyun’s latest Netflix film, which has drawn praise for its sharp satire and inventive storytelling. The story follows a plan to deceive nine members of Japan’s far-left Red Army Faction, who hijack a Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo to Pyongyang, into landing instead at Gimpo International Airport. As the plane descends under the illusion of arriving in Pyongyang, the hijackers soon sense something is off. Inspired by the real-life Yodo hijacking incident that took place in March 1970 between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Gimpo International Airport, “Good News,” released on Oct. 17, reimagines the event through Byun’s distinct lens. The director, known for “The Merciless,” “Kingmaker,” and “Kill Bok Soon,” blends political tension and dark humor into a uniquely satirical thriller. “The idea started from wanting to createWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times