HUMINT, Ryoo Seung-wan's Espionage Masterpiece Filmed in Latvia
Released on February 11, 2026, HUMINT is director Ryoo Seung-wan's 14th feature film and a spiritual companion to his 2013 espionage thriller The Berlin File. Produced with a budget of approximately $16 million, the film stars Zo In-sung, Park Jung-min, Park Hae-joon, and Shin Se-kyung in a story of clashing intelligence agents from South and North Korea.
The plot follows NIS (National Intelligence Service) black ops agent Jo (Zo In-sung), who tracks an international crime ring from Southeast Asia to Vladivostok. There, he recruits North Korean restaurant worker Chae Sun-hwa (Shin Se-kyung) as his HUMINT (Human Intelligence) asset, while North Korean security agent Park Geon (Park Jung-min) investigates mysterious disappearances near the border. What unfolds is a razor-sharp game of espionage where no one can be trusted.
Two months after its theatrical premiere, HUMINT was released globally on Netflix on April 1, 2026, introducing Ryoo Seung-wan's visceral action style to international audiences. The film earned praise for its grounded spy thriller approach, combining Ryoo's signature hard-hitting action choreography with a layered intelligence narrative.
Behind the Scenes
The most remarkable production story behind HUMINT is the decision to film almost entirely in Riga, Latvia instead of the film's actual setting of Vladivostok, Russia. The Russia-Ukraine war made it impossible to transfer funds or transport equipment into Russia, forcing the production team to search across Europe for a suitable stand-in city.
Riga was chosen for its preserved Art Nouveau architecture and medieval old town, which share a surprising visual similarity with Vladivostok's historic districts. Both cities feature a blend of European and Soviet-era architecture that gave the production team authentic urban textures to work with. Principal photography in Latvia ran for approximately three months from December 2024 to March 2025, with the cast and crew living together in Riga throughout the shoot.
Zo In-sung revealed he visited the actual Korean National Intelligence Service for firearms training before production began. The harsh Latvian winter, with temperatures regularly dropping below minus 5 degrees Celsius, added genuine physical intensity to the outdoor action sequences. Park Jung-min later reflected on the Latvia shoot, saying "I don't think I'll ever have an experience like this again."
In a landmark moment for Korean cinema, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul hosted the first-ever solo exhibition dedicated to a single Korean film from January 12 to 25, 2026. The exhibition featured on-set props, costumes, unreleased behind-the-scenes footage, and photographs personally taken by actor Park Jung-min, creating an immersive experience that drew thousands of film fans.
Travel Guide to Filming Locations
Riga Route (Full Day): Freedom Monument Square → Riga Old Town → Riga Central Market
- Riga Old Town (Vecriga): From Riga International Airport (RIX), take a taxi (15 min, ~15 EUR) or bus 22 to Riga Central Station (30 min) then walk 10 minutes. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town is freely walkable and is where most of the film's Vladivostok street scenes were shot. Climb St. Peter's Church observation deck (72m high, ~9 EUR admission) for panoramic Old Town views.
- Riga Central Market: 10-minute walk from Old Town, just south of the Central Station. One of Europe's largest markets, housed in five converted WWI Zeppelin hangars with over 1,200 vendors. Open Tuesday-Sunday 07:00-18:00 (some pavilions closed Mondays). The spy rendezvous scenes were filmed in the main food halls.
- Freedom Monument Square: 5-minute walk from Old Town. The 42-meter monument stands at the center of a wide public square surrounded by parkland, where the film's chase sequences were shot.
- Best Time to Visit: Riga's summer (June-August) offers long daylight hours and mild temperatures (18-22C), ideal for sightseeing. For the film's winter atmosphere, visit December-February (average minus 5C). Riga's famous Christmas Market (late November-early January) adds festive charm to the medieval Old Town.
Seoul:
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP): Directly connected to Exit 1, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (subway Lines 2, 4, 5). While the HUMINT exhibition has concluded, the DDP itself is an architectural landmark designed by Zaha Hadid. The building's futuristic curves are most stunning when illuminated after 7 PM. The surrounding Gwangjang Market (5-minute walk) is one of Seoul's oldest and most famous food markets.
Fan Pilgrimage
After HUMINT's global Netflix release, Riga, Latvia emerged as an unexpected new pilgrimage destination for Korean film fans. A city previously under the radar for Korean tourists, Riga gained sudden visibility as "the city where HUMINT was filmed," prompting the Riga tourism board to enhance Korean-language visitor materials.
On social media, fans share photos under #HUMINTRiga, #휴민트촬영지, and #RigaOldTown hashtags, with the Zeppelin hangar interiors of the Central Market being the most popular spot for recreating the film's spy rendezvous scenes. The medieval alleys of Old Town have become Instagram favorites, with fans matching their photos to specific film frames.
The DDP exhibition during its two-week run drew substantial crowds and became a talking point in Korean film circles. Park Jung-min's personal behind-the-scenes photographs were the exhibition's most discussed feature, and the event's historic status as "the first DDP solo exhibition for a Korean film" cemented HUMINT's cultural significance beyond its box office performance.
The film has also sparked broader interest in Baltic tourism among Korean travelers. Tour operators have begun offering "HUMINT Riga" packages that combine Old Town walking tours with visits to the Central Market and other filming locations, bundled with flights via Helsinki or Warsaw.
Nearby Food and Attractions
Riga: At the Central Market, sample Latvian specialties including Rupjmaize (dark rye bread), smoked fish (particularly smoked sprats, a Latvian delicacy), and piroshki (fried dough pockets). In the Old Town, Black Magic Bar is Riga's most famous cocktail destination, known for drinks made with Riga Black Balsam, a traditional herbal liqueur dating to 1752. For a day trip, Jūrmala (30 min by car or train from Riga) is a charming Baltic seaside resort town with a long sandy beach. Architecture enthusiasts should not miss the Art Nouveau district on Alberta iela, home to one of Europe's densest collections of early 20th-century Art Nouveau facades.
Seoul, DDP Area: Within a 5-minute walk from DDP, Gwangjang Market is Seoul's premier street food destination, famous for bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), mayak gimbap (addictive rice rolls), and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare). Visit DDP after 7 PM to see Zaha Hadid's building at its most photogenic, lit up against the night sky. The nearby Dongdaemun Fashion Town offers late-night shopping (many stores open until 5 AM), and the Igansumun Exhibition Hall features preserved Joseon Dynasty watergate ruins discovered during the DDP's construction.
