Phantom, The Submarine

A Korean submariner goes nuts and tries to nuke Japan in Phantom, the Submarine, a slow-burning drama with some late-on action that's more a meditation on patriotism and the country's pride than a f/x-driven item. Pic was a moderate success locally this summer, grossing some $1.8 million in Seoul alone. Central character is Lee Chan-suk (Cheong Wu-seong), who's court-martialed and shot for killing a crazed superior officer, but wakes up to find himself in a top-secret naval base where he's drafted for life aboard Korea's first nuclear sub, "Phantom". Now known only as 431, he sets sail under the command of a grizzled captain (Yun Ju-sang) to investigate reports that the Japanese are clandestinely developing nuclear capability in Okinawa. En route, the second-in-command, 202 (Choe Min-su), kills the captain, takes over the sub and sets out to launch a nuclear attack against the Nipponese. For that, however, he needs the launch key, which the captain entrusted to 431 prior to his death - and 431 has gone missing somewhere in the giant sub. Though 202 is clearly shown as a lunatic, the reason for his actions is portrayed with some sympathy - as a desperate attempt to restore Korea's self-esteem after a century of colonization (by the Japanese) and exploitation (by the U.S.).