Netflix Martial Arts Officer (Officer Black Belt)

One-liner Review

I thought the term 'Martial Arts Officer' was made up by the film director, but it turns out to be a real job. Director Kim Joo-hwan, who produced this film, said he had known about this profession for a long time.

Actual Job Duties of a Martial Arts Officer

• Analyze the movement path and verify the location of electronic monitoring subjects (wearing electronic ankle bracelets) with probation officers from the Ministry of Justice.
• Assist in patrol activities in restricted areas, etc.
• Always be on standby for dispatch and dispatch to the scene when an alarm is triggered.
• Assist in apprehending offenders who have damaged electronic devices or are missing.
• Provide support for tasks in case of emergencies, etc.

Information about the film 'Martial Arts Officer (Officer Black Belt)'

Rating: 15 and older

Genre: Action

Director: Kim Joo-hwan

Starring: Kim Woo-bin, Kim Sung-kyun, etc.

Production Country: South Korea

Running Time: 109 minutes

Available on: Netflix

Synopsis

The Netflix film 'Martial Arts Officer (Officer Black Belt)'is an action thriller depicting the events that unfold when 'Lee Jeong-do,' a protagonist tasked with a special mission to prevent crime using his martial arts skills and intuition, confronts criminals. The story begins when Lee Jeong-do, who has a combined 9th-dan in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo, accidentally takes on the role of a 'Martial Arts Officer' who monitors offenders wearing electronic ankle bracelets. While dealing with crime, this film delivers a thrilling sense of tension to viewers through dynamic action based on martial arts skills.

Review

It's immersive from beginning to end. The protagonist, 'Lee Jeong-do,' is an ordinary-looking young man who is quite skilled in martial arts. The protagonist, who accidentally becomes a Martial Arts Officer. It has a lot of humorous elements, and the action is initially refreshing and enjoyable. However, there was something unfortunate. The fact that the sentence for child sex offenders felt too short!

So I looked up some information online and found that while punishments for child sex offenders are being strengthened, sentences for sexual violence crimes are actually decreasing.

Criminal Act of the Republic of Korea

Act on the Protection of Children and Adolescents from Sexual Abuse

Article 7 (Rape and Forcible Indecency against Children and Adolescents)

Anyone who rapes a child or adolescent by violence or threat shall be punished by life imprisonment or not less than 5 yearsof imprisonment.

According to the results of an analysis of the trends and status of child and adolescent sexual offenses released by the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on March 23, 2023, the average sentence for those convicted in 2021 was 60.8 months (5 years and 24 days). This is a decrease from 65.5 months (5 years, 5 months, and 15 days) in 2020. 5 years and 24 days is very close to the minimum of 5 years or more.

In the United States, Jessica's Law mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years for sex crimes against children under 12, and offenders must wear a tracking device for life after release. Considering this, it seems that the legal sentences in Korea are too short and that punishments for crimes should be strengthened... I feel that Korea's sentences are too lenient.

Throughout the movie, I felt a sense of regret and frustration over Korea's short sentences. I hope that more films like this will create a social consensus that will lead to legal reforms in Korea.