REVIEW: ‘Seoul Vibe’ Brings Fast Cars in an 80s Time Capsule

I love car movies. I love movies with car chases. I love people delivering things that are totally illegal and mishaps ensuing. And that’s pretty much Seoul Vibe (Seoul Daejakjeon), a time capsule of the 1990s that embraces an obsession with an American aesthetic and the myth of the American Dream. Directed by Hyun-Sung Moon and written by Sua Shin, Seoul Vibe stars Yoo Ah-in, Go Kyung-Pyo, Kim Seong-gyoon, Moon So-ri, Park Ju-hyun, Kyoo-hyung Lee, Jeong Woong-in, and Seong-wu Ong.

A 1988 time capsule, Seoul Vibe focuses on the Sanggye-dong Supreme Team, a group of car enthusiasts (read street racers) who are more than a little obsessed with obtaining the American Dream—or at least obtaining every single piece of the American aesthetic they can. With the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics as their backdrop, the team find themselves on the receiving end of an offer they can’t refuse, get involved in a VIP slush fund, report back to the Prosecutor, and take Kang In-seok, the woman who runs Seoul’s underbelly down. One problem: they’re not exactly the most cunning.

Dong-wook is (Yoo Ah-in) is the film’s main character and team’s top drifter, John (Ko Kyung-pyo) is the DJ turned S.P.Y., Bok-nam (Lee Kyoo-hyung) is the man behind the scenes—essentially their human navigation system, Yoon Hee (Park Ju-hyun) is Dong-wook’s sister and master of disguise who chooses two-wheels instead of four like the rest of her team, and finally there is Joon-gi (Ong Seong-wu), the MacGyver of Sanggye-dong. A family through and through, their entrance into the investigation comes with a big reward, have every crime they’ve committed expunged and their visa’s granted to head to Los Angeles. This cast of characters offers up a great dynamic that feels authentic in every day. From the bickering to the trust, each and every relationship on display in Seoul Vibe is done with careful intention.

At the start of the film, the obsession with American brands, cars, and music is cringey, to say the least. More specifically, the obsession with Black culture in the United States. That said, it all feels intentional, characterizing Sanggye-dong as a group continually looking for something more than their hometowns. Starting in Saudi Arabia, the film shows Sanggye-dong coming back to Korea and seeing the negative effects of the Seoul Olympics preparation. Beautification of the city means demolishing anything that wasn’t Seoul-proper, leaving communities in dire straights. All of this makes the pursuit of a life outside of Korea understandable.

However, while Seoul Vibe manages to capture a look outward to a different country, it also manages to show the characters undergo a Seoul-ification of their own vibes. With a title connected to the name of the mix-tape we see move from American to Korean music, music, style, and car choice map the Sanggye-dong’s growth and journey to balance their admiration of the US and pride in their own culture.

While the cultural story of Seoul Vibes is a huge one, the film also manages to bridge high-speed chases with Sanggye-dong working as special delivery drivers for Kang In-seok and her gang, heists when the time comes, and stunts that compete with the Fast & Furious Franchise. On top of the action and all of the gangsters and explosions and car wrecks, Seoul Vibes’ villain is intimidating and unrelenting when cornered.

Kang In-seok is a woman in charge and never once feels remorse. Instead, she commands the men around her and puts them in their place when they forget it. Embracing violence while fully understanding how the men around her see her, Moon So-ri’s performance is a powerful one. While the Sanggye-dong Supreme Team is a charismatic family that offers joy and comfort, Kang is a specter of control that reaches every aspect. Able to maintain her composure even when she’s questioned, it’s when she lashes out that it’s clear how intimidating this small woman can be.

Seoul Vibes is vibrant, funny, action-packed, and just a good watch all around. Sure some of the effects work and cringe are small stumbles, but the finished project is well worth hitting play on.

Seoul Vibes is available exclusively on Netflix now.