Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. The movie is set in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. The story begins with a shooting incident that takes place on the North Korean side of the DMZ. Two North Korean soldiers are killed, and a South Korean soldier, Sergeant Lee Soo-hyeok (played by Lee Byung-hun), is found with a gun and is suspected of being the killer.
A team of investigators from Switzerland and Sweden is called in to investigate the incident. Led by Major Sophie E. Jean (played by Lee Young-ae), the team interviews the surviving soldiers from both sides to try to piece together what happened. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that there is more to the incident than meets the eye.
Through a series of flashbacks, the movie tells the story of how Sergeant Lee became friends with two North Korean soldiers, Private Pang Se-jong (played by Song Kang-ho) and Private Oh Kyeong-pil (played by Shin Ha-kyun). The three soldiers became close friends through their shared love of music and football, despite the fact that they were technically enemies.
As the investigation continues, it is revealed that the real killer was someone else entirely, and Sergeant Lee is exonerated. However, the tragic events that led up to the shooting are ultimately revealed, and the movie ends on a somber note.
Joint Security Area was a critical and commercial success in South Korea and won several awards, including the Best Picture award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards in 2000. It was also well received internationally and is considered one of the best films to come out of South Korea.