Netflix's 'Good News' Merges Reality and Imagination in a Hijacking Thriller

The Film "Good News" and Its Historical Roots

The Netflix film "Good News," directed by Byun Sung-hyun, has captured the attention of viewers, who have hailed it as "the best live-action film on Netflix this year." This recognition has sparked renewed interest in the 1970 Yodogo Hijacking Incident, which inspired the movie. Understanding how much of the film is based on real events provides insight into its compelling narrative.

A Blend of Reality and Artistic License

While the film features theatrical characters who directly address the audience and exaggerated gestures, the overall plot closely mirrors historical facts. The Japanese Red Army Faction hijackers took a Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka, redirected it to Pyongyang, and unexpectedly landed at Seoul’s Gimpo Airport. After negotiations with the South Korean and Japanese governments, they released the passengers and proceeded to Pyongyang—this major narrative arc aligns with actual events.

Even seemingly fictional details are grounded in reality. The hijackers’ declaration to “make North Korea a military base for communist revolution,” the Japanese Self-Defense Forces’ “double parking” of fighter jets at Fukuoka Airport to block takeoff, and the Japanese government's provision of a poorly drawn map from a middle school textbook—all occurred in real life.

Real-Life Details in the Film

The film’s depiction of Gimpo Airport control tower intercepting communications to lure the plane to Seoul instead of Pyongyang matches the testimony of then-air traffic controller Chae Hee-seok (the model for Lieutenant Seo Go-myeong in the film). Details such as South Korea’s rushed disguise of Gimpo as Pyongyang, the hijackers’ suspicion upon spotting a Black U.S. soldier through the window, a Japanese transport ministry official being taken hostage instead of passengers, and the hijackers’ fake guns and bombs—all match the actual incident.

Much of the film’s entertainment value stems from these factual elements. The protagonist “Someone” (played by Sul Kyung-gu) remarks in the film, “Adding a bit of creativity to what happened is the plan,” reflecting how the movie itself was crafted.

Fictional Characters and Their Inspirations

Many characters in the film are fictional. “Someone,” operating behind the scenes, is a fabricated figure. The KCIA director (Ryoo Seung-bum) is portrayed as a cunning, Chungcheong-do-accented rogue, unlike the real director Kim Gye-won, a stern, Gyeongbuk Yeongju native. The Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff (Park Young-gyu), depicted as a sinister schemer, was based on Kim Jeong-ryeom, a loyal bureaucrat.

The president (Kim Jong-su) and first lady (Jeon Do-yeon) are widely seen as evoking former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife. The first lady’s airport visit also diverges from reality. Additionally, the film portrays the hijackers’ second-in-command as female, though no women were among the actual hijackers.

Historical Inaccuracies and Anachronisms

While the hijackers’ reference to “Tomorrow’s Joe,” a Japanese boxing manga hero, is factual, the film includes a scene where they discuss the manga’s final episode—a historical inaccuracy. The manga ran in “Shonen Magazine” from 1968 to 1973, and the 1970 setting of the film makes this discussion anachronistic. The manga was first introduced to South Korea in 1973 as a pirated version titled “Challenger Hurricane” in a youth magazine, making Lieutenant Seo Go-myeong’s familiarity with it in the film implausible.

Conclusion

The film "Good News" masterfully blends historical events with creative storytelling, offering audiences a unique perspective on the Yodogo Hijacking Incident. While some elements are fictionalized or dramatized, the core events remain rooted in real history, providing a rich tapestry of fact and fiction that captivates viewers.