Hyun Bin Recruited by South Korean Intelligence Agency, Becomes Honorary Counterintelligence Agent

South Korea is taking an unusual step to counter global espionage threats. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has officially appointed top actor Hyun Bin as an honorary counterintelligence agent on Tuesday (7/4). This appointment is not merely symbolic. Hyun Bin will participate in public campaigns to raise societal awareness about the importance of counterintelligence, including supporting the promotion of national security policies. This initiative comes amid increasing threats of technology leaks and strategic industrial secrets to foreign parties. “Recently, cases threatening the nation’s survival, such as leaks of advanced technology and defence industry secrets, have become more frequent,” stated an NIS official. “We will meet public expectations through stricter counterintelligence activities.” Counterintelligence encompasses various efforts to thwart foreign intelligence operations that could harm national interests. This momentum is also bolstered by the revision of the Criminal Code in February, which expands the definition of espionage, no longer limited to enemy states but also encompassing other foreign countries. This revision provides a new legal basis for South Korea to address more complex global threats. On the other hand, the selection of Hyun Bin is considered strategic. The actor, who debuted in 2003, has significant influence domestically and internationally through popular works such as My Lovely Sam-soon, Secret Garden, and Crash Landing on You. Interestingly, Hyun Bin previously portrayed an NIS agent in the film The Point Men (2023), making his image even more relevant to his new role. Recently, he also appeared in the Disney+ original series Made in Korea (2025), scheduled for a second season this year. By partnering with a major public figure, the NIS appears to be changing its approach, from covert operations to broader public awareness campaigns, amid the escalating global intelligence war.