iris series iris south korean espionage television drama series starring big bang aired october december episodes budget excess billion won million usd spin goddess war share record expensive korean dramas produced series critical commercial success average viewership addition ranking program consistently week debut series took home highest honors drama awards including winning recognition nominations lee named best screen couples plot revolves brothers recruited secret south korean black agency known pair recruit begins uncover evidence past irrelevant joining secret organization friends find tested forge new unlikely alliances journey takes home country hungary japan china find center international conspiracy success series led feature film spin sequel series plot brothers training south korean army scouted duo independently scouted beautiful agent didn realize fallen woman continued win love unaware scouted secretly captured subjected simulated torture test duo passed test worthy agents completing test introduced director explained secret organization tasked foreign threats protecting country interests operations including assassination threat south korean national security founding rule agency existence remained state secret including president entering pair learned undercover scout agent duo surprised somewhat hurt angered felt heart team celebration dinner confronted embraced passion maintained secret romantic relationship knowledge took opportunity secretly fly romantic winter escape saving life president seized opportunity reveal president gain support couple befriended young teen sight vacation cut short recalled life changing mission recovering head nuclear scientist catches extract learned romantic relationship pretended happy unfortunately killed iris agent secretly iris agent tricked having assassinate north korean minister successfully killed minister run agents young hunted escaped wounded escaped capture tried help betrayed manipulating silence escaped capture reunited couple agreed run away thought killed enemy car bomb crashed plane failure capture agent stripped title jailed survived ordeal rescued friend deceased parents revealed murdered refused accept death convinced dead warned war organization known iris force long existed create political turmoil profit country strife counter agency opposes willing help stranger escaped investigate intelligence later found lives gave final chance kill redemption failed captured gave mercy offered life completes quest vengeance believed eventually integrated family time falls love eventually way korea unfortunate lead family death defects black team revenge long manipulated working iris found resources track died activated video feed record final moments cell phone video video meant evidence clue continue mission clue led meet president private meeting finally chance explain story double agent sides stop nuclear plot iris happening time young discovered commanding officer coup iris start civil war control sides korea unified control teams black team charge south_korea trusted helped team infiltrate attack steal special equipment complete building actions wasn earn team trust team went ahead plans time finally reunited learned happened including actions time learned iris wasn time explain things agents confronts truth told forgive actions allowing iris act president head execute hostile takeover arrested conspiracy later president official announcement searched hidden time young successfully rooted iris agents north korean ranks arrested confessions reported duo iris targeted searching seoul realized notes found earlier corresponded particular bus route figured moving tour bus black teammates tried stop massive lead deaths saved day enemy forces killed president thanked efforts earned complete faith peace finally come took time took time bid farewell got presidential permission allow live love declined returned wanted retire agent quickly return young realized profile discovered iris personnel database wanted warn potential danger went island vacation left notice couldn find called seoul iris later confess met tried recruit iris explained helped raise like daughter didn want talk personal conflicts hunt found killed death clues left suggests iris hidden private golf club house attacked golf club house team arrest escaped finally meet demanded ask forgiveness couldn help laugh matter tempted kill arrested later iris agents attacked local mall hostages blackmail sides korean government release iris agents president announce political stand unite president hostages release appeal conscience iris agents conflicting commands forced team kill iris agents gun fight mortally wounded dying friends apologized died things process gone peace talks resumed summit president personally requested concurrently agents realized presumed dead iris agents mall crisis actually hostages true iris agents escaped summit kill delegates iris agents killed replaced security agents massacre unfortunately failed interference pretended iris agent confusion stop created mass panic iris agents stand security forces ultimately president forces survived assault saved day aftermath left normal life waited lighthouse driving meet propose drive head iris agent ray iris life death later classified sent black prison iris years regained strength world cast iris featured ensemble cast split characters north korean south korean descent series explores tension mentality sides conflict north south perspectives shown length plot focuses cast overcoming manipulation face international level occasionally attempting reconcile differences fight evil greater acknowledged making way scenarios stressed test soldier south korean special forces floated life little attention details possessing photographic memory athletic ability proficiency firearms little difficulty distinguishing member assuming operations frequently paired brother colleague team leader expert assisted second command recruiting directly admired beauty universally liked organization remains close fellow member friend grown alongside level headed responsible members found fierce competitions joining find competing affection accordance known park young seasoned supporter head north korean security team responsible escorting protecting heads state diplomatic missions encounters caught political hungary leaves park entire team mercy superiors resolve situation quickly favor despite females achieve status gained trust colleagues north korean security forces subordinate young ranking officer security outfit great admiration superior deep resentment south mysterious assassin working mysterious organization answers man known black apparent korean descent actual origins unknown english korean responsible eliminating political targets destroying sensitive information behest superiors supporting cast headed standing deputy director title man responsible recruiting named director comes goes change power presidency deputy director oversees organization motivations actions mysterious occasionally outright inconsistent general national interests existence organization kept secret enjoys state personal protection oversees organization acting chief director general supervisor runs daily operations fabricated understanding failures concerned personally dealing agent field assignments watches commands missions set domestically agents close personal ties floor supervisor head security resources exception viewed authority figure remains close friend colleague south line defense foreign threats houses technology unavailable sister intelligence agencies primary tech agents responsible ensuring field agents required missions meet expected conventions involved national intelligence given sense fashion general interests contemporary associates stands status korea sung remains instrumental success number operations scientific investigations section headed eccentric eldest general staff exhibits relationship agents including overarching plot series involving disputes inherent foreign relations north south primary staff featured prominently candidate wins election assumes office eventual president south_korea administration begins undertaking grand task talks north south witnessing grim reality struggle nations strong ambitions leads diplomatic north expected candidate early term president chief advisor head cabinet president feels trust information matter sensitive later series reliable president influence sabotage originating inside outside secretary president tends find odds head chief advisor rarely speaks mind freely appears apparent given wide range countries characters find story number recurring characters arise countries outside korea early series encounter young japanese family operates tourist traps nearby exhibits affection attempts find company possible later needs family help needs finds political web japan crosses paths min japanese woman country national intelligence agency charged investigating foreign threats find japanese soil production development based general concept film iris revealed production company attracted wide attention record budget star power director involved initially developing project television later directed written series began pre production backing korean broadcaster attempt spark bidding war potential april announced cast lead role lee television role year hiatus focus film roles including film joe filming time announcement lee salary highest history korean television dramas amounting million usd episode times greater korean industry salary inclusive overhead deal billion won million usd guarantees namesake drawing potential investors particularly japan opportunities overseas markets production company announced june member starring alongside lee assassin recurring antagonist series announced october known roles heaven cast female lead series like lee worked television years working film prior accepting role pre production continued iris drew increasing attention korea japan lee involvement cast head north korean security team lifelong friend respectively large budget notable talent project difficult production company secure directors willing series causing begin brief stir media attention shortly announced search series simultaneously announced south korean broadcaster later month february cast north korean agent filming promotion filmed scenes iris shot japan march popularity japan caused series production gain immediate country lee filming fans beginning thousands airport arrival pivotal moments series filmed soon experienced surge korean tourists going tours tailored followers crew went shoot japan weeks left country march unprecedented budget iris able pioneer korean television dramas particularly large scale action sequences filming actors responsible filming stunts action sequences including jumping meter tall dam prepare demanding physical requirements series members primary cast including underwent special training lend authenticity action break filming appeared cannes film festival support production press conference held later month entire finalized cast series following international shoot commence june hungary shot filming lasted month cast crew returned korea late july announced iris air premiere october filming continued year october production press conference held korean world media week prior series premiere filming continue premiere series november filming crew took section plaza seoul hours film lengthy scenes lanes plaza center performing arts closed traffic filming marks time granted permission blocked traffic plaza filming government plans promote city major tourist attractions broadcast reception iris premiered october strong ratings went critically commercially successful series year earning numerous awards actors production series ended initial run december announced iris special aired following week december special contained extensive scenes footage filming hungary japan korea numerous interviews cast crew january reported distribution rights japanese market purchased record million million usd station began airing japanese dubbed version primetime south korean produced drama series country april numerous acting talents providing including hour premiere drew highest ratings day doubled station usual average timeslot airing preceded promotional blitz stars appearing numerous japanese programs addition billboards posters placed tokyo publicity iris japan strong premiere late set concert events billed dramatic live stage shows drew sold crowds amounted attendees concerts combination live interviews primary cast pivotal scenes series performances musical acts featured soundtrack broadcaster revealed june series satellite offerings broken records daily doubling ratings previous programs influence series flights seoul nearing result mounting tourist interest commerce generated result iris having filmed local governments japan began competing interest producers order tourists future installments series producer production company iris quoted saying negotiations series american television broadcast major network episode count reduced original deal mark time south korean produced drama program aired major television network united_states ratings international broadcast media music iris original soundtrack released track album november music composed soundtrack contained number vocal themes series including december limited edition released disc set page disc contained vocal themes second half series included original release second disc collected backdrops run including previous collection week preceding premiere iris japanese television announced big bang contributing new ballad inserted titled tell goodbye song released single country june available dvd edition coinciding initial broadcast series japan deluxe soundtrack box set released inc addition featuring thirteen vocal themes nineteen discs release includes page adapted previous korean release dvd music videos promote series featured don forget love iris novelization graphic novel volume novelization published prior initial run written volume published october days prior premiere second volume published exactly month later november unlike predecessor follow eventual plot television series july confirmed iris graphic novel works fall release reports project features date august prior series airing launching japan later korea graphic novel retained relationship male female leads scenarios featured original story home video iris released region dvd south_korea february disc set complete english subtitles pressing included page previously unpublished photographs production series earlier november minute making documentary titled released japanese market documenting filming series hungary japan korea series set released uncut dvd box sets japan announced july release usd second following september august volume released blu ray second set follow october priced usd included replica cards set bonus disc page data booklet addition scenes production diary box sets began issued japan beginning june follows cast filming hungary second tracks work korea released september awards recognition iris rated program initial run received strong ratings culminating nearly south korean viewing audience tuning finale series actors won numerous awards drama awards including receiving portrayal given excellence award actress awarded excellence award actor work series named given popularity award pair win best couple award addition lee honored award actor 46th annual lee won series awarded august series cast member lead producer hand appreciation ceremony held japan governor presented iris award expression gratitude encouraging tourism awareness area later september named recipient honored seoul tourism award portraying beauty lively aspects seoul work series october lee cited award japanese ministry land infrastructure transport tourism series international drama festival tokyo named asia appearance series iris acknowledged best foreign production ceremony spin spin series begin filming premiered later year announced following success iris starring series goddess war filmed location number overseas locations including italy new_zealand japan united_states production head confirmed interview iris set universe allowing characters franchises filming projected months production commencing korea june moving italy july series premiered december saw finale february shortly series ended head production quoted expressing interest producing sequels continue connect entries franchise sequel true sequel series tentatively titled originally announced october time announcement pre production underway reports estimated filming sequel expected commence march representatives stated april expected original stars cast sequel later prior finale broadcast lead producer confirmed anticipated iris production time fall premiere concurrently reported proposed series remained pre production process crafting story revealed casting decisions writing staff preparing potential versions series result featuring original cast return select leads original series officially confirmed ultimately reprising roles sequel august september announced veteran film television actor offered lead iris confirmed september eyed female lead series reunite star work 2010s award winning historical series addition confirming leads september additions cast confirmed series signed reprise role north korean agent previously featured iris set return come villain original series including south korean pop group boy band discussed roles american actor iris premiered february feature film iris movie feature length edit episode series cinemas featuring differing story additional scenes shot expanded original storyline including new extended ending film saw premiere 34th international film festival later screened potential international buyers cannes film festival minutes movie released content distribution company korea november announced launching cable networks online websites title distributors include japan cable entertainment hong_kong singapore movie saw theatrical premiere japan january title iris
Iris (TV series)