K as Antagonist? And so Many "Firsts!"

Ha Ki-Ho's film Radio Dayz is a fast-paced and highly entertaining film about Seoul's first radio drama to air live. The movie follows the struggles of some of the (eccentric and high-strung) voice actors who begin to take the plot of the program too personally--as well as a paralleling under-cover plot to attack the Japanese occupying South Korea.

Something that struck me first is that K (played by Lee Jong-Hyuk) is portrayed in a style that is usually associated with the antagonist of a film, even though he is ultimately pro-Korea and anti-Japanese colonialism. I found myself nervous that K would get away with his plan, even though it was to defend  South Korea. We aren't led to feel sympathetic with him from the beginning; in fact, he is associated with fear, tension, and scary music (and more formal film elements that typically accompany the antagonist). This is emphasized by the fact that he is so fervently under cover, and the people around whom he is masquerading are the protagonists. This results in a relationship that feels like protagonist vs antagonist. Only once K is revealed to be plotting against the Japanese does this relationship diminish and quickly turn around--finally, it is everyone (including K) at the radio station versus the Japanese.

The second thing that struck me was how many 'firsts' were going on in the film: the first radio station in Seoul, the first radio drama in Seoul, the first use of subliminal messaging/advertising on the radio in Korea, perhaps the first use of sound effects in radio in East Asian?, etc. This almost gives me an impression of naivety. Everyone is so giddy, excited, and amazed. It reminded me of my feelings toward Lee Ho-Chang's discovery of baseball in YMCA Baseball Team. In contrast, the Japanese in Radio Dayz are serious, violent, and unphased by the exciting modern developments. This leads me to feel as if the S Koreans are happily pro-modernization and the Japanese are too caught up in violence and defense in the nation to really share this excitement. Perhaps I am being too critical?