Snowdrop - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is purely mission-oriented: to succeed and return to North Korea to ensure the safety of his family. As the story progresses, his motivation shifts entirely to protecting Eun Yeong-ro. Her safety becomes his paramount concern, overriding his loyalty to his country and his own survival instincts.

Soo-ho begins as a highly skilled and ideologically committed North Korean spy on a critical mission. His exterior is cold and disciplined, shaped by a harsh upbringing and intense training. His arc is defined by his encounter with Yeong-ro, which forces him to confront the conflict between his duty and his burgeoning love. Initially using her as a shield, he gradually develops genuine feelings and begins to question his mission and his nation's motives. His transformation is one from a loyal soldier to a man who chooses love over ideology, culminating in his decision to defy his orders and sacrifice his own life to save Yeong-ro, achieving a form of personal redemption at the cost of his life.

Her initial motivation is driven by her feelings for Soo-ho and a compassionate desire to help someone she believes is an injured protestor. As the crisis deepens, her motivation becomes twofold: to save the lives of her friends held hostage and to protect Soo-ho, the man she loves despite his identity. She is fundamentally driven by empathy and love.

Yeong-ro starts as a bright, optimistic, and somewhat naive university student, shielded from the harsh political realities of her time. Her arc is a tragic journey of disillusionment. After falling in love with Soo-ho, she is thrown into a terrifying hostage situation where she discovers his true identity and the corrupt nature of her own father, the ANSP director. This ordeal shatters her innocence, forcing her to become resilient and brave. She transforms from a sheltered girl into a determined woman who defies her father and fights for what she believes is right, even though she is left heartbroken and alone by the end.

His primary motivation is to be a righteous agent and avenge his fallen colleague. This evolves into a desire to uncover the truth behind the political conspiracy and expose the corrupt leaders of the ANSP, including his superior Nam Tae-il. His goal shifts from catching a spy to dismantling a corrupt system.

Gang-mu is introduced as a principled, by-the-book team leader at the ANSP, relentlessly pursuing Soo-ho. His arc is about the erosion of his faith in the system he serves. Initially viewing Soo-ho as a mere communist enemy, he is forced to cooperate with him inside the dormitory. Through this uneasy alliance, he discovers the deep-seated corruption within his own agency and realizes that the ANSP is complicit in a larger conspiracy. He transitions from a rigid agent into a pragmatic man who chooses to side with his enemy to expose the truth and save innocent lives, ultimately prioritizing true justice over blind loyalty to his organization.

Her motivation is rooted in her loyalty to North Korea and a sense of duty, complicated by a personal history and affection for Soo-ho. While she carries out her mission, her actions are also driven by a desire to protect Soo-ho, leading to a balancing act between her professional obligations and personal feelings.

Cheong-ya is presented as a skilled and charismatic surgeon who is also a cunning and high-ranking North Korean spy. Her character arc reveals layers of complexity beneath her cold exterior. While fiercely loyal to her mission and possessing a hidden past with Soo-ho, she demonstrates moments of humanity and conflict. Her interactions during the hostage crisis, particularly her complicated feelings for Soo-ho, lead her to make choices that deviate from her orders. She evolves from a seemingly ruthless agent to a more ambiguous figure who ultimately chooses to help Soo-ho's cause, escaping with the money to care for the families of her fallen comrades as promised.