Life is All About Luck~?! <Low-Ranking NIS Agent>

based on the web novel of the same name.

Currently serialized on Naver Webtoon, <Low-Ranking NIS Agent> is

a unique espionage action series that begins with the protagonist grabbing a 'sweet' opportunity

to become a Level 7 civil servant without even taking an exam.

Through an unexpected recommendation during his military service, our protagonist embarks on

the unconventional path of being specially hired by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Stationed in Dandong, China—often called the powder keg of the world—

he settles down expecting a relatively peaceful mission of monitoring the Yalu River Iron Bridge.

However, starting with a night shift that promised a massive 5 million won bonus,

his hopes are shattered as all sorts of international incidents begin to

explode one after another.

Although the protagonist harbors the modest(?) dream of

"earning money without working," he is blessed with unbelievable luck in every moment of crisis.

The way he inadvertently completes his missions through sheer coincidence

delivers both thrilling excitement and humorous fun to

the readers.

Let's begin the review!

Our protagonist, Kang Chang-sung.

Today, thanks to his supervisor's recommendation during his military service,

he is specially recruited into the NIS.

Chang-sung is genuinely overjoyed by this opportunity.

Because, from now on, his salary will be doubled.

Fast forward two years from that day when he savored

the beautiful words, 'double the salary'.

He is sitting in his place in Dandong, China, making 5 million won 

a month.

Seeing him sprawling in his room in a stretched-out tracksuit

gnawing on fried pork ribs,

some might lament that their tax money is being wasted.

However, he was actually carrying out a very important mission...

Which was monitoring the 'Yalu River Iron Bridge' in

Dandong, China, a place that has become the 'powder keg of the world'.

Following North Korea's nuclear tests came the UN's trade sanctions.

Then, after the ICBM tests and the subsequent 6th nuclear test,

the US implemented high-intensity sanctions against North Korea.

Since then, the 'Yalu River Iron Bridge' that protagonist Chang-sung is monitoring

has become North Korea's sole lifeline.

While the US monitored this place with military satellites worth hundreds of billions,

South Korea directly planted Chang-sung on the mainland

to keep an eye on it.

His mission was just to stare at a monitor all day,

but no matter how you slice it, he was highly-skilled personnel.

As time passed and his tension slowly started to ease,

'Old Man Choi' visited him in a familiar manner, and

Chang-sung followed him to their usual restaurant famous for Dongpo pork.

There was also 'Ling Ling,' a server roaming the hall

with a bright face, dressed in a qipao.

To Chang-sung, who couldn't take his eyes off Ling Ling,

Old Man Choi tossed a light joke before 

slipping in a question about his true purpose,

as casually as sharing everyday talk.

"Did the 'Pyongbuk 90-330' truck show up today?"

"No, it still hasn't been seen on the bridge."

This man naturally discussing the mission with Chang-sung, 

commonly known as Old Man Choi, is Chang-sung's superior contact in the NIS.

He was a veteran black agent who spent 20 years

building HUMINT (human intelligence networks) in China.

Since the NIS's overseas operations were run in decentralized cells,

Old Man Choi was the only person Chang-sung knew

in Dandong.

Oh wait, Ling Ling should be included, too.

"Here is your Dongpo pork!"

Right then, the Dongpo pork they ordered came out, and Chang-sung thanked her

in his now-fluent Chinese.

Old Man Choi comments on how natural

Chang-sung's Chinese pronunciation has become.

Chang-sung brushes it off, saying it's only natural

since he's been in the city for quite a while.

"Getting used to things is good. But...

 never let your guard down."

"Because this place, Dandong, is the very definition of a 'powder keg'."

Just as he said, this Chinese city where Chang-sung is stationed

was like an oil-drenched powder keg where

intelligence agents from Korea, the US, China, Russia, Japan,

one of the world's top three crime syndicates, the 'Triads,'

and the Workers' Party of Korea's secret organization, 'Room 39,' all converged.

It was an extremely sensitive and dangerous place

where a single tiny spark could impact the whole world.

Sensing the unusual tension in Old Man Choi's attitude,

Chang-sung asks if it's because of the truck he's been monitoring.

The truck with the license plate 'Pyongbuk 90-330' that Chang-sung had his eyes on

was a truck belonging to 'North Korea's Room 39'.

However, to Chang-sung's question, Old Man Choi

brings up something unexpected.

"I need you to pull an emergency night shift."

Chang-sung is taken aback by the sudden mission.

"There's going to be a drug deal involving a Triad sub-organization this evening.

 I need you to take photos of the scene."

Faced with a mission more dangerous than expected, Chang-sung jumps out of his skin.

A field assignment?

He was an undercover intelligence agent, so field ops

were naturally meant for field combat agents.

While Chang-sung throws a fit, saying it makes no sense,

Old Man Choi offers 5 million won in night shift pay,

and swayed by the allowance for just one field dispatch, Chang-sung

heads to the scene without a second thought.

A reed bed by a deserted roadside.

Chang-sung stays hidden while photographing the Triads' 

transaction scene.

Since he had no information about who the Triads were dealing with,

he tries to gather as much information as possible.

Just then, zooming in on the scene, he spots the 'Pyongbuk 90-330' truck

he had been waiting so long for.

Realizing that the Triads' trading partner is none other than 'Room 39', the North Korean secret organization,

Chang-sung decides he must report this to the NIS immediately.

At that moment, the cold sensation of a gun barrel pressing against his temple

makes Chang-sung freeze in his tracks.

"Who are you?"

Discovered by a North Korean scout, Chang-sung belatedly

regrets taking a field mission, but it's already too late.

He is already surrounded by North Korean agents.

No matter how much he tries to make up an excuse on the spot,

they seem to have already caught on to his identity.

Chang-sung quickly racks his brain in that brief moment.

And the method he chooses is a head-on breakthrough.

He was confident he could overcome the situation.

Because before becoming a 'Low-Ranking NIS Agent', his identity

was 'Sergeant Kang Chang-sung' of the Army Special Warfare Command.

Acknowledged even by his superiors as a legendary, ultimate combat agent,

and a man with crazy good luck!

What will become of the low-ranking NIS employee, Kang Chang-sung?

Check out <Low-Ranking NIS Agent> on Naver Webtoon!