I love this movie. Despite its' dark theme I was very impressed when I first saw it. What particularly impressed me the most that the hook up of the story does not start with revenge plot, but an attempt to save someone. It becomes the peak moment of Won Bin's character.

Just for the contrast, take any Hollywood action blockbuster movie, it has a lot of revenge plot as a driving force. It is always some retired awesome dude that everyone feared, but now he's out of the picture, but one day something happens and this something wakes them up from their dormant state. Just an example, even the recent 'The Killer' has an attacked girfriend. Or we all know how John Wick starts.
'The Man from Nowhere' also has an awesome retired nobody, but to make him move you had to take the girl. And saving this girl becomes the greatest motivation, despite the obstacles, despite the consequences.

Story. You don't need to invent anything profound. Sometimes a good story is a simple story and I consider the story of this movie quite simple. It has a simple chain of actions and consequences, which slowly leads us to the final goal. But it still doesn't lack in emotions it evokes in you. It doesn't show much drama, there's no hysteria and no shouting and pointing to look at some horrid things, but your heart is still filled with anger, sadness and helplessness knowing that somewhere, something similar might have happened to other children.

Acting. We omit the part where it is obviously impossible for a kid to act without flaws, but the overall cast did a great job. And you know they did, because otherwise you wouldn't be so impressed. I remember watching it for the first time and later seeing some press releases and Won Bin really was the man of that time. Him and Kim Sae Ron appearing, I still remember how she wore those cute dresses. But despite the glamoure Won Bin chose quite low-key path and also started a family and I honestly wish him all the best.

OST. I want to be dramatic for a second and say - I'll slap anyone who dares to say anything about the OST. Haha kidding, but the soundtrack is great, let's agree to it and also I really fell in love with the finale theme when I first heard it, it was so unique.

At that time there was definitely a considerable amount of hype around this movie, but I find that it was deserved. Although I re-watched it only a number of times, but in my list that's an achievement. You can still watch it and it's still a great movie, it aged well.