How 'Money Heist: Korea' Leaves the Door Open for Season 2

From explosive standoffs and bloody showdowns to dynamic Matrix-style slow-motion fight sequences, Part 2 of the Korean spin-off of Money Heist, the cult Spanish crime drama on Netflix, is a nail-biting, emotional rollercoaster ride that ends at a new beginning.

The first part of the hit K-drama series, which sees a grand robbery and hostage situation take place at a Korean mint, laid the groundwork for the perfect storm that unfolds in the next installment, bringing the masterful crime devised by the Professor (played by Jitae Yu, also spelled Yoo Ji-tae, known from the Oldboy film by acclaimed Korean director Park Chan-wook) into completion.

Strong female characters steal the show in the Korean remake, with several having to make some brave decisions to protect the ones they love.

Speaking to Newsweek from Seoul, the South Korean capital, ahead of the show's release, Kim Yun-jin, the actress from the Lost television series who plays the fierce female negotiator of the South Korean police task force in the Korean Money Heist series, said: "Both in the original series and in the Korean version, the role that women play is really huge, of course, in the heist team, as we see played out in the Tokyo and Nairobi characters."

Following some harrowing challenges that even the Professor had not anticipated, the heist team (each of whom is named after a city) makes a successful escape from the mint.

Dotted with several unanswered questions, the intriguing finale of Part 2 leaves the door wide open for a second season, which has not been confirmed.

Here we unpack some of the remaining mysteries in the Korean remake of Money Heist that may be avenues of exploration in a potential second season.

Where Are Berlin and Seoul?

Berlin (played by Emmy and Screen Actors Guild award nominee Park Hae-soo from the Squid Game series)—who is the Professor's brother—was initially thought to have died after he stayed behind at the entrance of the escape tunnel in a bid to keep the police from infiltrating the tunnel. Seoul (played by Lim Ji-yeon) was also believed to have died after attempting to rescue Berlin in the tunnel.

Both characters were later seen emerging from a pothole and quietly disappearing into a crowd of protesters, after wearing a couple of signature heist team masks that were found discarded on the floor. Berlin later speaks to the Professor by phone to inform him that he and Seoul are alive.

Yet, by the end of the finale, the pair were not seen disembarking the train that the rest of the heist team had boarded for their escape. Could the couple have gone back to Vladivostok, Russia, where Berlin was operating his own gang? Or could they reunite with the heist team in a second season?

Have There Been Other Betrayals?

Tensions run high inside the mint when it comes to light that one member of the team had been a mole, who was later revealed to be Nairobi (Jang Yoon-ju).

Communicating in secret, Nairobi agreed to cooperate with some corrupt government officials who promised they'd keep her son safe if she agreed to kill off Anne (Lee Si-woo), one of the hostages, who is the daughter of the U.S. ambassador.

Nairobi didn't follow through with her part of the deal in the end, and the gang later forgave her for her brief lapse in judgment. But could there be others among the gang who were or are communicating with the police even after their grand getaway?

Why Was Helsinki Missing in Action?

In one of the final scenes of Part 2, just before the heist team boards their train, the gang was seen celebrating on the platform as the Professor gets the call that Berlin, as well as Seoul, are alive.

Oddly, Helsinki (played by Kim Ji-hun) was not pictured in the scene but later appears on the train. Why was Helsinki not with the others during the call? Could he have been up to no good in some act of betrayal that could be revealed in a potential Season 2?

What Happened to the North Korean Government Official?

Jeon Yong-soo (played by Lim Hyeong-guk), the North Korean leader who was a part of the political corruption behind the inter-Korea summit held under the guise of "economic cooperation" between the North and South, was revealed to be the former warden of the North Korean concentration camp where Berlin was placed for years.

While inside the mint, Berlin demanded to have Jeon be brought to the mint and publicly accused him of committing "abusive and inhumane acts" at the camp. "You starved them like dogs, tortured and killed them," Berlin said.

But, by the end of the final episode, it was reported that the North Korean leader had gone "missing." Is he still alive? Or could he have been killed by Berlin as part of a revenge plan that could unravel in a second season?

Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area is available to stream on Netflix now.