First of all, one of the fundamental distinctions between Spanish version and Korean one lies in the background settings, which is influenced by their respective social and cultural backgrounds. Both versions of the story revolve around the National Mint, but the difference lies in the more detailed settings. For instance, the setting of the Spanish version is faithful to reality, which means that it is shot around 2017 to 2018, and the timeline in the film matches the time in the real world; on the other hand, the Korean version not only features virtual city as the main background, but also takes 2025 as the main timeline of the plot. Moreover, North and South Korea have been unified in the film and they are preparing to enter the cooperative economic zone, which is a setting that breaks away from the situation of reality. It is interesting to compare the differences of the background between these two versions, and it allows the audience to see the cultural and social issues of the two different countries.

    Second, there are some differences about plot details, and particularly in the areas of plot rhythm and action purpose. The development of plot in the two versions is generally similar, but the rhythm of the plot is quite different. The Spanish version has more episodes than Korean one, which means that the plot of the Spanish version is not only more complex but also unfolds at a slower pace, while the plot of the Korean version is more concentrated and more compact. In addition, in the Spanish version, the main reason for the protagonists’ robber group to start heisting is that from 2011 to 2013, the European Central Bank suddenly printed hundreds of billions of euros, and the newly printed money directly went from the printing factory to the pockets of major banks and wealthy people, only benefiting the wealthy in society. Therefore, the robbers stated that they were also creating a “liquidity injection”, mainly to reflect the problems of national debt and unemployment in society at that time. In contrast to the Spanish version, the bandit group mainly wants to resist South Korea’s capitalism and wealthy gap, because once North Korea opens up it will be difficult for the public to take a share, and the poor will be poorer and the rich will be richer. Bhavna Agarwal, a drama critic from India also comments that “While the Spanish series dabbles with the social-economic crisis and growing worries of youth in Spain, the Korean version explores a much more complicated and politically conflicted situation.” (2022) Accordingly, due to different background settings, the rhythm of the plot and the motivation for character’s actions naturally change, which are also the highlights in the film.

    Last, the important props in the two different versions of Money Heist are masks, while they carry different symbolic meanings. The characters in the Spanish version wear masks from artist Dali, which symbolizes the unfairness of the adversarial system. On the other hand, the characters in the Korean version wear traditional “Hahoetal masks” with satirical significance and accusations of power. These traditional masks are also manifestation of historical significance of Korea. (2020) These two different symbolic meanings enable audiences not only to appreciate the film more deeply but also to comprehend it more coherently.

    Exploring the differences in background settings, plot details, and symbolic significance between the two versions of Money Heist provide people with valuable insights into this film and that is the reason why they are so popular in respective regions. These two different versions are like interpreting the same story from different perspectives, while also allowing the audience to see the display of two cultures. In the future, both versions may continue to be updated, and there may be more interesting and noteworthy differences in the plot direction, bringing more surprises to the audience​.