netflix K drama site

Cosmos’s Fav K-Drama

Over the last few years I finally became a K Drama fan. Part of the reason is that my Korean is now good enough to mostly follow the dialogue although i still need sub-titles. Second because of COVID we’ve been mostly at home in Korea, and third, I finally just got into K Drama. I know a bit late, but what the heck.

Here are some of my favorite K Dramas- I provide a snyopsis and my comment on each.

In general K Dramas come in two forms – movies and series. The series are reminiscent of Mexican telenovals – usually 16 episodes, occasionally 20, and occasional fewer. A few have two seasons. Most run for about a month. Almost all are available now on Netflic and Hullu with English sub-titles. A few were quite controversal.

Parasite of course won the 2020 Oscar. And Minuri won best supporting actress this year.

Parasite 2020 Best Picture Oscar

Parasite (Korean: 기생충; Hanja: 寄生蟲; RR: Gisaengchung) is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the screenplay with Han Jin-won. The film, starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin, and Lee Jung-eun, follows a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family and infiltrate their household by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals.

Parasite premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2019, where it became the first South Korean film to win the Palme d’Or. It was then released in South Korea by CJ Entertainment on 30 May 2019. The film was considered by many critics to be the best film of 2019. It grossed over $258 million worldwide on a production budget of about $15.5 million.

Among its numerous accolades, Parasite won a leading four awards at the 92nd Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film, becoming the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.^{[note 1]}

Parasite is the first South Korean film to receive Academy Award recognition and one of three films to win both the Palme d’Or and the Academy Award for Best Picture.^{[note 2]} It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, and became the first non-English language film to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. At the 56th Grand Bell Awards and the 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards, Parasite had eleven nominations with five wins. At the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, it had twelve nominations with three wins. Joon-Ho has confirmed a TV series is in the works while two sequels are also planned.

Plot[edit]

The Kim family—father Ki-taek, mother Chung-sook, daughter Ki-jung, and son Ki-woo—live in a small semi-basement apartment (banjiha),^[10] have low-paying temporary jobs as pizza box folders, and struggle to make ends meet.^[11] University student Min-hyuk, a friend of Ki-woo’s, gives the family a scholar’s rock meant to promise wealth. Leaving to study abroad and knowing his friend needs the income, he suggests that Ki-woo pose as a university student to take over his job as an English tutor for the daughter of the wealthy Park family, Da-hye. Ki-woo, presenting himself as a Yonsei University student, is subsequently hired by the Parks.

The Kim family schemes to get each member of the family a job by posing as unrelated and highly qualified workers to become servants of the Parks. Ki-jung poses as “Jessica” and, using Ki-Woo as a reference, becomes an art therapist to the Parks’ young son, Da-song. Ki-jung frames Yoon, Mr Park’s chauffeur, for having sex in the car, then recommends Ki-taek to replace him. Finally, Chung-sook takes over as the Parks’ housekeeper after the Kims exploit the peach allergy of the long-time housekeeper, Moon-gwang, to convince Mrs Park that she has tuberculosis. Ki-woo begins a secret romantic relationship with Da-hye.

When the Parks leave on a camping trip, the Kims revel in the luxuries of their residence before Moon-gwang abruptly appears at the door, telling Chung-sook she has left something in the basement. She enters a hidden entrance to an underground bunker created by the architect and previous homeowner, where Moon-gwang’s husband, Geun-sae, has been secretly living for over four years, hiding from loan sharks. Chung-sook refuses Moon-gwang’s pleas to help Geun-sae remain in the bunker, but the eavesdropping Kims accidentally reveal themselves. Moon-gwang films them on her phone and threatens to expose their ruse to the Parks.

A severe rainstorm brings the Parks home early, and the Kims scramble to clean up the home and subdue Moon-gwang and Geun-sae before they return. The Kims trap Geun-sae and Moon-gwang in the bunker. Mrs Park reveals to Chung-sook that Da-song had a seizure-inducing traumatic experience on a previous birthday, when he saw a “ghost” — actually Geun-sae — emerging from the basement at night. Before the Kims manage to sneak out of the house, they hear Mr Park’s off-handed comments about Ki-taek’s smell. The Kims find their apartment flooded with sewer water and are forced to shelter in a gymnasium with other displaced people.

The next day, Mrs Park hosts a house party for Da-song’s birthday with the Kim family’s help. Ki-woo enters the bunker with the scholar’s rock to find Geun-sae. Finding Moon-gwang has died from a concussion she received during the earlier fight, he is attacked by Geun-sae, who bludgeons his head with the rock and escapes, leaving Ki-woo lying in a pool of blood in the basement. Seeking to avenge Moon-gwang, Geun-sae stabs Ki-jung with a kitchen knife in front of the horrified party guests. Da-song suffers another seizure upon seeing Geun-sae, and a struggle breaks out until Chung-sook fatally impales Geun-sae with a barbecue skewer. While Ki-taek tends to a severely bleeding Ki-jung, Mr Park orders Ki-taek to drive Da-song to the hospital. In the chaos, Ki-taek, upon seeing Mr Park’s disgusted reaction to Geun-sae’s smell, angrily takes the knife and kills him. Ki-taek then flees the scene, leaving behind the rest of the Kim family.

Weeks later, Ki-woo is recovering from brain surgery. He and Chung-sook are convicted of fraud and put on probation. Ki-jung has died and Ki-taek, wanted by the police for Mr Park’s murder, cannot be found. Geun-sae has been assumed to be an insane homeless man, and neither his nor Ki-taek’s motive for the stabbings are known. Ki-woo spies on the Parks’ home, now sold to a German family unaware of its history, and sees a message in Morse code from a flickering light. Ki-taek, who escaped into the bunker via the garage, has buried Moon-gwang in the backyard and now raids the kitchen at night and flickers the light every day, hoping Ki-woo will see it. Still living in their original basement apartment with his mother, Ki-woo writes a letter to Ki-taek, vowing to earn enough money to one day purchase the house and reunite with his father.

Cast[edit]

Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek (Mr Kim; 김기택; Gim Gitaek), the father of the Kim family who is hired as Park Dong-ik’s chauffeur.
Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo (Kevin; 김기우; Gim Giu), the son of the Kim family who is hired as Da-hye’s English tutor. Choi Woo-shik stated that the character is intelligent but does not have the vigour needed to succeed in examinations.^[12]
Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik (Nathan; 박동익; Bak Dongik), the father of the Park family.
Cho Yeo-jeong as Choi Yeon-gyo (Madame; 최연교; Choe Yeongyo), the mother of the Park family.
Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung (Jessica; 김기정; Gim Gijeong), the daughter of the Kim family who is hired as Da-song’s art therapist.
Lee Jung-eun as Gook Moon-gwang (국문광; Guk Mungwang), the housekeeper for the Park family, who also worked for the architect and previous owner of the house. Bong Joon-ho said her relationship with the architect and parts of her story “that happen in between the sequences in the film” will be explored in the spin-off television series.^[13]
Jang Hye-jin as Chung-sook (박충숙; Bak Chungsuk), the mother of the Kim family who is hired as the housekeep for the Park family.
Park Myung-hoon as Oh Geun-sae (오근세; O Geunse), Moon-gwang’s husband.
Jung Ji-so as Park Da-hye (박다혜; Bak Dahye), the daughter of the Park family.
Jung Hyeon-jun as Park Da-song (박다송; Bak Dasong), the son of the Park family.
Park Keun-rok as Yoon (윤; Yun), Park Dong-ik’s chauffeur.
Park Seo-joon as Min-hyuk (민혁; Minhyeok), Ki-woo’s friend.^[14]

Crashlanding on you

program.tving.com/tvn/cloy

Crash Landing on You is a 2019–2020 South Korean television series written by Park Ji-Eun, directed by Lee Jeong-Hyo, and starring Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Kim Jung-Hyun, and Seo Ji-Hye. It is about a South Korean chaebol heiress who, while paragliding in Seoul, South Korea, is swept up in a sudden storm, crash-lands in the North Korean portion of the DMZ, and meets a captain in the Korean People’s Army. Over time, they fall in love, despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries. Wikipedia

Genre: Romantic Drama, Romantic comedy

Created by: Studio Dragon

Written by: Park Ji-Eun

Comments:

One of my favorites. It is a classic romcom opposites attract theme. Almost a Romeo and Juliet star crossed lovers theme with the division of the Korean peninsular separating the lovers. When Captain Ri meets Se-Yeong who literary crash lands on him after a freak paragliding accident took over the DMZ, has to decide to risk everything to save her life and return her to South Korea, or turn her in as duty would dictate. He chose to follow his heart and enlists the aid of his squad of soldiers who all fall in love with her as well. She also becomes friendly with the local woman in the village.

When a notorious gangster follows her to Seoul to kill her to take revenge on Captain Ri, Captain Ri and his squad follow her to save her and bring down the gangsters. I won’t say more than that.

This series led to the North Koreans to blow up the inter-Korean liaison office as they saw the movie as an insult to the North. Some southern politicians denounced it as being too sympathetic to the North. It also of course featured rich people behaving badly in both the North and the South. – Common theme in most K Drama’s these days.

And a sub-romance between the Captain’s soon to be ex and Se-Young Ex who is End Commenta con artist who is hiding out in the north after defrauding her father and brother.

End Comment

Memories of Alhambra

program.tving.com/tvn/tvnalhambra

Memories of the Alhambra is a 2018 South Korean television series, starring Hyun Bin and Park Shin-Hye. Primarily set in Spain, the series centers on a company CEO and a hostel owner who gets entangled in a series of mysterious incidents surrounding a new and intricate augmented reality game inspired by the stories of the Alhambra Palace. It aired on cable network tvN from December 1, 2018, to January 20, 2019, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00. It is also available for online streaming on Netflix.Wikipedia

Genre: Science fantasy, Action, Thriller, Romance

Created by: Jinnie Choi (Studio Dragon), Lee Myung-Han

Written by: Song Jae-Jung

Comment:

Did not finish it but will return to it soon. Had an intriguing SF plot line.

End Comment

The Negotiation (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

*The Negotiation*


Hangul	협상
Hanja	協商
Revised Romanization	Hyeobsang
Directed by	Lee Jong-Seok
Screenplay by	Choi Sung-Hyun
Produced by	Yoon Je-kyoon Lee Sang-jik
Starring	Son Ye-jin Hyun Bin
Cinematography	Lee Tae-Joon
Edited by	Jung Jin-hee
Music by	Hwang Sang-Joon
Production companies	JK Film CJ E&M[1]
Distributed by	CJ Entertainment
Release date	September 19, 2018 (South Korea)
Running time	114 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Budget	₩10 billion[2]
Box office	US$15.6 million[3]

The Negotiation (Korean: 협상; Hanja: 協商; RR: Hyeobsang) is a 2018 South Korean action crime thriller film directed by Lee Jong-Seok and starring Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin.[4][1] The film was released on September 19, 2018.[5][6][7]

Two Flipinos kidnap some Koreans. Crisis negotiator Inspector Ha Chae-youn of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who was on a date and was called by her colleague, Superintendent Ahn Hyuk-su, is brought in to handle the situation, despite strong protests from her superior, Captain Jung Jun-gu. While Chae-youn is negotiating with the kidnappers, Captain Jung decides to send a police officer hit team to kill the men, shooting one kidnapper on the shoulder. He immediately kills the man he was holding and was shot dead afterward. The remaining kidnapper used the woman as a shield and dragged her to a room. The police team arrives and kills the kidnapper in the room. Chae-youn enters the room to find the woman who had been killed by the kidnapper before the police team entering the house. The woman dies in Chae-youn’s arms, leaving Chae-youn shocked.

Ten days later, a devastated Chae-youn decides to resign from the police force, but Captain Jung urges her to reconsider, before leaving on a work trip. Chae-youn is then urgently called upon by Ahn, who informs her that she has been urgently summoned to deal with a hostage crisis by the Commissioner himself. Upon arrival to a secret location, she meets with the Commissioner of Police Moon Jong-hyuk and Presidential Secretary Gong of National Security. She is ordered to negotiate with the kidnapper – Min Tae-gu, a Korea-based international arms dealer and UK citizen, who had kidnapped several Korean nationals from Bangkok – including a reporter named Lee Su-mok. Without any additional information, she hung up on Min twice after being offended by him and asks Secretary Gong to reveal to her the necessary details. Not wanting to talk, the two men ordered Chief Han to talk to Min instead, while she is being hesitant about doing so. Upon seeing the negotiations going sour, she takes the seat from Chief Han. While negotiating with Min video conferencing, she is shocked to discover that Captain Jung, who was supposed to be on a trip, has also been kidnapped by Min as well,

Chae-youn is later informed that the hostages are being held at an island in the Malacca Straits, where a joint military-police op has been sent to, intent on freeing them. Han also informs them that Daehan Daily, a news outlet Lee is working for, had been ordered to keep silent of their employee’s situation, as requested by the President. Min later demands to see the CEO of Daehan Daily, Yoon Dong-hoon, Lee’s boss. While talking with Dong-hoon, Min demands to know whether Lee is one of his reporters or not. Min threatens Yoon that his own family could be in danger, revealing that he knows of their whereabouts. Commissioner Moon cuts into their conversation to stop Yoon from telling the truth. Because of this, Min shoots Captain Jung dead, which further shocked Chae-youn. Commissioner Moon and Secretary Gong bring in negotiators from the National Intelligence Services to take over and order Chae-youn, Ahn, and even Han to leave the site.

Outside, Han reveals to them that Lee is a black agent working for the NIS, whose mission was to spy on Min’s syndicate. She tells them that Min is an arms dealer working in the Malacca Straits, selling every kind of weapons and equipment to other criminals in the majority of the Southeast Asian countries. Chae-youn’s two colleagues arrive in their van, and Chae-youn sought to find out the truth themselves. She then asks Ahn to follow Yoon and ask him further. Back inside, the NIS team approached Min aggressively, demanding that Min release his hostages or otherwise they will bombard his location, killing Agent Lee with him. Unbothered, Min reveals that he had also kidnapped a family of four, keeping the NIS under this thumb. Min demands to bring Chae-youn back as he will only talk to her. With no other choice, Chief Han goes over to bring Chae-youn, along with her team, back inside.

This time, Chae-youn demands the NIS to tell her everything that they know about Min. Min demands Chae-youn to bring Koo Gwan-su—chairman of Nine Electronics, an arms company. As they wait, the NIS tells Chae-youn that Min used to work for Koo as the man in charge of dealing with the company’s illegal activities. When Min decided to work alone as an arms dealer in Malacca Straits, Koo betrays Min and tipped him off to the NIS. Koo also revealed the $50 million worth of taxes that he had evaded, and due to his ‘honesty’, the government practically erased his criminal activities. When Chae-youn asks where Koo is, the NIS agent reveals to her that they were all inside the Nine Electrics weapons laboratory. Koo himself had funded the entire operation of the NIS to hunt Min down. In a hotel suite lounge somewhere downtown were Koo, NIS Deputy Chief Park In-kyu, Air Force Commander Son Jung-Tae, and the Chief of National Security himself, Hwang Ju-ik. These four men had been keeping a close eye on the entire operation.

Meanwhile, Ahn found out from the escaping Yoon that NIS Deputy Chief Park was the one who asked him to give Agent Lee a false Daehan Daily ID. Koo arrives at the site and begins to talk with Min. Min asks Koo to restore a certain Swiss bank account, and Koo agrees to it. However, Min had further demanded. He asks Koo why he had killed a woman named Yoo Hyun-Ju. Koo denies any knowledge of any Hyun-Ju, and Min began to tell Chae-youn of Hyun-Ju. Min introduced Hyun-Ju to Koo as his secretary. In reality, Hyun-Ju was to keep records of hidden, expensive paintings that Koo owned and kept. These paintings were worth 10 billion won each, and profits from these paintings would be shared between Koo, Park, Son, and Hwang. Some of the paintings were kept in a house that Hyun-Ju and presumably her husband stayed in. It is revealed that Hyun-Ju was the woman who died in Chae-youn’s arms ten days ago, and Min convinces Chae-youn that something was amiss during that operation, which resulted in Hyun-Ju’s death, and the disappearance of the paintings in the house almost immediately. To further prove his point, Min plays an audio recording of a conversation between the four corrupt men. This recording was done by Hwang himself, where Min explained that Hwang never fully trusted the three other men he was working with and had a habit of keeping recording devices for important conversations. Min then demands Hwang to show up and talk to him in one hour, otherwise, he’ll kill every hostage—including the children.

Chae-young and her team validate the information Min had given as they try to figure out the connection between Min and Hyun-Ju. Secretary Gong lies to Chae-young, telling her that Hwang was with the President and that he couldn’t come. Meanwhile, Ahn was able to track down Chief Park’s phone records. There, he found out that Captain Jung had accepted a bribe from Chief Park. Captain Jung was under the command of Chief Park, and that they planned to kill Hyun-Ju by using the Filipino kidnappers as an alibi. Chae-youn resumes the negotiations with Min, telling Min that Hyun-Ju’s case will be reopened. Min demands to talk with Commissioner Moon. Min asks if Koo is being questioned by the police and that if Hwang is really with the President. Before answering, they found out from a Thai server that Min had been live-streaming the entire situation on YouTube, which sends the country into a frenzy. Upon figuring out that Koo is not being questioned, and that Hwang is in hiding, Min shoots Agent Lee in the leg. He gives Hwang one last chance to show himself.

Back in their lounge, Hwang orders Chief Park to invent a story and Commander Son to begin the military operation immediately. Hwang wants Min dead, along with the hostages. Meanwhile, Ahn returns to Hyun-Ju’s home, where the kidnapping ten days ago occurred. There, he found a photo of Somang Orphanage, an old orphanage where Hyun-Ju came from. He goes over to the new orphanage, and he found out that Hyun-Ju’s real name wasn’t Yoon Hyun-Ju, but Min Hyun-Ju—she was Min’s younger sister. Back in the lab, the military team arrived in Min’s location and authorizes the mission, despite Chae-youn’s protests. Min reveals that a bomb is strapped on one of the hostages, revealing a suicide for all of them. Either way, the team blows up a signal tower—stopping their communication. Chae-youn tries to stop the team from entering Min’s hideout as a bomb is present. Hwang (through Commander Son) pressures them to continue, and the team enters the hideout. However, as soon as they moved in, the room had exploded, presumably from Min’s suicide bomb, and killing the hostages inside. Hwang and his cronies were finally able to relax, and the NIS were packing up their things.

As Chae-youn stares at the last footage of their negotiations with Min in despair, she notices through the background that Min wasn’t in Southeast Asia, but in South Korea all along. That night, Ahn went to the old orphanage building and found all of the hostages safe. Meanwhile, Min and his gang arrived at the Nine Electronics weapons lab. He orders his fellow gang to go home and takes the bomb with him. Min storms the lounge and finally catches Hwang, Koo, Park, and Son, with the bomb strapped to his chest. Chae-young convinced Secretary Gong to reveal the true location of Hwang and his cronies so that they can stop Min. Min shoots Koo, activates the bomb via a detonator, and Chae-youn arrives at the lounge to finally meet Min. She apologizes to Min for not being able to protect Hyun-Ju, and she vows to defend Min at any cost to bring the remaining cronies to justice. Min reveals to her that he asked Hyun-Ju to betray Koo by stealing every bit of information he had. He believed that his plan ultimately led to his sister’s death. He raises the gun at Hwang, and he was shot to the head by a sniper outside. A flashback reveals that Min backfired with his plan, telling his sister that the plan is too dangerous after all. However, Hyun-Ju wanted to proceed with the plan, so that the two of them can find a place to live in silence and peace.

As the team arrives to escort Hwang, Park, Son, and Chae-youn outside, Chae-youn overheard that the detonator wasn’t turned on, and Min planned to die in the end and bring the corrupt men to justice. Chae-young chases Hwang outside, prematurely telling them of their arrest as she shouts their rights to them. As their car leaves, the reporters then surround Chae-youn. Chae-youn and Ahn went to an overlooking spot, where they made a makeshift memorial for Min and Hyun-Ju. Chae-youn shows Ahn of Min’s pen drive presumably with the dealings of Hwang and his cronies, as stolen by Hyun-Ju. In court, Hwang, Park, Son, and Chae-young appear, with Chae-young as a prime witness. The pen drive is revealed to the court as evidence, and the film ends with Chae-young reciting an oath.

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

Son Ye-jin as Ha Chae-yoon[8]
Hyun Bin as Min Tae-gu[9]

Supporting[edit]

Kim Sang-ho as Ahn Hyuk-soo
Jang Young-Nam as Section Chief Han
Jang Gwang as Hwang Soo-suk
Choi Byung-mo as Secretary Kong[10]
Jo Young-jin as Chairman Koo

Kim Jong-goo as CEO Yoon
Yoo Yeon-soo as Chief Moon
Lee Joo-young as Lee Da-bin
Kim Min-sang as Deputy Department Head Park
Park Sung-Geun as Operation officer

Han Ki-Joon as Lieutenant General Son
Park Soo-young as Section Chief Choi
Jung In-gyeom as Lee Sang-mok
Lee Si-a as Yoo Yeon-Joo
Lee Hak-joo as Park Min-woo

Special appearance[edit]

Lee Moon-sik as Capt. Jung

Production[edit]

Principal photography began on June 17, 2017, in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.[11][12][13]

Release[edit]

The film premiered in South Korea on September 19, 2018.[14][15]

By September 2018, the film was sold to over 22 countries. It was released in North America on September 20, in Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei on October 4, in Hong Kong and Macau in early October, in Vietnam and Taiwan on October 19, and in Indonesia on October 24, 2018.[16][17]

The film was released on VOD services and digital downloads on October 17, 2018.[18]

Comment:

very engaging police thriller taking place in Bangkok and Seoul.

Usual high level polticial corruption and rich people behaving badly. Also features a woman protagonist who goes against her superiors and saves the day.

End comment

No exit movie

Comment:

A nother engaging police crime drama. Very engrossing and great acting. Takes place in Chejuo who a mafia figure goes on the run after being betrayed by his boss.

End comment

https://mydramalist.com/28794-exit

This was another great Korean movie. It was packed with action and comedy. This movie kept you on edge on your seat and glued your eyes to the screen. I love how Jo Jung Suk always keeps his quirky side whenever he played a character. He never disappoints me in the comedy area. Love him in dramas and movies.

Images for no exit k drama

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EXIT (2018) – MyDramaList

https://mydramalist.com/28771-exit

Exit is an interesting drama with an old concept depicted in a new way. The entire two hours were engrossing for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Choi Tae Joon was natural, strong and intense in playing his role and the rest of the cast also did a pretty good job. The background score is quite good though it has no OSTs. Two hours is not much.

Exit (Korean Drama, 2018, 엑시트) @ Han Cinema

https://www.hancinema.net/korean_drama_Exit.php

Exit (Korean Drama, 2018, 엑시트) – Find the cast, latest updates, latest news, legal streaming links, DVDs, Blu-rays, collectibles, latest trailers, latest …

Comment:

an intense gangster drama taking place in Soeul and Cheju island. The main villain is a mafia figure who is double crossed by his bosses and hides out in Cheju where he falls in love with a deeply disturbed woman.

End comment

Mine

mine (TV series) – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_(TV_series)

Mine (Korean: 마인) is a 2021 South Korean television series directed by Lee Na-Jung and starring Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-Hyung, Lee Hyun-Wook, and Ok Ja-Yeon. It revolves around strong women who free themselves from the prejudice of society and find their real ‘mine’. It also peeps into the mysterious lives of wealthy people. The series premiered ten on May 8, 2021, and aired every …

Mine (Korean Drama) – AsianWiki

https://asianwiki.com/Mine_(Korean_Drama)

Profile. Drama: Mine Revise romanization: Mine Hangul: 마인 Director: Lee Na-Jeong Writer: Baek Mi-Kong Network: tvN Episodes: 16 Reléase Date: May 8 – June 27, 2021, Run time: Sat. & Sun. 21:00 Language: Korean Country: South Korea Plot Synopsis by Asianizing Staff ©

Mine (2021) – Dramatist

https://mydramalist.com/75937-blue-diamond

Mine (2021) Mine. (2021) “Mine” is about strong and ambitious women who overcome the world’s prejudices to find their true selves. Seo Hee-Soo was a former top actress, but she gave up her career to marry the second son of Hyo Won Group. She does her best to fit in as a daughter-in-law of that family.

Mine | Netflix Official Site

https://www.netflix.com/title/81403973

Mine. 2021 | TV-14 | 1 Season | TV Dramas. Encaged in a gold-clad life of secrets and lies, two women in a conglomerate family seek to topple all that stands in their way of finding true joy. Starring: Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-Hyung, Lee Hyun-Wook.

Mine (2021) – Full Cast & Crew – Dramatist

https://mydramalist.com/75937-blue-diamond/cast

Today, we present some unexpected cameo appearances in K-Dramas by popular actors and actresses. Get Ready to Be Enrolled in the “Police University” of 2021 News – Aug 1, 2021

Images for mine k drama

Comment:

One of my recent favorites. Almost a poster child for the rich family behaving badly theme. An interesting LBGT romance sub-theme as well. Another Romeo-Juliet Cinderlla romance sub-plot as well. The main protagnoist is a real sociopath. The story revolves around his murder and who wanted him dead the most. Well everyone hated him, everyone wanted him dead. The suspense was kept alive to the very end. The other theme is the two sister in laws who battle the family and in the end prevail against all the odds to ome out on top and regain what they saw as “Mine” hence the tittle. Very well done.

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Stream It or Skip It: ‘Mine’ On Netflix, A Soapy K-Drama …

https://decider.com/2021/05/10/mine-netflix-review/

It’s harder to compare Mine to a current K-drama, but it sure does have the feel of a good old-fashioned American primetime soap like Dallas or Dynasty, with some hints of Succession mixed in.

“Mine” (2021 Drama): Cast & Summary | Koopman

https://www.kpopmap.com/mine-2021-drama-cast-summary/

Information. Title: Mine / 마인 Director: Lee Nanjing Writer: Baek MiKyung. Network: ten x Netflix. Runtime: From May 8 # of Episodes: 16. Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Human Language: Korean. Summary. Encaged in a gold-clad life of secrets and lies, two women in a conglomerate family seek to topple all that stands in their way of finding true joy.

Korean Drama “Mine” (Synopsis + Cast + Preview) – Korean …

https://koreanallday.com/2021/05/09/korean-drama-mine-synopsis-cast-preview/

Korean Drama ”Mine” (Synopsis + Cast + Preview) May 9, 2021. admin “Mine” (or “Blue Diamond”) is a ten original drama series that was released on 8 May 2021 and is available to watch online on Netflix*. SYNOPSIS “Mine“ drama story will center around two strong and married women Seo Hee-Soo and Jung Seo Hyun. They both are married …

Mine episode 16 recap – the finale/ending explained – Ji …

https://readysteadycut.com/2021/06/27/recap-mine-season-1-episode-16-finale-ending-netflix-k-drama-series/

3.5. Summary. The finale of Mine wraps up the story nicely — episode 16 reveals the killer and gives the audience a taste of life after Ji-yong. There are strong themes of female empowerment in the finale that works well, in the story’s conclusion. This recap of the Netflix k-drama series Mine season 1, episode 16 — the finale/ending …

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Drama: Mine
Revised romanization: Mine
Hangul: 마인
Director: Lee Na-Jeong
Writer: Baek Mi-Kyong

Network: tyvm
Episodes: 16
Release Date: May 8 – June 27, 2021
Runtime: Sat. & Sun. 21:00
Language: Korean

Country: South Korea

Plot Synopsis by Asianizing Staff ©

A story of women who try to find their true selves, freeing themselves from prejudices in the world.

Seo Hi-Soo (Lee Bo-Young) was a star actress, but she gave up her career to marry the second son of a chaebol family. The chaebol family runs the Hyowon Group. She does her best to fit in as a daughter-in-law of that family. She acts confidently all the time to not lose her true self.

Jung Seo-Hyun (Kim Seo-Hyung) is married to the first son of the same chaebol family. She is also the daughter of a chaebol family. She is elegant and intelligent. She is also very rational.

Notes

“Mine” takes over TV N’s Sat. & Sun. 21:00 time slot previously occupied by “Vincenzo” and followed by “The Devil Judge” on July 3, 2021.

Cast

Hyowon Group’s Family



Lee Bo-Young	Kim Seo-Hyung
Seo Hi-Soo	Jung Seo-Hyun



Lee Hyun-Wook	Jeong Hyun-Jun	Park Hyuk-Kwon	Cha Hak-Yeon
Han Ji-Yong	Han Ha-Joon	Han Jin-Ho	Han Soo-Hyuk



Park Won-Suk	Jeong Dong-Hwan	Kim Hye-Hwa	Jo Eon-Sol
Yang Soon-Hye	Chairman Han Suk-Chula	Han Jin-Hee	Park Jung-Do

Hyowon Mansion’s Staff



Ok Ja-Yeon	Jung Yi-Seo
Kang Ja-Kyong / Lee Hye-Jin	Kim Yu-Yeon



Park Sung-Yeon	Lee Jong-Ok	Jo Yun-Seo	Kim Nam-Jin	Yoon Gemstone
Joo Min-Su	Kim Seung-Tae	Secretary Oh Soo-Young	Ko Mi-Jin	Hwang Kyung-Hye



Son Hyun-Ji	Yeon Bo-Ra	Song Young-A	Kim Sang-Hoon	Lee Eon-Kang
Lee Ju-Hee	Woo Ju-Yeon	Min Sang-A	vocal coach	Chef Jung



Kim Die-Woo	Choi Jung-Hwa
security staff	Caregiver Ko Bo-Hui (ep.13)

Hyowon Group



Lee Yoon-Jae	Kim Woo-Dam	Ma Jung-Pill	Lee Ho-Suk	Kim Jung-Suk
Attorney Choi Jin-Yeong	Secretary Seo	Secretary Cha	Secretary Cho	Chauffeur Kim



Kim Jin-Tae	Song Kyung-Etui	Kim Soo-Hyun	Park Sang-Yong	Lee Suk-Goo
Han Ji-Yong’s chauffeur	Dr. Kim	pr team employee (ep.6)	attorney (ep.6)	board of director (ep.8,11)

Sung Chan-Ho

board of director (ep.12-13)

Hagwon Gallery

Song Seon-Mi

Gallery Director Seo Jin-Kyung

Soo-Hyun Gallery



Ahn Ji-Hye	Kim Sun-Kyung	Jo Su-Bin	Song Seung-Hwan
deputy director	mother at Seo-Hyun Gallery (ep.3)	daughter at Seo-Hyun Gallery (ep.3)	autistic teen artist (ep.8)

IL sin



Ye Soo-Jung	Kim Yoon-Ji	Oh Jung-Yeon	Kim Ki-Bum
Mother Emma	Jasmin	Mi-Joo	Father Paul (ep.16)

Jung Seo-Hyun’s Group



Kim Jung-Hwa	Jo Hye-Won	Kim Yi-Seo
Suzy Choi	Jung Seo-Hyun (young) (ep.2)	Suzy Choi (young) (ep.2)

Chairman Han Suk-Chol’s Past



Yoon Dong-Joo	Choi Soo-Im
Han Suk-Chula (young)	Kim Mi-Ja

Fight Club Group



Jang Depok-Ju	Gil Gem-Sung	Kim Die-Han
Cho Gyeonggi-Cheol	Kwak Su-Chang	Cho Beam-Gu

Police



Seo Sung-Jong	Choi Young-Joon
Detective Hwang Hyeong-Su	Baek Dong-Hun

Reporters



Lee Chula	Park Na-Jin	Seo Sang-Won	Ki Hwan
Reporter Yoon Suk-Ho	reporter (ep.3)	reporter (ep.3)	Reporter, I’m Seung-Su (ep.5)

Han Jin-Ho’s Mistresses



Jung Yun-Ha	Oh A-Lin
Chae-Young	Hui-Bin (ep.6,15)

Kim Yu-Yeon’s Family

Choi Hyun-Jin

Kim Yu-Yeon’s brother (ep.4,16)

Jung Seo-Hyun’s Parenting Group



Kwon So-Hyun	Kim Ji-Woo	Kwak Na-Yeon	Jin Yu-Chan	Yoo Ah-Rheum
Ji-Won’s mother (ep.3-4)	Ji-Won (ep.3-4)	maid for Ji Won’s family (ep.3-4)	Ji-Won’s friend (ep.3)	student’s mother (ep.3)

Lim Hyang-Ju

student’s mother (ep.3)

Others



Jang Ha-Eon	Lee Dong-Kyu	Park Soo-Jin	Lee Ji-Hyun	Kim Yolo-Ho
Rho A-Rim	JSH news announcer (ep.3)	doctor (ep.4,6)	Maid Jang Hye-Yeong (ep.5,7)	horse riding coach (ep.5)



Lee Jae-Woo	Lee Ga-Kyung	Kim Hyo-Jin	Kim Hee-Chang	Seal Yoon-Hee
jeweler (ep.6)	Kang Ja-Kyung (ep.7)	Chairman Yang Chi-Gon’s wife (ep.9)	Attorney Kim Nam-Tae (ep.9)	Jung Seo-Hyun’s acquaintance (ep.9)



Yun Ki-Chang	Kim Yong-Jin	Jung Soo-Han	Lim Jae-Myung	Jung Young-Do
Attorney Hwang Bo-In (ep.10-11)	AA counselor (ep.10-11)	AA member (ep.10-11)	AA member (ep.10-11)	veterinarian (ep.10)



Lee Woo-Shin	Oh Kyu-Taek	Ri Min	Jung Tae-In	Han Yeo-Wool
judge (ep.10-11)	drama series staff (ep.12)	Mr. Ha (ep.14)	Seo Hi-Soo’s friend (ep.14)	Seo Hi-Soo’s friend (ep.14)



Choi Young-Min	Kim Joo-A
video forensics (ep.14)	psychiatrist (ep.15)

Additional Cast Members:

Lee Yoon-Min - Chauffeur Park
Kim Ha-Rin - designer (ep.1,8)
Ko Kyung-Man - priest (ep.1)
Park Hee-Yeon - (ep.3)

Jo Soo-Yeon - cinema employee (ep.4)
Kim Jung-Hwan - funeral priest (ep.13)

﷟HYPERLINK “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_(TV_series)”

Vincenzo (2021)

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Ratings: 9.0/10 from 24,987 users 

# Of Watchers: 47,574

Reviews: 303 users

At the age of eight, Park Joo Hyeong went to Italy after being adopted. Now an adult, he is known as Vincenzo Casino to the Mafia, who employ him as a consigliere. Because mafia factions are at war with each other, he flees to South Korea, where he gets involved with Lawyer Hong Cha Young. She is the type of attorney who will do anything to win a case. Now back at his motherland, he gives an unrivaled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice. (Source: Netflix, Asianizing) Edit Translation

English
한국어

日本語
Русский
Related Content

Vincenzo: Special (Korean compilation)

Native Title: 빈센조
Also Known As Basenji
Screenwriter: Park Jae Bum
Director: Kim Hee Won
Genres: Comedy, Law, Crime, Drama

Tags: Lawyer, Revenge, Eccentric Female Lead, Mafia, Smart Male Lead, Injustice, Competent Protagonist, Father-Daughter Relationship, Charming Male Lead, Funny Female Lead (Vote or add tags)

Where to Watch Vincenzo

Netflix

Subscription (sub)

Cast & Credits

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Song Jong Ki

Vincenzo Casino / Park Joo Hyung

Main Role

Jeon Yeo Bin

Hong Cha Young

Main Role

Ok Teac Yeon

Jang Jun Woo

Main Role

Kim Yeo Jin

Choi Myung Hee [Prosecutor]

Support Role

Jo Han Chula

Han Seung Hyuk [CEO of Woosung Law firm]

Support Role

Kwak Dong Yeon

Jang Han Seo [Head of Babel Group]

Support Role

Comment:

another one of my favorites. An Korean child is adotped by an Italian family who has mob connections. He graduates from Law School and becomes a lawyer to a Mafia family. He hides millions of dollars in gold bullion in an office building in South Korea. Hidden within the gold is a secret file on secrets of all the main corporation and politicial leaders in Korea known as the Guillitine file. Venzenco goes to Korea to recover the money after the godfather dies. The building tenants are being evicted by an evil corporation which wants to build their headquarters in their centrally located plaza. The tenants are being led by a lawyer. When he dies his daughter takes up the fight. She enlists the aid of Venzenco who teaches her how to do things the mafia way. There is the usual rich family behaving badly scenario, political corrution etc. And a slow burning love affair. The main villian is a real sociopath, which is also a common theme in Korean dramas nowadays. There is also an implied LGBT theme – as Venzenco is a very attractive man and both men and women try to seduce him. Another villain is a corrupt ex-prosecutor who goes to work for the evil Babel corporation and its sociopathic young secret chairman. He had been exiled to Canada as a young man when he killed a number of his classmates after witnessing his father being left to die by his mother. End comment

Sisyphus: The Myth (2021)

An unfathomable incident introduces a genius engineer to dangerous secrets of the world — and to a woman from the future who’s come looking for him. Han Tae Sul, a co-founder of Quantum and Time, is a genius engineer with the highest level of coding skills and outstanding looks that outweighs his engineer fashion sense. Due to his innovative achievements, Quantum and Time is a world-class company, dubbed “The Miracle of South Korea’s Engineering Industry.” In reality, Tae Sul has constantly caused his company’s stocks to fluctuate after his brother’s death ten years ago. One day, he witnesses something unbelievable. To reach the truth, he sets off on a dangerous journey. Kang Seo Hai is a survivor of a future dystopian world. With the survival skills that she’s learned from living amongst gangsters and warlords, she travels back to save Han Tae Sul. (Source: Netflix, Newsmen) Edit Translation

English

한국어
中文(简体)
日本語
Native Title: 시지프스: The Myth

Also Known As Sisyphus: The Fable, Sipleses, Sisyphus
Director: Jin Hyeon
Screenwriter: Jeon Chan Ho, Lee Je In
Genres: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Drama, Fantasy

n Tae Sul

Main Role

Park Shin Hye

Kang Seo Hai

Main Role

Kim Byung Chula

Seo Won Ju / “Sigma”

Main Role

Sung Dong-Il

President Park [President of Asia Mart]

Support Role

Tae In Ho

Eddie Kim / Kim Seung Bok [Tae Sul’s friend / Co-founder of Quantum & Time]

Support Role

Chae Jong Hyeon

Sun / Choi Jae Sun [Chinese restaurant delivery guy]

Support Role

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Completed  0 

Overall8.5

Story8.5

Acting/Cast9.0

Music8.5

Rewatch Value8.0

All you need is love

Sisyphus: The Myth is an intriguing drama. The thrilling teaser that was released late last year stoked the flames of excitement for many avid K-drama viewers. Coupled with a cast that’s headlined by bankable stars the likes of Cho Seung Woo and Park Shin Hye, it became one of the most talked-about and highly anticipated shows for 2021. When it finally aired, however, it polarized opinions here in MDL and left several viewers’ expectations somewhat unfulfilled, to the extent that the ratings steadily declined to the current score hovering at around 8.

Some continued to enjoy the show, for various reasons, and I happen to be one of them. Allow me to share my (spoiler-free) thoughts and then you can make your own decision on whether or not to embark on what has largely been a fun-filled escapist roller coaster ride.

What is it about?
In a nutshell, a woman from the dystopian future of South Korea travels back in time in the hopes of altering the course of history by preventing the seemingly inevitable fate that befell the country, the looming catastrophe of nuclear war. Central to this mission is the man who invented the time-traveling machine. These two characters are played by Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung Woo respectively.

The drama contains a mix of science fiction, action, drama, and romance genres imbued with themes of revenge, redemption, remorse, love, friendship, and familial bond. The director is Jin Hyeon, who notably helmed The Legend of the Blue Sea, The Master’s Sun, and City Hunter, among others. The screenplay is written by the husband and wife team of Jeon Chan Ho and Lee Je In, for only their third production.

This show is jointly produced by Drama House and JTBC and has been publicized as the network’s 10th-anniversary special drama. Its title is derived from the ancient character from Greek mythology, King Sisyphus of Corinth, and is completely pre-produced with principal photography that has taken place toward the end of 2020.

What’s great about it?

The Production Values
As expected of a JTBC production, this drama is very well, made. I love the cinematography (in particular the indoor lighting), the many gorgeous scenic views of both Seoul in the present time, and the vast landscape of the dystopian future. The set designs for various settings are quite exemplary while the special effects (CGIs, firefights, and pyrotechnics) are considered top tier for a show of this nature.

The Acting and Cast
In my humble opinion, the leads are fantastic and I have absolutely no complaints. While Cho Seung Woo fully embodies the character of Han Tae Sul, the same goes for Park Shin Hye’s Kang Seo Hai. They deliver very strong performances in their portrayal of deeply flawed and emotionally scarred individuals. These are the types of roles that perhaps mature actors with adequate professional and life experiences are better-equipped to articulate and convey convincingly, which is very much the case here.

It’s interesting to note that unlike Cho Seung Woo’s other more serious roles, especially that of Hwang Shi Mock in Stranger, here his Han Tae Sul is much more comedic and mischievous with a copious dose of flamboyance and swagger. Despite possessing similar social awkwardness, this character is remarkably more fun while his ingenuity in getting out of tricky situations bears an uncanny resemblance to the MacGyver persona.

Such nuanced characterization is depicted by the other veteran supporting cast as well, notably Sung Dong Il, Kim Byung Chula, and Kim Jong Tae. Kim Byung Chula in particular surprised me with his depiction of Seo Won Ju. Despite being slightly OTT, I suspect he had the time of his life being “unleashed” from his usual more understated roles. Here he plays “dual characters” where his versatility is quite commendable.

Special mention goes to the young actor Lee Joo Won, who plays the young version of Seo Won Ju. This kid truly gave me goosebumps with his chilling portrayal.

The Action
For the most part, the choreography has been outstanding. From the numerous unarmed combat sequences to the firefights involving some pretty impressive military hardware. It’s not often that we see plenty of intense (and at times, logic-defying) gun battles in a non-military drama so this aspect of the production is indeed praiseworthy. Other forms of action include a lot of hard running in chasing (and being chased by) a multitude of characters.

The Romance
This particular theme is so beautifully and convincingly conveyed. It helps immensely that Cho Seung Woo and Park Shin Hye abundantly possess such wonderful chemistry which is poignantly manifested amidst the ensuing intrigue and mayhem. The pairing of Han Tae Sul and Kang Seo Hai, in many ways, makes a lot of sense. They are each plagued by a traumatic past and rendered seriously flawed, emotionally damaged, and are now fighting against the odds to change their fate.

What could’ve been better?

The Science
I love the concept here about time traveling to the past to change the future which gives me vibes of The Twelve Monkeys where the premise is quite similar. However, I do feel that the science as depicted in the show is super messy. Many technical aspects are open to interpretation and left to the viewers to fill in the blanks, as the story progresses. It’s a process of trial and error where we discover new things during every episode. The finale is quite possibly the most mind-blowing of all.

The Screenplay
A parallel narrative and converging plot format are used to tell the story, which includes numerous flashbacks and flashforwards by various major characters in multiple timelines – the past, present, and future. Sometimes title cards are used to indicate the date, but not when the scene is obvious. It can get a little disorienting unless viewers pay close attention to the details.

How and why certain events transpire are quite convoluted and require too much deductive reasoning to derive a sense of what the answers could be. The credibility of certain characters is questionable while quite a number of the sequences appear utterly ridiculous and fantastical, despite the sci-fi tag. The seeming lack of logic in certain respects of the overarching plot has led me to strongly suspect the screenwriters were high on recreational psychoactive substances as they were writing this.

Overall
The sooner viewers suspend disbelief and forgo questioning how the technology works by accepting the science as it is, the less confusing the show would appear to be. Regardless of the perceived weaknesses resulting from the flawed execution of the concept, I found myself enjoying the wild and, at times, exhilarating ride once I shut down my cerebral process and went instinctive. I would advise you to do the same for this is the only way to truly appreciate Sisyphus: The Myth. And if you do decide to watch this, be rest assured – the ending is very much a happy one, for everyone (kind of).

At outset, the drama starts as an interesting and pioneering perspective of time travel. With the use of new ideas like uploader and downloader, the science-fiction aspect is on par with that of the contemporary world of science fiction entertainment.

Along with this, is the backdrop of a nuclear war involving Koreas, it provides an exquisite playing field for proficient storytelling. These themes remind me of the “TENET” movie.

The show is almost convincible scientifically about time travel*. But that’s where the spectacle of this show ends. This show has countless flaws.

One, after setting the story, the show becomes more character-driven and not plot-driven. Thus, giving little scope for further exploring the sci-fi elements or packing it with more plot elements. Viewers are taken through detailed narratives about various side characters. These insights could have been less detailed.

Two, Will over Wits. Almost every scene has some sort of test for characters to make a choice. Almost every character ends up making emotion-driven decisions and not reason-driven. This leads to a countless loop of bad folks coercing good folks to fall into their traps. Countless episodes are wasted in these cat-and-mouse endeavors.

Three, Lack of an alternate answer to the recurring question “Girl or World?” Right in the first instance of asking this question, the answer is undeniably obvious. Yet, the protagonist delays to choose the answer giving false hope of the possibility of an alternative answer. Had this been answered earlier, it would have ended the show quicker.

Four, Romance: The Leads’ relationship feels more like comradeship and less like a romantic one. If at all it is present, it is not so passionate and intense given their life-threatening circumstances.

Five, the beginning of the time loop. How did all this begin that is, the events right before the first loop are hardly explained. I believe that explaining a bootstrap paradox is an unimaginable task.

Despite the flaws, there are a couple of appreciable elements like One, ambitious production. The initial fights and stunts scenes felt amateurish in CGI. But the events of the future were well, produced. The drone chase scene was a personal favorite. The fights scenes were really good, especially the last fight of the future timeline. Two, despite the ever-looming question of “save the world”, the intermittent scenes of future events were very imaginative. Three, Badass FL and Genius ML both bring something unique to the plot. Four, the “Act of Kindness” (without letting the spoiler out), was the best moment in the entire drama and gave the best “glimmer of hope”, an essential feature of the Sci-Fi genre.

Acting-wise, both the leads are exceptional. PSH stunt scenes are awe-worthy. Kim Byung Chula does an incredible job. Music-wise, I liked the title music of whizzing sound and the end song. Rewatch value is lower as sci-fi elements are hardly convoluted.

Sisyphus: The Myth is an inventive concept but fails in storytelling.
~~
*Logical inconsistencies do exist.

Comment::

I have to agree with the concensus on this one. It jsut did not work for me. The plot was just too convulated and contraditory. The acting was superb but the writing sub-par particularly the ending. One principle of creative writing is that when you write you are creating an alternative world. And every world has rules. Violating the rules of your alternative unvierse leaves the readers or viewers confused, disappointed or even angry. The special effects were good, not great. The plot had too many holes in to. In the end it was defeated by the writing. End

End comment

Stranger (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia





	비밀의 숲
Hanja	祕密의 숲
Genre	Crime Drama Thriller
Created by	Studio Dragon
Written by	Lee Soo-Yeon
Directed by	Ahn Gil-ho (Season 1) Yoo Je-won (Season 1) Park Hyun-Suk (Season 2)
Creative directors	Kim Suk-won Kim Sung-kytoon
Starring	Cho Seung-woo Bae Dona Lee Joon-hyuk Yoo Jae-Myung Shin Hye-sun Jeon Hye-jin Choi Moo-sung Yoon Se-ah
Theme music composer	Kim Jun-Seok
Opening theme	Stranger
Composers	Kim Jun-Seok Jung Sae-rim
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	32 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Lee Chan-ho Min Hyun-il Go Byung-churl Lee Sung-jin
Producers	Park Unyoung Seo Jae-Hyun
Cinematography	Jang Jong-Kyung
Editor	Kim Na-young
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	63-86 minutes
Production companies	Signal Entertainment Group IOK Media Ace Factory (Season 2)
Distributor	tyvm (Asia) Netflix (Worldwide)
Release
Original network	tyvm
Picture format	HDTV 1080i
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1
Original release	June 10, 2017 – present
External links
Website

Stranger (Korean: 비밀의 숲; RR: Baillieu Sup; lit. Secret Forest) is a South Korean crime thriller drama television series. Produced by Signal Entertainment and IOK Media, it was created by Studio Dragon writer Lee Soo-Yeon and broadcast on tvN from June 10, 2017. The series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on August 15, 2020.

The series was a hit with both domestic and international viewers,[1] and received favorable reviews for its tight plot, gripping sequences, and strong performances.[2][3] It was featured on the New York Times list of Best TV Shows of 2017,[4] and won several awards including the Grand Prize for television at the Baek sang.[5]

[Control]

Contents

1Synopsis

6.1Critical response

6.2Viewership

11External links

Synopsis[edit]

In the first season, Hwang Si-Mok (Cho Seung-woo) is an exemplary prosecutor who suffers from hypersensitivity to certain sound frequencies. After undergoing corrective surgery, he lost his sense of empathy and lacks social skills. While investigating a murder, he meets Police Lieutenant Han Yeo-jin (Bae Dona), who assists his efforts to solve the case. As they begin to unravel the mystery behind the murder, they find that their efforts are continually being obstructed by participants in a major corruption conspiracy between the Prosecutors’ Office and a private chaebol (conglomerate).

In the second season, set two years later, a dispute arises between the Prosecutors’ Office and the National Police Agency, with the former wanting control over all investigative proceedings while the latter seeks autonomous authority to conduct investigations. Amid their respective agencies’ conflict, Hwang Si-Mok, and Han Yeo-jin team up to conduct their independent investigation of a concealed case.[6]

Cast and characters[edit]

Main article: List of Stranger characters

Cho Seung-woo as Hwang Si-Mok
Bae Dona as Han Yeo-jin
Lee Joon-hyuk as Seo Dong-Jae
Yoo Jae-Myung as Lee Chang-Joon (season 1; guest season 2)

Shin Hye-sun as Young Eon-soo (season 1; guest season 2)
Yoon Se-ah as Lee Yeon-Jae (season 2; recurring season 1)
Jeon Hye-jin as Choi Bit (season 2)
Choi Moo-sung as Woo Tae-ha (season 2)

Episodes[edit]

Main article: List of Stranger episodes

Season		Episodes	Originally aired		Ave. South Korea viewers (millions)
Season		Episodes	First aired	Last aired	Ave. South Korea viewers (millions)
	1	16	June 10, 2017	July 30, 2017	N/A[a]
	2	16	August 15, 2020	October 4, 2020	1.774

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

The entire series was written by Lee Soo-Yeon who was inspired by the Korean adage “We cannot rule those who want nothing” to create the character of Si-Mok.[7] Ahn Gil-ho directed the majority of the first season with the assistance of Yoo Je-won, while Park Hyun-Seok took over the filming duties for the second season.[8] Unlike usual South Korean dramas, the series was developed as a potential multi-seasonal program, with most of the filming have already been pre-produced before its broadcast.[9][10]

Casting[edit]

In January 2017, Cho Seung-woo and Bae Dona were offered the lead roles. The same month Shin Hye-sun was added to the cast.[11] It was the first television drama Cho Seung-woo had accepted since God’s Gift – 14 Days in 2014, after venturing into musical theatre for seven years.[12] For the second season, cast members Cho Seung-woo, Bae Dona, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Yoon Se-ah, were all confirmed to reprise their roles. Jeon Hye-jin and Choi Moo-sung were also confirmed to join the lead cast in January 2020.[6]

Filming[edit]

Filming of the first season began in April 2017, preceded by the first script reading with the cast at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul.[12] Script reading for the second season took place in January 2020.[6]

Music[edit]

*Stranger (Original Television Soundtrack)*
Soundtrack album by  Various artists
Released	September 13, 2017
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	157 minutes
Language	Korean English
Label	Mog Kakao M Universal Music Korea

An accompanying soundtrack compilation to Stranger was released by Mog Communications and Kakao M on September 13, 2017, in South Korea.[13] It was later reissued by Universal Music Group in overseas markets on May 11, 2018.[14] A three-disc album, the latter two discs features music composed by Kim Jun-Seok and Jung Sae-rin for the program.[15][16] Ten songs were released from the soundtrack as singles in numbered parts from June to July 2017: “끝도없이 (Ad Infinitum)” by Richard Parkers, “먼지 (Dust)” Evelia, “소나기 (Downpour)” by Ohio, “괴물처럼 (Monster Like)” by Tie, “웃어요 (Smile)” by Han Hee Jung & Sorae, the titular track “비밀의 숲 (Stranger)” by Yoon Do-Hyun, “사랑할 것 처럼 (As if to Love)” by Kim Kohen of My teen, “물결 (A Billow)” by Yean of Lovelyz, “굿바이 잘가요 (Goodbye)”/”Back in Time” by Peter Han, and “묻는다 (Ask)” by Jung Won-boo of NeighBro & Jun Sang-gun.[17] Of these, the songs “소나기 (Downpour)” and “사랑할 것 처럼 (As if to Love)” have managed to enter the South Korean Gaon BGM Music Chart at numbers 80 and 79, respectively.[18][19]

Jin-hai commended the writing as “finely intertwined”, and wrote that audiences gave a strong response to this “drama for thinking people”.[7] The New York Times listed the series in tenth place as they’re The Best TV Shows of 2017.[25]

At the 54th Buesking Arts Awards, the series received eight nominations, including two considerations for Grand Prize for Television, winning one for the whole series.[26] Cho Seung-woo and Lee Soo-Yeon also won Best Television Actor and Best Television Screenplay, respectively.[26] In a Gallup Korea poll, audiences aged 19 and above selected Stranger as their 12th favorite show in July 2017.[27] While Google Korea listed the series as the ninth most-searched television program of 2017.[28]

Viewership[edit]

According to data published by Nielsen Korea, the pilot episode of the series was seen by 3.041percent of total nationwide viewers, in metropolitan Seoul, it earned a 3.2percent rating, which made it the highest-rated program of the day among non-terrestrial channel programs.[29] The program achieved its highest rating on the first-season finale, earning a 6.568percent nationwide rating and a 7.622percent rating within Seoul-based viewers.[30] On average, it was seen by 4.562percent of total viewership.[31] On the Times rating system, the series premiered with a 3.2percent rating and ended its first season with a 7.1percent rating.[32] The last episode recorded noticeably strong rating performances as it took the lead rating for the first time against hit variety show Hori’s that aired in the same time slot and became the highest-rated program of the day among non-terrestrial channels programs.[33][34]

Comment:

Well done police drama. The usual rich people behaving badly, political corruption, honest police officers trying to solve crime being thwarted by corrupt senior level figures. The romance theme was hinted at but never really developed. There was also a nice sub-theme of a serial killer whose crimes were covered up his father who was a prosecutor. The series takes place amid the South Korean government’s attempt to reform the prosecutor’s office transferring much of their power to the police. The movie is perhaps a bit too pro-government reform in that regard. I would have liked to have seen a stronger romance and would have liked to have seen the political corporation corruption case spelled out a lot more. The plot was a bit confusing but the acting was first rate. I would have to give it a B.

End comment

Space Sweepers

Space Sweepers is a 2021 South Korean space Western film directed by Jo Sung-hee, starring Song Jong-ki, Kim Tae-Ri, Jin Seon-kyu, and Yoo Hai-jin. Regarded as the first Korean space blockbuster, it was released on Netflix on February 5, 2021.Wikipedia

Director Sung-hee

Produced by: Yoon In-beom, Kim Soo-jin

Writer(s): Yoon Seung-min, Yoo-king Seo-ae, Jo Sung-hee

Space Sweepers (Korean: 승리호; Hanja: 勝利號; RR: Sangho; lit. Spaceship Victory) is a 2021 South Korean space Western film directed by Jo Sung-hee, starring Song Jong-ki, Kim Tae-Ri, Jin Seon-kyu, and Yoo Hae-jin.[2] Regarded as the first Korean space blockbuster,[3] it was released on Netflix on February 5, 2021.[4][5]

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Contents

3.3Filming

Plot[edit]

In the year 2092, Earth has become nearly uninhabitable. The UTS Corporation builds a new orbiting home for humanity that mimics the natural processes on Earth; however, only a chosen few are permitted to ascend and become UTS citizens, while those remaining on Earth breathe polluted air.

To regulate the population in orbit and keep an eye on the non-citizens, UTS governs them via a strict set of rules and taxes. Many non-citizens from all across the globe work as space sweepers, collecting space debris floating in Earth’s orbit and selling it to the company factory for survival. The plot follows such a crew of space sweepers and their ship, the Victory.

Victory’s crew has Kim Tae-ho, Tiger Park, and Bubs (an android), all led by Captain Jang. Tiger Park handles the ship’s machinery and was a drug baron on Earth. Bubs used to be a robot soldier but now helps repair the ship and cast the net for space junk while saving up to get a complete skin graft. Jang was one of the child geniuses sponsored by UTS and created several hi-tech inventions for the company but, after discovering the company’s true workings, became a pirate and tried to assassinate James Sullivan. Her crew was killed and Sullivan survived, so she changed identities and had an eye transplant. Tae-ho, once a child soldier, is on a search for his daughter (Su-ni); who was lost and ejected into space after space debris collided with the station they were staying at. His sole life aim is to pay for the authorities’ recovery team to locate her body tracker before she drifts out of orbit and gets lost in space forever.

After picking up a car floating in orbit, they discover a child in it. News reports say that she is a robot named Dorothy, and has a weapon of mass destruction inside her created by the terrorist group Black Fox. The crew also finds a smartphone in Dorothy’s bag with several missed calls from someone named Kang Hyeon-u. They call back and, assuming the other party to be part of the Black Fox group, negotiate two million dollars for returning Dorothy. Tiger finds Dorothy drawing in his cabin and starts a conversation with her, as he finds himself drawn to her.

Tae-ho and Tiger carry Dorothy to a nightclub to collect the ransom, but she wanders off in the crowd. UTS soldiers have lain in wait, and a massacre ensues. Tiger and Tae-ho locate Dorothy when Soldier 01 zeroes in and shoots at them. Dorothy’s eyes change color, and the trio is protected from the blast by a sort of force field around them. Jang is watching everything through a feed on the ship. She also notices the man who came to collect Dorothy shouting after her and calling her Kotani. The trio makes it back to the ship, and Dorothy busies herself drawing and playing. When asked by Jang what her name is, Dorothy says Kotani is her Korean name. Tae-ho ignores her, thinking she is a robot, while Tiger becomes friendly with her and suggests keeping her. Tae-ho dismisses the idea and goes to sets up another call with Kang Hyeon-u to rearrange the exchange.

Dorothy and Tae-ho find tomatoes on the plant that Dorothy had helped revive from a dead tree, and sell them. Jang finds papers in Dorothy’s backpack and goes through them. Bubs put makeup on Dorothy and tell her the story of Tae-ho; as a child soldier, Tae-ho was Soldier 01 at the age of 17. On one of his voyages, Tae-ho shot and boarded a ship that carried several fleeing non-citizens and killed them all. He noticed a baby still alive in the arms of a dead woman and adopted the girl. She rekindled his humanity and Tae-ho found himself unable to hurt others – as a result, he was dismissed from the force, made homeless, and reduced to a non-citizen. After one year of homelessness, Tae-ho became desperate and gambled, neglecting Su-ni. She wandered away to find a snack, and while outside there was a debris impact that caused her to be blown into space, with Tae-ho helplessly witnessing it from an airlock.

A masked man follows Kotani to the toilet in the factory. Her screams alert Tae-ho and Tiger, who rush to save her but are ambushed by a group of masked people. Tiger beats them all and Jang intervenes, discovering they are other space junk collectors working with Black Fox. Their leader, Karuma, explains that Black Fox is not a terrorist organization, but rather an environmental group and that Kotani is not an android but a human child. Born with a congenital disease, her father Kang Hyeon-u injected her with nanobots found in space debris to save her life. The nanobots helped not only saved Kotani but also gave her a unique power: Kotani could now communicate with other nanobots and heal and protect things. Sullivan found this out and used Kotani to turn Mars into a healthy, green planet. He now plans to kill Dorothy in a hydrogen bomb explosion (since nanobots can only be destroyed by breaking them into atoms through extremely high temperatures). Given its proximity to Earth, the explosion would cause the factory to fall onto the planet, destroying the Earth and making Mars the only viable option for all humans.

The crew decides to unite Kotani with her father and disable the bomb, with the help of the Black Foxes who will locate and take Dr. Kang to the meeting point. Soldiers attack them, but Tae-ho and Kotani manage to flee on the Victory. They enter a space debris field, where nanobots begin to consume their ship. Kotani communicates with them, and the nanobots disperse. They enter the factory where the meet-up is scheduled, only to be ambushed. The UTS soldiers kill all the Black Foxes and Dr. Kang before kidnapping Kotani. Sullivan leaves Tae-ho four million dollars in return for abandoning Kotani. Tae-ho takes the money, but the rest decide to save Kotani – even if it kills them. Tae-ho goes to give the money to the UTS officers, and they hand over Su-no’s last found remains to him – her clothes, crayons, and Korean writing book. In it, Su-ni had written that she wanted to be a good person like her father. This reminds Tae-ho of the promise he made to Su-ni, to be the best man she had ever known. He takes back the money and returns to the ship with a new zeal before they all go to save Kotani.

Sullivan goes live, announcing the Mars program. The bomb has been armed in the factory, and Kotani is strapped to it on a chair. The team frees Kotani, but Jang discovers that the bomb cannot be defused. It will not only destroy anything in its blast range but also destroy any nanobots in the vicinity of 5,000 kilometers. The only way Kotani’s nanobots (and her life) can be saved is if she is out of range. The team sets off to fly 5,000 km away, but is interrupted by Soldier 01; Tiger fights her and ejects her from the factory. The team sends out a message to the rest of the Space Sweepers, who come to their aid, fighting the attacking troops. The population of Earth learns of Sullivan’s true goals when they hear him recount his plan through the Space Sweepers’ emergency comm channel. The Victory is intercepted by Sullivan himself, who tries to fight the crew to get back Kotani. When it seems they have lost the battle, Tiger and Tae-ho manage a final boost that puts the ship just out of the blast range. The crew reveals their real plan: Kotani was left safely behind with other Space Sweepers. The Victory had removed the bomb from the core and carried it away, ready to sacrifice their lives to save Earth and Kotani. The bomb explodes; however, Kotani has summoned the nanobots to protect the Victory, keeping the crew safe.

In the aftermath of the battle, UTS apologizes for the cover-up of the true goals and promise to help make Earth more habitable. Kotani is adopted by the crew and, using her powers, enables Tae-Ho to say goodbye to Su-ni. Bubs get her skin graft. Tiger and Tae-Ho take Kotani down to Earth to help grow trees and they all continue space sweeping.

Cast[edit]

Song Jong-ki as Kim Tae-ho – Former Commander of the Space Guards and the first-ever UTS Genius.
Kim Tae-Ri as Captain Jang / Jang Hyun-sook – Former Special Forces Squad officer who later deserted her post to create her pirate organization. She attempted to assassinate CEO James Sullivan in which her entire pirate crew was killed.
Jin Seon-kyu as Tiger Park / Park Kyung-soo – Former Drug King who escaped Earth after being arrested and sentenced to death.
Yoo Hai-jin as Robot Bubs – Former military robot trying to save up for her gender confirmation services

Richard Armitage as James Sullivan – The CEO of UTS.
Kim Mu-yell as Kang Hyeon-u – Kang Kotani’s father and a scientist.
Park Ye-rim as Dorothy / Kang Kotani – First believed to be a robot, she is a human who was injected with nanobots by her father as a last resort to heal her.
Kim Hyang-gi as Bubs’ new body

comment:

good solid dyspopian vision of the near future. Usual corporate corruption, and rich epople behaving badly. Understated romance that does not really develop.

End comment

last Man Standing K Drama

The Man Standing Next

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

he Man Standing Next (Korean: 남산의 부장들; Hanja: 南山의 部長들; RR: Nnamani bujangdeul; lit. Chiefs of Namsan) is a 2020 South Korean political drama film directed by Woo Min-ho. Based on an original novel of the same title, the film stars Lee Byung-Hun, Lee Sung-min, Kwak Do-won, and Lee Hee-Joon as the high ranking officials of the Korean government and the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) during the presidency of Park Chung-hee 40 days before his assassination in 1979.[2]

[Control]

Comment: an enjoyable dsyotpian story taking place in space after much of the earth is uninhabital and an Mars colonization drive is launched. Usual polticial and corporate corruption and rich people behaving badly. The romance between the lead characters is hinted at but never resolved. The child star is future star in the making. The dialogue was well done. I enjoyed this one. End comment

Mr. Sunshine




Hangul	미스터 션샤인
Genre	Historical Romance Melodrama
Created by	Jennie Choi
Written by	Kim Eon-sook
Directed by	Lee Aung-bok [ko]
Starring	Lee Byung-Hun Kim Tae-Ri Yoo Yeon-Seok Kim Min-Jung Byun Yo-hand
Composer	Nam Hye-Seung
Country of origin	South Korea
Original languages	Korean, Japanese, English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	24[1] (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Kim Young-kyu Yoon Ha-rim
Camera setup	Single-camera
Production companies	Studio Dragon Haddam Pictures
Distributor	CJ E&M Netflix
Budget	₩40 billion[2]
Release
Original network	TV
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Audio format	Dolby Digital
Original release	July 7 – September 30, 2018[3]
External links
Website
Production website

Mr. Sunshine (Korean: 미스터 션샤인; RR: Misquote Syeonsyain) is a 2018 South Korean television series written by Kim Eon-sook and directed by Lee Eung-bok [ko], starring Lee Byung-Hun, Kim Tae-Ri, Yoo Yeon-Seok, Kim Min-jung, and Byun Yo-hand.[4][5] The series is set in Hansen (present-day Seoul) in the early 1900s and focuses on activists fighting for Korea’s independence.[6][7] The series aired every Saturday and Sunday on tyvm starting from July 7, 2018 and ended on September 30, 2018. It premiered internationally on Netflix.[8]

The series recorded the 6th highest ratings for cable television with its final episode reaching 18.129percent and netting an average rating of 12.955percent, which is the second-highest average rating ever recorded for cable television.[9] It received critical acclaim for its cinematography and storytelling but was also criticized for its inaccurate portrayal of historical facts, with some even accusing it of being “pro-Japanese“.[10]

[Control]

Contents

1Synopsis

2Cast

2.3Special appearances

6.1Criticism

Synopsis[edit]

Mr. Sunshine centers around Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-Hun), who was born into slavery in Joseon. After escaping to the United States after the 1871 Shimmying, he becomes a Marine Corps officer.

When he returns to Joseon for a mission, Eugene meets and falls in love with an aristocrat’s granddaughter, Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-Ri), who is part of the Righteous Army. However, their love is challenged by their different classes and the presence of Kim Hui-song (Byun Yo-han), a nobleman who has been Ae-shin’s betrothed since childhood. Eugene also encounters Goo Dong-Mae (Yoo Yeon-Seok), a ruthless samurai, and Kudo Hana (Kim Min-jung), owner of the popular “Glory Hotel” where Eugene stays. At the same time, he discovers a plot by the Empire of Japan to colonize Korea and soon becomes embroiled in the fight for Joseon’s sovereignty.

Historical background[edit]

Unlike most Suns dramas dealing with the Japanese occupation of Korea, Mr. Sunshine takes place before the Japanese annexation, in the late 1800s to early 1900s. It has a heavy focus on the Righteous Army and depicts the lives of people who fought for Joseon’s freedom. Real-life historical events such as Shimmying, the Spanish-American War,[11] the assassination of Empress Kyongsang, the Russo-Japanese War,[12] Gojong‘s forced abdication, and the Battle of Mandamus are portrayed or mentioned.[13]

Historical figures such as Emperor Gojong, Ito Hiromi, Hayashi Gonsuke, Yoshimichi Hasegawa, Horace Newton Allen, and the Five Elsa Traitors [12] appear as recurring characters, with others, such as Theodore Roosevelt,[14] Ahn Chang-ho,[15] Eum Sun-heon [ko],[16] Park Seung-hwan [ko],[13] and Frederick Arthur Mackenzie, also making cameo appearances.

Main Historical Events Described in Mr. Sunshine[edit]

The Battle of Ganghwa (1871): It was a major battle that occurred on June 10, 1871, between the United States and the Joseon Dynasty. On June 1, the American ships entered the Ganghwa Straits to establish trade and ensure the safety of the shipwrecked sailors of the SS Sherman, which was destroyed by the army of Joseon. However, they came under fire. The United States gave Joseon ten days to apologize, but they refused. As a result, on June 10, the U.S ships USS Palos and USS Monocacy fired their weapons against the Choi Garrison on Ganghwa Island and wiped out the Joseon army.[17] In Mr. Sunshine, the battle scenes are thoroughly described as its character Jang Seung-goo fought in this battle as a teen and lost his father. This battle was a pivotal moment for Seung-goo as it caused him to believe that King Gojong abandoned his people and let them die.
The Japan-Korean Treaty of 1905: This treaty was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire on November 17, 1905. Through it, Japan effectively overtook the diplomatic control of Korea.[18] While Mr. Sunshine does not demonstrate this treaty and its effects in detail, it contains a scene in which Kim Hui-song takes pictures of the pro-Japanese Korean officials. Through these pictures, Hui-song intends to let his descendants know the misconduct of the corrupted government officials.
The Battle of Mandamus: This battle was fought between the Korean and Japanese armies on August 1, 1907. It took place at the Namdaemun Gate, in Hansen and was a revolt of the Korean army against the order of disbandment that was issued through the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1907.[19] In Mr. Sunshine, the battle scenes are depicted in detail. The character Jang Seung-goo sacrifices himself to protect his soldiers. This battle is a turning point for Seung-goo as he sacrifices himself for a country and an emperor he dislikes.

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

Lee Byung-Hun as Eugene Choi / Choi Yoo-jin[20][21]

Kim Kang-hoon as child Eugene Choi / Choi Yoo-jin[22]
Jeon Jin-see [ko] as young Eugene Choi / Choi Yoo-jin[23]

Eugene Choi was born as a slave of Kim Pan-see, the paternal grandfather of Kim Hui-song. After witnessing his parents’ murder at the hands of their landlord, Eugene managed to escape to the United States and overcome the racial discrimination and become an American, he joins the Marine Corps and fights in the Spanish-American War. Later, Eugene returns to Joseon to carry a mission and falls in love with Go Ae-shin, a noblewoman who is secretly part of the Righteous army. Eugene has to choose between helping Ae-shin in her fight and maintaining his neutral position as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps.

Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin[24]

Heo Jung-eon as child Go Ae-shin[25]

A Joseon noblewoman who lost her parents as an infant. Ae-shin’s mother and father were independence fighters and were both killed in Japan due to their colleague’s betrayal. She is raised by her paternal grandfather, Go Sa-Hong, who helps Ae-shin train as a sniper under Jang Seung-goo and becomes part of the Righteous army. She meets Eugene Choi, who looks like people from Joseon yet claims to be an American, and falls in love with him.

Yoo Yeon-Seok as Goo Dong-Mae / Ishida Shoo[26]

Choi Min-young [ko] as young Goo Dong-Mae

The son of a butcher flees to Japan upon his parents’ death and becomes a samurai and member of the Music Society, which is part of a Yakuza group. Dong-Mae returns to Joseon with a mission of tormenting the people and helping the Japanese army overtake the country. He believes that it is Joseon’s unjust social hierarchical system that killed his parents. As a teen, Dong-Mae met Go Ae-shin, who saved his life, by purposely hiding him in her palanquin.

Kim Min-Jung as Lee Yang-hwa / Kudo Hana[27]

An influential widow who runs a hotel in Joseon. She was married off to an old, rich Japanese man by her father, Lee Wan-ink. Upon her husband’s mysterious death, she inherited the “Glory Hotel” and successfully operates it on her own. China is deeply ashamed of her father’s misdeeds and reputation and to find her mother, she helps Lee Jung-moon in fighting against the Japanese government and the pro-Japanese officials.

Bien Yo-han as Kim Hui-seong[28]

A Joseon nobleman is considered to be the richest after the emperor in terms of land ownership. Hui-song is emotionally tormented by his grandfather’s past and lives for over a decade in Japan to avoid marrying the woman his grandfather chose for him. However, once he returns to Joseon, he discovers that his fiancé is Go Ae-shin and falls in love with her, only to realize that there is no place left for him in her heart. Unlike his father and grandfather, Hui-song helps the Righteous army in many ways as he desperately desires to free himself from the sense of guiltiness.

Recurring

Joseon Government/

 as Emperor Gojong [29]

Kang Yi-Seok as young Emperor Gojong

The ruler of Joseon, who desperately fights for the country’s sovereignty.

Kang Shin-il as Lee Jung-moon

An anti-Japanese Minister who is loyal to the emperor. He secretly commands the Righteous Army.

Kim Etui-sung as Lee Wan-ik[30]

A selfish and cruel pro-Japanese official who killed Go Ae-shin’s parents. The father of Kudo China, he soon becomes Joseon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. He walks with a limp after a young Jang Seung-goo shot his leg during the Shimmying. Kim Jong-hee [ko] as Lee Deok-moon

A pro-Japanese nobleman who works as an assistant for Lee Wan-ink. He is Go Ae-son’s abusive husband.

Choi Jin-ho as Lee Se-hoon[31]

The arrogant and corrupt Minister of Foreign Affairs whose actions indirectly led to the deaths of Eugene Choi’s family.

Jung Hee-tea [ko] as Police Commissioner Jung Shin Mun-sung as Postmaster Yoon

Kim Kang-il [ko] as Dr. Matsuyama

A Japanese doctor secretly working for Lee Wan-ink.

Jung Seung-Gil [ko] as Ye Wan-yong

An infamous pro-Japanese Minister and part of the Five Elsa Traitors.

Righteous Army[Kim Kapp-soo as Hwang Eun-san[32]

A skilled potter who helped a young Choi Yoo-jin flee to the United States. He is now the leader of the Righteous army. Lee Si-hoon as Ko Yoshino[33]

A Japanese man works as an assistant for Hwang Eon-san.

Comment one of the top K dramas in the last few years. It is set in the late 19th century. The end of the Korea Chosen dynasty a period that led directly to modern Korea. Many of the things that make modern Korea has to do with how the last dynasty ended with the Japanese colonization, and the ending of the Japanese era.

In many ways the last dynasty was doomed from the onset. The leaders were corrupt, self-interested, and reactionary. They were unable to adapt to changing circumstances and Japan was on the ascendent as the new power in east Asia.

Perhaps under different leadership. Korea might have retained its independence as Thailand did during that period. But unfortunately Korea had inept leaders as well as chronic political corruption which the nefarious Japanese utilized aided by pro-Japanese Koreans who saw Japan as the future and sold out their country.

That dynamic plays out through the drama. The story is an unlikely love story between a young korean orphan who is send to the US by a missionary and eventually joins the US Marines as an officer and is send to Korea to work in the legation there and serves in Korean until the Japanese annexation, and a young Korean noblewoman who joins the “righteous army” of guerilla fighters who are fighting the Japanese takeover and of course lose the battle after the Japanese-Russian war of 1905.

There are many historical allusions throughout the series. Some of it is accuratre, some is overblown and some well are just wrong.

As far as I know there were no Korean American troops in Korea during this period. Also it is highly unlikely that a noblewoman would have been involved with the Righteous army.

There is also an implied theme throughout that the US sold Korean out to the evil Japanese. The reality is more that the U.S. looked the other way, not wanting to lose the Philippines. Korea was just not that important to the U.S. So in that sense perhaps one could say that the U.S sold out Korea but then again it is hard to imagine that the U.S. would have done anything else given how marginal Korea was to U.S. strategic interests back then.

The writing was first rate, the dialogue sizzling. The sub-themes well done. Overall I would give it an B+.

Itaewon Class

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Promotional poster

Hangul	이태원 클라쓰
Hanja	梨泰院 클라쓰
Genre	Drama
Based on	Itaewon Class by Gang Jin
Developed by	Kim Do-soo for Showbox
Written by	Gang Jin
Directed by	Kim Sung-Yoon
Starring	Park Seo-Joon Kim Da-mi Yoo Jae-Myung Kwon Nara
Composer	Various artists
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	16
Production
Executive producer	Jo Joon-Hyung
Producers	Lee Sang-Yoon Jung Soo-jin Han Suk-won
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	70 minutes
Production companies	Showbox Sium Content[a] Itaewon Class Production Partners Drama House (JTBC Studios)
Distributor	JTBC Netflix (international)
Release
Original network	JTBC
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Audio format	Dolby Digital
Original release	January 31 – March 21, 2020
External links
Website

Itaewon Class (Korean: 이태원 클라쓰; Hanja: 梨泰院 클라쓰; RR: Itaewon Keelless) is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-Joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-Myung, and Kwon Nara. Based on the webtoon of the same name,[2] it is the first series to be produced by the film distribution company Showbox. It aired on JTBC in Korea from January 31 to March 21, 2020, and is streaming worldwide on Netflix.[3][4][5] The series won Best Drama Series at the 25th Asian Television Awards.[6][7]

In the case of the webtoon, when Kakao Page and Daum webtoon were added together, the cumulative number of readers was 10 million, the cumulative number of views was 300 million, and the rating was 9.9 points.

Synopsis[edit]

Due to an accident that killed his father, Park Sae-ro-Yi (Park Seo-Joon) attempted to kill Jang Geun-won (Ahn Bo-Hyun), the son of Janggi Group’s founder, Jang Die-hee (Yoo Jae-Myung). He was jailed and the woman he loved, Oh Soo-ah (Kwon Na-ra), was offered a university scholarship by Jang Die-hee and later became the Strategic Planning Head of Janggi Group.

After his release from prison, Park Sae-ro-Yi opens Danbam in Itaewon. He wants to be successful and seeks revenge on the Janggi Group. However, he is not too smart at managing his business. He then meets Jo Yi-see (Kim Da-mi).

Cast and characters[edit]

Main[edit]

Park Seo-Joon as Park Sae-ro-yi[8]

Proprietor of Dana, a bar-restaurant in Itaewon. In his youth, Sae-ro-Yi gets expelled from high school for punching CEO Jang’s son Geun-won, who was bullying a classmate, and becomes bereaved when his father is killed by Geun-won’s reckless driving. Angered by the loss, he attacks Geun-won, leading to his three-year imprisonment. Following his father’s steps, Sae-ro-Yi opens his bar-restaurant Dana in Itaewon seven years after he is released from jail, with the aim of expanding it into a franchise and defeating CEO Jang’s food company Janggi Group. In 2020, he becomes the CEO of his company IC Group.

Kim Da-mi as Jo Yi-seo[9]

Manager of Sae-Ro-Yi’s bar-restaurant Dana. Yi-see is a multi-talented and intelligent girl with an IQ of 162. She moved from New York to continue her studies in South Korea. She is also famous on social media as a power blogger and social media internet celebrity. Having a crush on Sae-Ro-Yi, she offers to become the manager of Dana. Her lack of empathy and callous behavior has many people believe she is a sociopath, but she does end up caring for her Dana coworkers. Despite being declined by Sae-ro-Yi, Yi-seo remains by his side as his manager and work partner while still maintaining feelings for him. In 2020, Yi-see becomes the CFO of Sae-ro-Yi’s company IC Group. Eventually, Saroyan realizes his feelings for Yi-Seo and he confesses his love for her.

Yoo Jae-Myung as Jang Dae-hee[10]

CEO of food company Janggi Group. CEO Jang is a self-made man who, despite the odds, succeeds in turning his once small bar into a large franchise company. In his years of experience leading Janggi, he develops a strong belief in power and authority as a means to achieve his goals. He meets Sae-ro-Yi when the latter has a fight with his son Geun-won in high school and expects him to kneel as submission of his power. However, Sasori always resisted kneeling and made his life harder for it. In 2020, he is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and doesn’t have much longer to live. Unfortunately, his illegal activities under Janggi were exposed and ruined his company. Despite kneeling before Sae-Ro-Yi for help, Sae-Ro-Yi absorbed Janggi into his company, leaving Die-Hee with nothing.

Kwon Nara as Oh Soo-ah[11]

Head of the strategic planning team in Janggi Group; Sae-ro-Yi’s former classmate and first love. Abandoned by her mother, Soo-ah grew up in an orphanage and became close with Sae-ro-Yi’s father Sung-yeol. She becomes acquainted with Sae-ro-Yi, who has a crush on her. After Sung-yell’s death, she receives a scholarship offer from Janggi Group and soon becomes an employee in the company. Though passionate about her work, she is torn between her allegiance to Janggi and her love for Sae-ro-Yi. Due to their conflicts of interests, the two would hold a long-term emotional relationship, but never a truly romantic one. Eventually, Soo-ah realizes Saroyan’s feelings have changed and the two remain friends. She later became a whistle blower to the authorities on the crimes that Janggi has committed in the past during her time in the company and later starts her restaurant.

Supporting[edit]

Dana staff[edit]

Kim Dong-hee as Jang Geun-soo[12]

CEO Jang’s second and illegitimate son; Yi-see’s classmate and staff member at Dana. Geun-soo has been bullied by his older brother Geun-won and he never felt loved by his parents. Upon turning 17, he left the Jang family and lived by himself from then on. After inconveniencing Dana in an incident, he decides to work for Sae-ro-Yi, whom he considers to be a “real adult.” He has a crush on Yi-see. However, after leaving Dana, Geun-soo chooses to work at his father’s company to become the successor to the Janggi Group. In 2020, he is the director of Janggi Group.

Ryu Kyung-soo as Choi Seung-kwon[13]

A staff member at Dana. Seung-Kwon was Sae-ro-Yi’s cellmate in prison. Believing that he cannot better his life outside of jail, he became a gangster under a gang leader upon his release. Seven years later, he meets Sae-ro-Yi who, to his surprise, had already opened a bar in Itaewon. Deeply respecting Sae-ro-Yi and his way to live a better life, he gives up being a gangster and starts working at Dana. In 2020, he becomes one of the directors of Sae-ro-Yi’s company IC Group.

Lee Joo-young as Ma Hyeon-Yi[14]

Dunam’s chief cook. Hyun-Yi first met Sae-ro-yi in a factory where the two formerly worked, years before the start of Dana. She was hired as Dunam’s cook when Sae-ro-yi liked the food she once cooked for him back then. Hyun-Yi is a transgender woman and has been saving money for her sex reassignment surgery. In 2020, she becomes one of the directors of Sae-ro-Yi’s company IC Group.

Chris Lyon as Kim To-ni[15]

Dammam’s Guinean–Korean part-timer. Even though he cannot speak and understand English, To-ni is fluent in speaking Korean, owing to his Korean father and his one-year residence in South Korea, and French, the language he speaks in Guinea. Eventually, he can learn and speak a satisfactory amount of English.

Janggi Group[edit]

Ahn Bo-Hyun as Jang Geun-won[16]

CEO Jang’s first son and heir to Janggi Group. Geun-won was Sae-ro-Yi and Soo-ah’s classmate in high school who frequently bullied their classmate Ho-jin. He caused the vehicular accident that killed Sae-ro-Yi’s father Sung-yeol. Years later when he attempts to recruit Yi-see into Jangga, his confession to the crime is recorded by her and he attacks her until Sae-ro-Yi intervenes and gets him arrested. Die-hee deserts Geun-won by admitting his son’s crimes during his apology meeting and getting him sent to prison. In 2020, he is released and alongside Kim Hee-hon and his gang, Geun-won plans to get revenge on Yi-see.

Kim Hye-eon as Kang Min-jung[17]

Janggi Group’s executive director, who secretly plots to usurp CEO Jang. She is a close friend of Park Sung-yell, Park Sae-ro-Yi’s father.

Hong Seo-Joon as Mr. Kim[18]

Jang Daeheon’s right-hand man. He is very loyal to his boss.

Yoo Da-mi as Kim Sun-ae[19]

Jang Daeheon’s secretary and Kang Min-Jung’s spy.

Others[edit]

Lee David as Lee Ho-jin[20]

Sae-Moji’s investment manager. Ho-jin was Sae-ro-Yi, Soo-ah, and Geun-won’s classmate in high school. After years of bearing the constant bullying from Geun-won, he gets into a prestigious college and takes up business administration. He partners up with Sae-ro-Yi in taking revenge against Geun-won and CEO Jang. In 2020, he becomes the financial manager for Sae-ro-Yi’s company IC Group. In one of the flashback scenes when he visited Sae-ro-Yi in prison; he listed Sae-ro-Yi as a friend.

Kim Yeo-jin as Jo Jeong-min[21]

Yi-see’s mother, who disapproves of Yi-see quitting college and working at Dammam.

Yoon Kyung-ho as Oh Byeong-heon[22]

Detective in charge of Geun-won’s hit-and-run case which he was pressured to cover up. He quit his job after the case and is now one of Sae-ro-Yi’s suppliers.

Choi Yu-ri as Oh Hye-won[23]

Oh, Byeong-heron’s daughter, who is oblivious to Sae-ro-Yi’s connection with her father.

Kim Mi-keying as Kim Soon-rye[24]

To-nose Korean paternal grandmother. After her son’s death, she deeply regrets disapproving of her son’s marriage to a Guinean woman (To-nose mother), as it caused her son to run away. She is a loan shark who offers her services to Sae-ro-Yi when he moves his bar to a new location. She was also one of the first supporters of Janggi.

Won Hyun-Joon as Kim Hee-hoon[25]

Sae-ro-Yi’s former cellmate and a leader of a group of gangsters. Though initially cordial to both Sae-ro-Yi and Choi Seung-Kwon, he later allies himself with Jang Geun-won.

Han Hye-ji as Kook Bok-hee[26]

Yi-see and Geun-soo’s former classmate. Her bullying activities were exposed after Yi-see recorded her performing the act. After running into Yi-see months later, she attempted to assault her for ruining her reputation alongside her friends, only to be beaten down by Yi-see.

Special appearances[edit]

Ahn Sol-bin as Sae-ro-Yi’s classmate (Ep. 1)[27]

A student who had a crush on Sae-ro-Yi and had her confession rejected by him.

Son Hyun-jook as Park Sung-yeol (Ep. 1–2 & 15)[28]

Sae-ro-Yi’s father and former employee in Janggi Group. He taught Sae-ro-Yi to stick to his beliefs and to fight for what is right. He resigned from Janggi in defense of Sae-ro-Yi’s deed of stopping Geun-won’s bullying. He died in an accident caused by Geun-won.

Hong Seok-Cheon as himself (Ep. 2, 4, 9 & 16)[29]

Soo-ah’s acquaintance. He works at a bar that Sae-ro-Yi visits twice (years before and after opening Dana). They meet again after Sae-ro-Yi moves the location of his bar.

Yoon Park as Kim Sung-Hyun (Ep. 3)[30]

Geun-so’s elder friend goes to Dana with Geun-soo and Yi-see where the two get caught for underage drinking.

Cha Chung-hwa as Bureau Chief’s wife (Ep. 3)[31]

Mother of Bok-hee, whose behavior was exposed online by Yi-see.

I’m Seun as Bok-hee’s friend (Ep. 5)[32]

One of Bok-he’s friends. She, alongside Bok-hee and her friend, attempted to assault Yi-see after running into each other months after high school graduation.

Jung Yoo-min as Seo Jeong-In (Ep. 6)[33]

The daughter of the CEO of a pharmaceutical company and Geun-won’s blind date. The blind date was arranged by Geun-won’s father.

Seo Eon-soo as part-time job applicant (Ep. 6)[34]

Sae-ro-Yi’s acquaintance. She applied for the job that was eventually offered to Kim To-ni. Yi-see rejected her application out of jealousy of her and Sae-ro-Yi’s close relationship.

Kim Il-Jong as himself (Ep. 11 & 13)[35]

Host of the cooking program shows The Best Pub.

Jeon No-min as Do Jong-un (Ep. 11–12)[36]

CEO of the investment firm Jung Myung Holdings. He offers Sae-ro-Yi to franchiseDanBam. Later he was one of the sleeper agents for Die Hee to thwart Sae-ro-Yi plan to franchise Dana.

Lee Jun-Hyeon as Park Joon-gi (Ep. 11–13)[37]

A contestant on The Best Pub. He represents Janggi Group as the head cook and comes in second to Hyun-Yi during the final. He subsequently gets fired.

Park Bo-gum as Handsome Chef (Ep. 16)[38]

The new chef at Soo-ah’s restaurant in which Hong Seok-Cheon invested after he passed the job interview.

Kim Taehyung as Himself (Ep. 16)

BTS member V visited his friend Seo-Joon to perform a rendition of the show’s OST.

Comment:

Very enjoyable drama set in one of the most colorful neighborhoods in Korea, Itaewon’s- Seoul’s international quarter.

The basic plot is that of revenge. The usual themes of rich people behaving badly, and corporate corruption. A young man in junior high comes to the aid of his classmate who is being bullied by the son of a rich family. His father worked for the corporation. The young man is told to apologize for calling out the actions of the bullies and refuses to do so. His father is fired and attempts to open his own restaurant with the aid of his son who has to drop out of school after the controversy. The father is killed by his enemy drunk driving. The young man attempts to kill his enemy and is sentenced to three years in prison. He decides to get revenge. It takes him ten years but in the end he destroys the corporation.

There are several romantic sub-plots in the movie. The protagonist has to decide between two woman. He eventually choses the woman who comes to work for him in his restaurant he opens in Itaewon. There is also a LGBT sub-theme as one of his staff members is trans transiting to a woman. There is also an intriguing sub-plot involving an half African young man who comes to Korea to find his Korean family.

Overall very well done.

end comment

Mr. Kim’s convenience

Kim’s Convenience

cbc.ca/Kim’s convenience

Kim’s Convenience is a Canadian television sitcom that premiered on CBC Television in October 2016. It depicts the Korean Canadian Kim family that runs a convenience store in the Moss Park neighborhood of Toronto: parents “Papa” and “Umma” – Korean for dad and mom, respectively – along with their daughter Janet and estranged son Jung. Wikipedia

Developed by: Ins Choi, Kevin White

Starring: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang, Simu Liu, Andrew Phung, Nicole Power

Country of origin: Canada

Comment:

Not exactly a typical K drama. It takes place in Canada and depicts the life of a Korean immigrant famiy running a convenience store in Toronto. Well done. Good acting, and story lines.

My Love from the Stars K Drama

Honest Candidate

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Honest Candidate
Theatrical release poster

Hangul	정직한 후보
Hanja	正直한 候補
Revised Romanization	Jeongjikhan Hubo
Directed by	Jang Yu-jeong
Written by	Jang Yu-jeong Heo Sung-hye
Based on	O Candidato Honesto by Roberto Santucci
Produced by	Song Jung-min
Starring	Ra Mi-ran Kim Mu-yeol Na Moon-hee Yoon Kyung-ho Jang Dong-joo
Cinematography	Park Yong-soo
Edited by	Jung Ji-eun
Music by	Lee Jae-jin
Production companies	Hong Film Soo Film
Distributed by	Next Entertainment World
Release date	February 12, 2020
Running time	104 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Box office	$10,468,890^[1]

Honest Candidate (Korean: 정직한 후보; Hanja: 正直한 候補; RR: Jeongjikhan Hubo) is a 2020 South Korean comedy film directed by Jang Yu-jeong, starring Ra Mi-ran, Kim Mu-yeol, Na Moon-hee, Yoon Kyung-ho and Jang Dong-joo.^[2] It is the remake of the 2014 Brazilian film O Candidato Honesto.^[3] It was released on February 12, 2020.^[4]^[5]

A sequel was confirmed on February 10, 2021.^[6]

Plot[edit]

A third-term congresswoman who is running for the fourth time is suddenly unable to lie a few days before the elections are about to take place. The problem is that her whole political career is based on lies.

Cast[edit]

Ra Mi-ran and Kim Mu-yeol for Marie Claire Korea

Main

Ra Mi-ran as Joo Sang-sook
Kim Mu-yeol as Park Hee-cheol
Na Moon-hee as Kim Ok-hee
Yoon Kyung-ho as Bong Man-sik
Jang Dong-joo as Bong Eun-ho

Supporting

Song Young-chang as Lee Woon-hak
Son Jong-hak as Kim Sang-pyo
Cho Soo-hyang as Shin Ji-sun
Ahn Se-ho as Lee Jeong-min
Kim Na-yoon as Yoon Mi-kyung
Ko Kyu-pil as Reporter Hwang
Kim Yong-rim as mother-in-law

Special appearances

Jo Han-chul as Nam Yong-sung
On Joo-wan as Kim Joon-young
Yoon Se-ah as Cha Yoon-kyung
Oh Man-seok as Jang Deok-joon

My Love from the Star

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My Love from the Star
Promotional poster

Hangul	별에서 온 그대
Revised Romanization	Byeoreseo On Geudae
McCune–Reischauer	Pyŏresŏ On Kŭdae
Literally	You Who Came from the Stars
Genre	Romantic comedy Fantasy
Created by	Moon Bo-mi Park Ji-eun
Written by	Park Ji-eun
Directed by	Jang Tae-yoo
Starring	Jun Ji-hyun Kim Soo-hyun Park Hae-jin Yoo In-na Shin Sung-rok Ahn Jae-hyun
Opening theme	“Man From Star (Opening Title)”
Ending theme	“My Destiny” by Lyn
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	21 (+1 special)
Production
Executive producer	Choi Moon-suk
Producer	Moon Bo-mi
Cinematography	Lee Gil-bok Jung Min-gyun
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	HB Entertainment
Distributor	SBS
Release
Original network	SBS TV
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Audio format	Dolby Digital
Original release	December 18, 2013 – February 27, 2014
Chronology
Related shows	My Love from the Star (Philippines)
External links
Website

My Love from the Star (Korean: 별에서 온 그대; RR: Byeoreseo On Geudae; MR: Pyŏresŏ On Kŭdae; lit. You Who Came from the Stars) is a South Korean fantasy romantic comedy television series written by Park Ji-eun and directed by Jang Tae-yoo. Produced by Choi Moon-suk and Moon Bo-mi, it stars Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Hae-jin, Yoo In-na, Shin Sung-rok and Ahn Jae-hyun. It tells the story of an extraterrestrial alien who landed on Earth in 1609 during the Joseon Dynasty and 400 years later falls in love with a top female actor.

The series aired for 21 episodes on Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) from December 18, 2013, to February 27, 2014. According to Nielsen Korea, it recorded an average nationwide television viewership rating of 24 percent. It garnered widespread popularity during its broadcast and sparked trends in fashion, make-up and restaurants. It has been also credited for spreading Korean wave.

My Love from the Star received several accolades. At the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards, it received nine nominations with three wins; Jun Ji-hyun won the Grand Prize – Television and Kim Soo-hyun won the Most Popular Actor – Television. The series won the Korea Drama Award for Best Drama, the Seoul International Drama Award for Excellent Korean Drama and the Magnolia Award for Best Foreign Television Series.

Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) is an alien who landed on Earth in 1609 during the Joseon Dynasty. He saves a girl named Seo Yi-hwa from falling off a cliff and misses his return trip to his home planet and is stranded on Earth for the next four centuries. He has a near-perfect human appearance, enhanced physical abilities involving his vision, hearing and speed, and a cynical, jaded view of human beings. Min-joon never ages and is forced to take on a new identity every ten years; he has worked as a doctor, an astronomer, a lawyer, and a banker, and is now working as a college professor.

Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun) is a famous Hallyu actor who attained stardom as a schoolchild; her haughty demeanor has earned derision in the entertainment industry and on social media. Song-yi’s spendthrift mother has mismanaged her finances and her younger brother Cheon Yoon-jae (Ahn Jae-hyun) is estranged by her success. Lee Hee-kyung (Park Hae-jin) has been Song-yi’s friend since middle school and remains in love with her but is continually rejected. In turn, Yoo Se-mi (Yoo In-na), Song-yi’s childhood friend who is frequently cast in a supporting role alongside Song-yi has had a crush on Hee-kyung since middle school despite her love being unrequited. As a result, Se-mi secretly harbors a deep jealousy towards Song-yi for standing in the way of her career and love interest.

With only three months left before Min-joon’s long-awaited departure to his planet of origin, Song-yi suddenly becomes his next-door neighbor in the condominium where he lives. Slowly, Min-joon finds himself entangled in Song-yi’s crazy and unpredictable situations, saving her multiple times using his special powers and eventually acting as her manager due to his vast legal knowledge. He finds out that she at a young age resembles Yi-hwa, with whom he fell in love with 400 years earlier. Min-joon and Song-yi eventually fall in love; Min-joon aims to leave Earth without being emotionally attached so he tries to avoid her but fails. While Song-yi initially does not understand his impending departure, she ultimately accepts letting him go to assure his survival.

Song-yi’s career goes into a downturn when her talent agency and sponsors drop her in a backlash against her recent behavior, particularly rumors that she caused the suicide of her arch-rival, actor Han Yoo-ra. Earlier at a celebrity wedding, Song-yi had discovered Yoo-ra was in a secret relationship with Lee Jae-kyung (Shin Sung-rok), the elder brother of Hee-hyung. Jae-kyung tries to silence Song-yi until Min-joon brokers a deal to spare her in return for burying the evidence. Jae-kyung, however, turns out to be much more dangerous than Min-joon suspected, learning to exploit Min-joon’s weaknesses and injuring Se-mi’s older brother, a prosecutor who is investigating Yoo-ra’s suicide. Min-joon, despite being discreet in the use of his special abilities, eventually draws the attention of police while losing control of his powers as his departure date nears. While jealous of Min-joon for winning Song-yi’s heart, Hee-kyung works with Min-joon to protect her from Jae-kyung.^[1]

Cast[edit]

Kim Soo-hyun plays the character of an extraterrestrial alien, Do Min-joon

Main[edit]

Jun Ji-hyun as Cheon Song-yi^[2]
- Kim Hyun-soo as young Cheon Song-yi / Seo Yi-hwa
Kim Soo-hyun as Do Min-joon^[3]
Park Hae-jin as Lee Hee-kyung^[4]
- Jo Seung-hyun as young Lee Hee-kyung
Yoo In-na as Yoo Se-mi^[5]
- Kim Hye-won as young Yoo Se-mi

Supporting[edit]

Cheon Song-yi’s family[edit]

Na Young-hee as Yang Mi-yeon, Song-yi’s mother^[6]
Um Hyo-sup as Cheon Min-goo, Song-yi’s father^[7]
Ahn Jae-hyun as Cheon Yoon-jae, Song-yi’s younger brother^[8]
- Jeon Jin-seo as young Cheon Yoon-jae

People around Do Min-joon[edit]

Kim Chang-wan as Jang Young-mok, Min-joon’s lawyer who serves as a close confidant and “father figure”^[9]

Lee Hee-kyung’s family[edit]

Shin Sung-rok as Lee Jae-kyung, Hee-kyung’s older brother^[10]
Lee Jung-gil as Lee Beom-joong, Hee-kyung’s father and the chairman of S&C Group^[11]
Sung Byung-sook [ko] as Hong Eun-ah, Hee-kyung’s mother

Yoo Se-mi’s family[edit]

Lee Il-hwa as Han Sun-young, Se-mi’s mother^[12]
Oh Sang-jin as Yoo Seok, Se-mi’s older brother who is a prosecutor^[13]

People around Cheon Song-yi[edit]

Hong Jin-kyung as Bok-ja, a comic book store owner and Song-yi’s high school friend^[14]
Jo Hee-bong as Ahn Dong-min, CEO of Song-yi’s talent agency^[15]
Kim Bo-mi as Min-ah, Song-yi’s stylist^[16]
Kim Kang-hyun [ko] as Yoon Bum, Song-yi’s manager

Others[edit]

Kim Hee-won as Park Byung-hee, a detective who works with Yoo Seok ^[17]
Lee Yi-kyung as Lee Shin, Jae-kyung’s secretary^[18]
Jo Se-ho as Cheol-soo, a patron of Bok-ja’s comic book store who twists celebrity gossip and creates rumours
Nam Chang-hee [ko] as Hyuk, Cheol-soo’s partner

Special appearances[edit]

Yoo In-young as Han Yoo-ra, an actress and Cheon Song-yi’s arch-rival^[19]
Yoo Jun-sang as Mr. Yoo, section chief at Lee Hee-kyung’s workplace^[20]
Park Jung-ah as Noh Seo-young, an actress^[20]
Jang Hang-jun as Park Min-kyu, a director^[21]
Son Eun-seo as Hwang Jin-yi, a kisaeng in the Joseon era^[21]
Kim Soo-ro as Lee Hyung-wook, an auditor in Gangwon during Joseon era^[20]
Jung Eun-pyo as Yoon Sung-dong, a Joseon realtor / Yoon Sung-dong’s descendant in the present time^[20]
Park Yeong-gyu as Heo Jun, a doctor in the Joseon era^[20]
Bae Suzy as Go Hye-mi, Do Min-joon’s student^[22]^[a]
Yeon Woo-jin as Lee Han-kyung, Lee Hee-kyung’s eldest brother^[23]
Ryu Seung-ryong as Heo Gyun, a poet in the Joseon era^[20]
Sandara Park as herself^[24]

D.P. (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Korean	디피
Genre	Drama Military
Based on	D.P Dog’s Day by Kim Bo-tong
Screenplay by	Kim Bo-tong Han Jun-hee
Directed by	Han Jun-hee
Starring	Jung Hae-in Koo Kyo-hwan Kim Sung-kyun Son Seok-koo
Composer	Primary
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producers	Byun Seung-min Han Jun-hee
Producer	Kim Dong-min
Cinematography	Yoo Ji-sun
Editor	Park Min-sun
Running time	45–55 minutes
Production companies	Climax Studio Shotcake
Distributor	Netflix
Release
Original network	Netflix
Original release	August 27, 2021

D.P. (an acronym for Deserter Pursuit) is a South Korean streaming television series directed by Han Jun-hee, from a screenplay by Kim Bo-tong and Han, based on the Lezhin webtoon D.P Dog’s Day by Kim. The series stars Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun, and Son Seok-koo.^[1]^[2] It premiered in six parts on Netflix on August 27, 2021.^[3]^[4]

014, D.P. tells the story of a team of Korean military police with their mission to catch deserters.

The series magnifies the undesirable nature of the military, especially within a South Korean context. The widespread bullying and hazing as well as the mindset for the “survival of the fittest” are rife, with those presumed the “weakest” thrown to the bottom of the pile and served horrifying experiences at the hands of their superiors and compatriots.

Private Ahn Joon-ho and Corporal Han Ho-yul both team up to find the deserters, and end up in an adventurous journey.

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

Jung Hae-inas Private Ahn Joon-ho
Koo Kyo-hwanas Corporal Han Ho-yul
Kim Sung-kyunas Sergeant First Class Park Bum-gu
Son Seok-kooas Captain Im Ji-sup

Supporting[edit]

Jo Hyun-chul as Jo Suk-bong
Shin Seung-hoas Hwang Jang-soo
Park Se-joon as Heo Ki-young
Park Jung-woo as Shin Woo-suk
Kim Dong-youngas Choi Joon-mok
Lee Jun-youngas Jung Hyun-min
Choi Joon-young as Heo Chi-do
Moon Sang-hoon as Kim Roo-ri
Hyun Bong-sik as Chun Yong-duk
Hong Kyungas Ryu Yi-kang
Bae Yoo-ram as Kim Kyu
Han Woo-yul as Tae Sung-gon

Guest[edit]

Go Kyung-pyoas Corporal Park Sung-woo (Ep. 1)
Kwon Hae-hyoas Ahn Joon-ho’s father (Eps. 1, 3–4)
Lee Seolas Shin Woo-seok’s sister (Eps. 1 & 6)
Lee Joong-okas an hanjeungmak employee (Ep. 2)

Episodes[edit]

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	“A Man Holding Flowers”	Han Jun-hee	Kim Bo-tong & Han Jun-hee	August 27, 2021
2	“Daydream”	Han Jun-hee	Kim Bo-tong & Han Jun-hee	August 27, 2021
3	“That Woman”	Han Jun-hee	Kim Bo-tong & Han Jun-hee	August 27, 2021
4	“The Monty Hall Problem”	Han Jun-hee	Kim Bo-tong & Han Jun-hee	August 27, 2021
5	“Military Dog”	Han Jun-hee	Kim Bo-tong & Han Jun-hee	August 27, 2021
6	“Onlookers”	Han Jun-hee	Kim Bo-tong & Han Jun-hee	August 27, 2021

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

In late June 2020, Lezhin Entertainment officially announced that Lezhin Studio and Homemade Film would co-produce a 6-part adaptation of the hit webtoon D.P: Dog Days by Kim Bo-tong, to be released exclusively through Netflix.^[5]^[6] The story is based on Kim’s own experience during his mandatory military service.^[7]

Director and co-writer Han Jun-hee had wanted to work on the webtoon’s adaptation “for five or six years [before he] finally got a chance” to do so.^[8] Though Ahn Joon-ho is a Corporal in the webtoon, Han wanted him to be a Private in the series so people could “resonate with the story and consider Joon-ho as a friend who just started his military service.”^[9]

Casting[edit]

On September 3, 2020, Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun and Son Seok-koo were confirmed to star in the series.^[10]^[11] Koo’s character does not appear in the webtoon, which he found “hard but exciting to portray a character exclusive to the series.”^[12] To prepare for his role, Koo received help from his road manager who was part of the D.P. team during his military service.^[13] As for Jung, he practiced boxing for three months before filming began, in order to do his own action scenes.^[14]

Kim Bo-tong, who wrote the webtoon and co-wrote the series, commented that he “never dreamed of such a cast. They fit so perfectly into their roles that it seems like the roles were written for them.”^[15]

Filming[edit]

Principal photography began in the summer of 2020.^[16]

Reception[edit]

Audience viewership[edit]

Following its release, the series topped Netflix’s Top 10 in South Korea.^[17]

Critical response[edit]

William Schwartz of HanCinema praised Jung Hae-in‘s acting, commenting that he “is sublime here, in a brooding cinematic role radically different from the romances he’s better known for.” He added that “D.P. is worth watching, not just by people curious what South Korean mandatory military service is really like, but anyone from any country who’s seriously thinking about joining up.”^[18]

Pierce Conran of the South China Morning Post gave the series a 4.5/5 rating, noting that “D.P. hits home with a story that spans the past and present, as it acknowledges that yesterday’s problems can still be today’s.” He also praised the cinematography as well as Jung and Koo’s “electric chemistry”.^[19] Daniel Hart of Ready Steady Cut also rated the series 4.5 stars out of 5, describing it as “the finest K-Drama mini-series this year.”^[20]

Greg Wheeler of The Review Geek rated the series 4.3/5, noting that “D.P. is a stunning Korean drama [which] takes an unflinching look at bullying, the effect it has on mental health and larger societal questions about the mandatory military service in Korea” and praising the series for its “impressive” cinematography and for the way it “explore[s] a very sensitive and prevalent topic in a raw, artistic and unflinching way.”^[21]

In a mixed review, Hidzir Junaini of NME gave the series a 3/5 rating, commenting that “Kim Bo-tong and Han Jun-hee must be given credit for how this series tackles such extraordinarily difficult and tragic subject matter with compassion and sensitivity”, and praising the “uniformly excellent performances, splendid cinematography, addictive pacing, and intrepid commitment to shedding light on the appalling culture of bullying in the military”, but criticizing the “weak characterization [of the] three main leads” as well as the “ludicrous escalation of events during its climax, which suddenly turns a fairly grounded show into a melodramatic action thriller.”^[22]

Squid Games

The top show on Netflix not only in the US but also in Korea. Reminiscent of both the “Maze”, the “Hunger Games”, and the” Cube “ but done in a K Drama way. And totally addictive!

Squid Game

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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*Squid Game*
Promotional poster
Also known as	Round Six

Hangul	오징어게임
Revised Romanization	Ojing-eo Geim
McCune–Reischauer	Ojingŏ Keim
Genre	Action–adventure Suspense Survival Drama
Created by	Netflix
Written by	Hwang Dong-hyuk
Directed by	Hwang Dong-hyuk
Starring	Lee Jung-jae Park Hae-soo Wi Ha-joon
Composer	Jung Jae-il
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	9 (list of episodes)
Production
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	32–63 minutes
Production company	Siren Pictures Inc.^[1]
Distributor	Netflix
Release
Original network	Netflix
Picture format	4K (Ultra HD) Dolby Vision
Audio format	Dolby Atmos
Original release	September 17, 2021

Squid Game (Korean: 오징어게임; RR: Ojing-eo Geim) is a South Korean survival drama streaming television series written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The nine-episode series, starring Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo and Wi Ha-joon, tells the story of a group of people who risk their lives in a mysterious survival game with a ₩45.6 billion (US$38.7 million) prize.^[2]^[3] It was released worldwide on September 17, 2021 by Netflix.^[4]^[5]

Premise

Four hundred and fifty-six people, who have all struggled financially in life, are invited to play a mysterious survival competition. Competing in a series of traditional children’s games but with deadly twists, they risk their lives to compete for a ₩45.6 billion (US$38.5 million) prize.

Cast and characters

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Players

Main characters^[6]

Lee Jung-jaeas Seong Gi-hun (No. 456)^[7]

A chauffeur and a gambling addict, he lives with his mother and struggles to financially support his daughter. He participates in the Game to settle his many debts.

Park Hae-sooas Cho Sang-woo (No. 218)

The head of the investment team at a securities company, he was a junior to Gi-hun, and was a gifted student who entered Seoul National University, but is now wanted by the police for stealing money from his clients.

Oh Yeong-su as Oh Il-nam (No. 001)

An elderly man with a brain tumor who prefers playing the Game to waiting to die on the outside.

HoYeon Jungas Kang Sae-byeok (No. 067)

A North Korean defector who enters the Game to pay for a broker that can find and retrieve her surviving family members from the country.

Heo Sung-tae as Jang Deok-su (No. 101)

A gangster who enters the Game to settle his massive gambling debts.

Anupam Tripathi as Abdul Ali (No. 199)

A foreign worker from Pakistan who enters the Game to provide for his young family after his employer refuses to pay him for months.

Kim Joo-ryoungas Han Mi-nyeo (No. 212)

A mysterious and manipulative woman who claims to be a poor single mother.^[8]

Supporting characters

Yoo Sung-joo as Byeong-gi (No. 111)

A doctor who secretly works with a group of corrupt guards trafficking dead participants’ organs in exchange for information on upcoming games.

Lee Yoo-mias Ji-yeong (No. 240)

A young woman who was just released from prison after killing her abusive father.

Kim Si-hyun as No. 244

A pastor who finds his faith again in the Game.

Minor characters

Lee Sang-hee as No. 017

A glass-maker with more than 30 years experience.

Kim Yun-tae as No. 069

A player who joins the Game with his wife, No. 070

Lee Ji-haas No. 070

A player who joins the Game with her husband, No. 069

Kwak Ja-hyoung as No. 278

A player who joins Deok-su’s group and acts as his henchman.

Chris Chan / Chris Lagahit^[9]as No. 276

A player who joins Seong Gi-hun’s group on the Tug of War round.

Game staff

Gong Yooas a salesman who recruits participants for the Game (Special appearance, Episodes 1 and 9)^[10]
Lee Byung-hunas The Front Man (Special appearance, Episodes 8–9)

Civilians

Main characters

Wi Ha-joonas Hwang Jun-ho^[11]

A police officer who sneaks into the Game to find his missing brother.

Supporting characters

Kim Young-okas Gi-hun’s mother
Cho Ah-in as Seong Ga-yeong, Gi-hun’s daughter
Kang Mal-geumas Gi-hun’s ex-wife and Ga-yeong’s mother
Park Hye-jin as Sang-woo’s mother
Park Si-wan as Kang Cheol, Sae-byeok’s brother

English cast (dubbing)

Greg Chunas Seong Gi-hun
Stephen Fu as Cho Sang-woo
Paul Nakauchias Jang Deok-su
Hideo Kimura as Oh Il-nam
Vivian Lu as Kang Sae-byeok
Rama Vallury as Abdul Ali
Tom Choias Front Man
Donald Chang as Hwang Jun-ho
Stephanie Komure as Han Mi-nyeo
Yuuki Luna as Ji-yeong

Heist – not a K Drama, more of a Spanish Drama but pretty good

Money Heist

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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*Money Heist*


Spanish	La casa de papel
Genre	Crime drama ^[1] Heist ^[2] Thriller ^[3]
Created by	Álex Pina
Starring	Úrsula Corberó Álvaro Morte Itziar Ituño Pedro Alonso Paco Tous Alba Flores Miguel Herrán Jaime Lorente Esther Acebo Enrique Arce María Pedraza Darko Perić Kiti Mánver Hovik Keuchkerian Luka Peroš Belén Cuesta Fernando Cayo Rodrigo de la Serna Najwa Nimri
Theme music composer	Manel Santisteban
Opening theme	“My Life Is Going On” by Cecilia Krull
Composers	Manel Santisteban Iván Martínez Lacámara
Country of origin	Spain
Original language	Spanish
No. of seasons	3 (5 parts)^[a]
No. of episodes	36 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Álex Pina Sonia Martínez Jesús Colmenar Esther Martínez Lobato Nacho Manubens
Production locations	Spain Italy Thailand Panama Denmark Portugal
Cinematography	Migue Amoedo
Editors	David Pelegrín Luis Miguel González Bedmar Verónica Callón Raúl Mora Regino Hernández Raquel Marraco Patricia Rubio
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	67–77 minutes (Antena 3) 41–61 minutes (Netflix)
Production companies	Atresmedia Vancouver Media
Distributor	Antena 3 Televisión Netflix
Release
Original network	Antena 3 (2017) Netflix (2019–present)
Picture format	1080p (16:9 HDTV) 4K (Ultra HD) (16:9 UHDTV) Dolby Vision
Audio format	Dolby Atmos
Original release	2 May 2017 – present
External links
Website

Money Heist (Spanish: La casa de papel, “The House of Paper”) is a Spanish heist crime drama television series created by Álex Pina. The series traces two long-prepared heists led by the Professor (Álvaro Morte), one on the Royal Mint of Spain, and one on the Bank of Spain, told from the perspective of one of the robbers, Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó). The narrative is told in a real-time-like fashion and relies on flashbacks, time-jumps, hidden character motivations, and an unreliable narrator for complexity.

The series was initially intended as a limited series to be told in two parts. It had its original run of 15 episodes on Spanish network Antena 3 from 2 May 2017 through 23 November 2017. Netflix acquired global streaming rights in late 2017. It re-cut the series into 22 shorter episodes and released them worldwide, beginning with the first part on 20 December 2017, followed by the second part on 6 April 2018. In April 2018, Netflix renewed the series with a significantly increased budget for 16 new episodes total. Part 3, with eight episodes, was released on 19 July 2019. Part 4, also with eight episodes, was released on 3 April 2020. A documentary involving the producers and the cast premiered on Netflix the same day, titled Money Heist: The Phenomenon (Spanish: La casa de papel: El Fenómeno). In July 2020, Netflix renewed the show for a fifth and final part, which would be released in two five-episode volumes on 3 September and 3 December 2021, respectively. The series was filmed in Madrid, Spain. Significant portions were also filmed in Panama, Thailand, Italy (Florence), Denmark and Portugal.

The series received several awards including the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series at the 46th International Emmy Awards, as well as critical acclaim for its sophisticated plot, interpersonal dramas, direction, and for trying to innovate Spanish television. The Italian anti-fascist song “Bella ciao“, which plays multiple times throughout the series, became a summer hit across Europe in 2018. By 2018, the series was the most-watched non-English-language series and one of the most-watched series overall on Netflix,^[4] having particular resonance with viewers from Mediterranean Europe and the Latin American regions.

Premise[edit]

Set in Madrid, a mysterious man known as “The Professor” recruits a group of eight people, who choose city names as their aliases, to carry out an ambitious plan that involves entering the Royal Mint of Spain, and escaping with €984 million. After taking 67 people hostage inside the Mint, the team plans to remain inside for 11 days to print the money as they deal with elite police forces. In the events following the initial heist, the group’s members are forced out of hiding and prepare for a second heist, this time on the Bank of Spain, as they again deal with hostages and police forces.

Cast and characters[edit]

Main[edit]

Úrsula Corberóas Silene Oliveira (Tokyo): a runaway turned robber who is scouted by the Professor, then joins his group and participates in his plans. She also acts as the unreliable narrator.
Álvaro Morteas Sergio Marquina (The Professor) / Salvador “Salva” Martin: the mastermind of the heist who assembled the group, and Berlin’s younger brother
Itziar Ituñoas Raquel Murillo (Lisbon): an inspector of the National Police Corps who is put in charge of the case until she joins the group in part 3
Pedro Alonsoas Andrés de Fonollosa (Berlin): a terminally ill jewel thief and the Professor’s second-in-command and older brother
Paco Tousas Agustín Ramos (Moscow) (parts 1–2; featured parts 3–5): a former miner turned criminal and Denver’s father
Alba Floresas Ágata Jiménez (Nairobi) (parts 1-4; featured part 5): an expert in counterfeiting and forgery, in charge of printing the money and oversaw the melting of gold
Miguel Herránas Aníbal Cortés (Rio): a young hacker who later becomes Tokyo’s boyfriend
Jaime Lorenteas Ricardo / Daniel^[b] Ramos (Denver): Moscow’s son who joins him in the heist
Esther Aceboas Mónica Gaztambide (Stockholm): one of the hostages who is Arturo Román’s secretary and mistress, carrying his child out of wedlock; during the robbery, she falls in love with Denver and becomes an accomplice to the group
Enrique Arceas Arturo Román: a hostage and the former Director of the Royal Mint of Spain
María Pedrazaas Alison Parker (parts 1–2): a hostage and daughter of the British ambassador to Spain
Darko Perićas Mirko Dragic (Helsinki): a veteran Serbian soldier and Oslo’s cousin
Kiti Mánveras Mariví Fuentes (parts 1–2; featured parts 3–4): Raquel’s mother
Hovik Keuchkerianas Bogotá (parts 3–present): an expert in metallurgy who joins the robbery of the Bank of Spain
Luka Perošas Jakov (Marseille; part 4–present; featured part 3): a member of the gang who joins the robbery of the Bank of Spain and serves as a liaison for the group.
Belén Cuestaas Julia (Manila; part 4–present; featured part 3): godchild of Moscow and Denver’s childhood friend, now a trans woman, who joins the gang and poses as one of the hostages during the robbery of the Bank of Spain
Fernando Cayoas Colonel Luis Tamayo (part 4–present; featured part 3): a member of the Spanish Intelligence who oversees Alicia’s work on the case
Rodrigo de la Sernaas Martín Berrote (Palermo / The Engineer; parts 3–present): an old Argentine friend of Berlin who planned the robbery of the Bank of Spain with him and assumed his place as commanding officer
Najwa Nimrias Alicia Sierra (parts 3–present): a pregnant inspector of the National Police Corps put in charge of the case after Raquel departed from the force

Recurring[edit]

Roberto García Ruizas Dimitri Mostovói / Radko Dragić^[c] (Oslo; parts 1–2; featured parts 3–4): a veteran Serbian soldier and Helsinki’s cousin
Fernando Sotoas Ángel Rubio (parts 1–2; featured parts 3–5): a deputy inspector and Raquel’s second-in-command
Juan Fernándezas Colonel Luis Prieto (parts 1–2; featured parts 3–4): a member of the Spanish Intelligence who oversees Raquel’s work on the case
Anna Gras as Mercedes Colmenar (parts 1–2): Alison’s teacher and one of the hostages
Fran Morcillo as Pablo Ruiz (part 1): Alison’s schoolmate and one of the hostages
Clara Alvarado as Ariadna Cascales (parts 1–2): one of the hostages who works in the Mint
Mario de la Rosa as Suárez: the chief of the Grupo Especial de Operaciones
Miquel García Borda as Alberto Vicuña (parts 1–2; featured part 4): Raquel’s ex-husband and a forensic examiner
Naia Guz as Paula Vicuña Murillo (parts 1–2; featured parts 3–4): Raquel and Alberto’s daughter
José Manuel Poga as César Gandía (parts 4–5; featured part 3): chief of security for the Bank of Spain who escapes from hostage and causes havoc for the group
Antonio Romero as Benito Antoñanzas (parts 3–5): an assistant to Colonel Luis Tamayo, who is persuaded by the Professor to do tasks for him
Diana Gómezas Tatiana (featured parts 3–5): the fifth ex-wife of Berlin who is a professional pianist and thief
Pep Munné as Mario Urbaneja (featured parts 3–5): the governor of the Bank of Spain
Olalla Hernández as Amanda (featured parts 3–5): a hostage that Arturo rapes
Mari Carmen Sánchez as Paquita (featured parts 3–5): a hostage and a nurse who tends to Nairobi while she recovers
Carlos Suárez as Miguel Fernández (featured parts 3–5): a nervous hostage
Ahikar Azcona as Matías Caño (featured parts 3–5): a member of the group who largely guards the hostages
Ramón Agirre as Benjamín (featured parts 4–5): father of Manila who aids the Professor in his plan
Antonio García Ferreras as himself (featured parts 4–5): a journalist
Patrick Criadoas Rafael (featured part 5): Berlin’s son
Alberto Amarilla as Ramiro (part 5)
Miguel Ángel Silvestre(featured part 5): René, Tokyo’s boyfriend before working with the Professor
José Manuel Seda as Sagasta (part 5): leader of the army detail inside the bank

Production[edit]

Conception and writing[edit]

Further information: § Themes and analysis

We wanted to make a very small project in a simple way; we wanted to cross lines we couldn’t cross in previous projects, in terms of narrative and structure without any intermediaries.

—Writer Esther Martinez Lobato, October 2018^[11]

The series was conceived by screenwriter Álex Pina and director Jesús Colmenar during their years of collaboration since 2008.^[12] After finishing their work on the Spanish prison drama Locked Up (Vis a vis), they left Globomedia to set up their own production company, named Vancouver Media, in 2016.^[12]^[13] For their first project, they considered either filming a comedy or developing a heist story for television,^[12] with the latter having never been attempted before on Spanish television.^[14] Along with former Locked Up colleagues,^[d] they developed Money Heist as a passion project to try new things without outside interference.^[11] Pina was firm about making it a limited series, feeling that dilution had become a problem for his previous productions.^[15]

Initially entitled Los Desahuciados (The Evicted) in the conception phase,^[15] the series was developed to subvert heist conventions and combine elements of the action genre, thrillers and surrealism, while still being credible.^[12] Pina saw an advantage over typical heist films in that character development could span a considerably longer narrative arc.^[16] Characters were to be shown from multiple sides to break the viewers’ preconceptions of villainy and retain their interest throughout the show.^[16] Key aspects of the planned storyline were written down at the beginning,^[17] while the finer story beats were developed incrementally to not overwhelm the writers.^[18] Writer Javier Gómez Santander compared the writing process to the Professor’s way of thinking, “going around, writing down options, consulting engineers whom you cannot tell why you ask them that,” but noted that fiction allowed the police to be written dumber when necessary.^[18]

The beginning of filming was set for January 2017,^[14] allowing for five months of pre-production.^[19] The narrative was split into two parts for financial considerations.^[19] The robbers’ city-based code names, which Spanish newspaper ABC compared to the colour-based code names in Quentin Tarantino‘s 1992 heist film Reservoir Dogs,^[20] were chosen at random in the first part,^[21] although places with high viewership resonance were also taken into account for the new robbers’ code names in part 3.^[22] The first five lines of the pilot script took a month to write,^[19] as the writers were unable to make the Professor or Moscow work as narrator.^[15] Tokyo as an unreliable narrator, flashbacks and time-jumps increased the narrative complexity,^[16] but also made the story more fluid for the audience.^[19] The pilot episode required over 50 script versions until the producers were satisfied.^[23]^[24] Later scripts would be finished once per week to keep up with filming.^[19]

Casting[edit]

Casting took place late in 2016, spanning more than two months.^[25] The characters were not fully fleshed out at the beginning of this process, and took shape based on the actors’ performances.^[26] Casting directors Eva Leira and Yolanda Serrano were looking for actors with the ability to play empathetic robbers with believable love and family connections.^[27] Antena 3 announced the ensemble cast in March 2017^[3] and released audition excerpts of most cast actors in the series’ aftershow Tercer Grado and on their website.^[26]

The Professor was designed as a charismatic yet shy villain who could convince the robbers to follow him and make the audience sympathetic to the robbers’ resistance against the powerful banks.^[28] However, developing the Professor’s role proved difficult, as the character did not follow archetypal conventions^[25] and the producers were uncertain about his degree of brilliance.^[15] While the producers found his Salva personality early on,^[15] they were originally looking for a 50-year-old Harvard professor type with the looks of Spanish actor José Coronado.^[15]^[29] The role was proposed to Javier Gutiérrez, but he was already committed to starring in the film Campeones.^[30] Meanwhile, the casting directors advocated for Álvaro Morte, whom they knew from their collaboration on the long-running Spanish soap opera El secreto de Puente Viejo, even though his prime-time television experience was limited at that point.^[29] Going through the full casting process and approaching the role through external analysis rather than personal experience, Morte described the professor as “a tremendous box of surprises” that “end up shaping this character because he never ceases to generate uncertainty,” making it unclear for the audience if the character is good or bad.^[25] The producers also found that his appearance of a primary school teacher gave the character more credibility.^[15]

Pedro Alonso was cast to play Berlin, whom La Voz de Galicia would later characterize as a “cold, hypnotic, sophisticated and disturbing character, an inveterate macho with serious empathy problems, a white-collar thief who despises his colleagues and considers them inferior.”^[31] The actor’s portrayal of the character was inspired by a chance encounter Alonso had the day before receiving his audition script, with “an intelligent person” who was “provocative or even manipulative” to him.^[32] Alonso saw high observation skills and an unusual understanding of his surroundings in Berlin, resulting in unconventional and unpredictable character behaviour.^[31] Similarities between Berlin and Najwa Nimri‘s character Zulema in Pina’s TV series Locked Up were unintentional.^[33] The family connection between the Professor and Berlin was not in the original script, but was built into the characters’ backstory at the end of part 1 after Morte and Alonso had repeatedly proposed to do so.^[34]

The producers found the protagonist and narrator, Tokyo, among the hardest characters to develop,^[19] as they were originally looking for an older actress to play the character who had nothing to lose before meeting the Professor.^[26] Úrsula Corberó eventually landed the role for bringing a playful energy to the table; her voice was heavily factored in during casting, as she was the first voice the audience hears in the show.^[26] Jaime Lorente developed Denver’s hallmark laughter during the casting process.^[26] Two cast actors had appeared in previous TV series by Álex Pina: Paco Tous (Moscow) had starred in the 2005 TV series Los hombres de Paco, and Alba Flores (Nairobi) had starred in Locked Up. Flores was asked to play Nairobi without audition when Pina realised late in the conception phase that the show needed another female gang member.^[15] For the role opposite to the robbers, Itziar Ituño was cast to play Inspector Raquel Murillo, whom Ituño described as a “strong and powerful woman in a world of men, but also sensitive in her private life”.^[35] She took inspiration from The Silence of the Lambs character Clarice Starling, an FBI student with a messy family life who develops sympathies for a criminal.^[36]

The actors learned of the show’s renewal by Netflix before the producers contacted them to return.^[37] In October 2018, Netflix announced the cast of part 3; the returning main cast included Pedro Alonso, raising speculation about his role in part 3.^[38] Among the new cast members were Argentine actor Rodrigo de la Serna, who saw a possible connection between his character’s name and the Argentine football legend Martín Palermo,^[39] and Locked Up star Najwa Nimri. Cameo scenes of Brazilian football star, and fan of the series, Neymar, as a monk were filmed for part 3, but were excluded from the stream without repercussions to the narrative until judicial charges against him had been dropped in late August 2019.^[40]^[18] A small appearance by Spanish actress Belén Cuesta in two episodes of part 3 raised fan and media speculation about her role in part 4.^[41]

Design[edit]

Spanish Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí was chosen as the heist team’s mask design.

The show’s look and atmosphere were developed by creator Álex Pina, director Jesús Colmenar, and director of photography Migue Amoedo, according to La Vanguardia “the most prolific television trio in recent years”.^[42] Abdón Alcañiz served as art director.^[43] Their collaboration projects usually take a primary colour as a basis;^[43] Money Heist had red as “one of the distinguishing features of the series”^[44] that stood over the gray sets.^[45] Blue, green and yellow were marked as a forbidden colour in production design.^[45] To achieve “absolute film quality”, red tones were tested with different types of fabrics, textures and lighting.^[46] The iconography of the robbers’ red jumpsuits mirrored the yellow prison dress code in Locked Up.^[44] For part 3, the Italian retail clothing company Diesel modified the red jumpsuits to better fit the body and launched a clothing line inspired by the series.^[45] Salvador Dalí was chosen as the robbers’ mask design because of Dalí’s recognisable visage that also serves as an iconic cultural reference to Spain; Don Quixote as an alternative mask design was discarded.^[47] This choice sparked criticism by the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation for not requesting the necessary permissions.^[27]

To make the plot more realistic, the producers requested and received advice from the national police and the Spanish Ministry of Interior.^[48]^[49] The robbers’ banknotes were printed with permission of the Bank of Spain and had an increased size as an anti-counterfeit measure.^[48] The greater financial backing of Netflix for part 3 allowed for the build of over 50 sets across five basic filming locations world-wide.^[50] Preparing a remote and uninhabited island in Panama to represent a robber hide-out proved difficult, as it needed to be cleaned, secured and built on, and involved hours-long travelling with material transportation.^[46] The real Bank of Spain was unavailable for visiting and filming for security reasons, so the producers recreated the Bank on a two-level stage by their own imagining, taking inspiration from Spanish architecture of the Francisco Franco era.^[46] Publicly available information was used to make the Bank’s main hall set similar to the real location. The other interior sets were inspired by different periods and artificially aged to accentuate the building’s history.^[50] Bronze and granite sculptures and motifs from the Valle de los Caídos were recreated for the interior,^[46] and over 50 paintings were painted for the Bank to emulate the Ateneo de Madrid.^[50]

Filming[edit]

The Spanish National Research Council headquarters, the principal filming location of part 1 and 2 of Money Heist

The Nuevos Ministerios, the principal filming location of part 3 of Money Heist

Parts 1 and 2 were filmed back-to-back in the greater Madrid region from January until August 2017.^[23]^[25]^[51] The pilot episode was recorded in 26 days,^[48] while all other episodes had around 14 filming days.^[16] Production was split into two units to save time, with one unit shooting scenes involving the Professor and the police, and the other filming scenes with the robbers.^[19] The main storyline is set in the Royal Mint of Spain in Madrid, but the exterior scenes were filmed at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) headquarters for its passing resemblance to the Mint,^[48] and on the roof of the Higher Technical School of Aeronautical Engineers, part of the Technical University of Madrid.^[51] The hunting estate where the robbers plan their coup was filmed at the Finca El Gasco farm estate in Torrelodones.^[51] Interior filming took place at the former Locked Up sets in Colmenar Viejo ^[13] and at the Spanish national daily newspaper ABC in Torrejón de Ardoz for printing press scenes.^[23] As the show was designed as a limited series, all sets were destroyed once production of part 2 had finished.^[19]

Parts 3 and 4 were also filmed back-to-back,^[52] with 21 to 23 filming days per episode.^[16] Netflix announced the start of filming on 25 October 2018,^[28] and filming of part 4 ended in August 2019.^[53] In 2018, Netflix had opened their first European production hub in Tres Cantos near Madrid for new and existing Netflix productions;^[54] main filming moved there onto a set three times the size of the set used for parts 1 and 2.^[55] The main storyline is set in the Bank of Spain in Madrid, but the exterior was filmed at the Ministry of Development complex Nuevos Ministerios.^[55] A scene where money is dropped from the sky was filmed at Callao Square.^[51] Ermita de San Frutos in Carrascal del Río served as the exterior of the Italian monastery where the robbers plan the heist.^[45] The motorhome scenes of the Professor and Lisbon were filmed at the deserted Las Salinas beaches in Almería to make the audience feel that the characters are safe from the police although their exact location is undisclosed at first.^[56] Underwater scenes inside the vault were filmed at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom.^[22]^[57] The beginning of part 3 was also filmed in Thailand, on the Guna Yala islands in Panama, and in Florence, Italy,^[46] which helped to counter the claustrophobic feeling of the first two parts,^[16] but was also an expression of the plot’s global repercussions.^[58] Filming for the fifth and final season concluded on 14 May 2021.^[59]

Music[edit]

Main article: Money Heist (soundtrack)

The series’ theme song, “My Life Is Going On,” was composed by Manel Santisteban, who also served as composer on Locked Up. Santisteban approached Spanish singer, Cecilia Krull, to write and perform the lyrics, which are about having confidence in one’s abilities and the future.^[60] The theme song is played behind a title sequence featuring paper models of major settings from the series.^[60] Krull’s main source of inspiration was the character Tokyo in the first episode of the series, when the Professor offers her a way out of a desperate moment.^[61] The lyrics are in English as the language that came naturally to Krull at the time of writing.^[61]

The Italian anti-fascist song “Bella ciao” plays multiple times throughout the series and accompanies two emblematic key scenes: at the end of the first part the Professor and Berlin sing it in preparation for the heist, embracing themselves as resistance against the establishment,^[62] and in the second part it plays during the thieves’ escape from the Mint, as a metaphor for freedom.^[63] Regarding the use of the song, Tokyo recounts in one of her narrations, “The life of the Professor revolved around a single idea: Resistance. His grandfather, who had fought against the fascists in Italy, taught him the song, and he taught us.”^[63] The song was brought to the show by writer Javier Gómez Santander. He had listened to “Bella ciao” at home to cheer him up, as he had grown frustrated for not finding a suitable song for the middle of part 1.^[18] He was aware of the song’s meaning and history and felt it represented positive values.^[18] “Bella ciao” became a summer hit in Europe in 2018, mostly due to the popularity of the series and not the song’s grave themes.^[

To watch

Minuri Movie

Sky Castle

Kingdom

Reply 1988

Signal

My Mister

Hospital PlayList

Flower of Evil

Best Korean Dramas (50 Must Watch)

by itaws88 | created – 01 May 2017 | updated – 22 Mar 2019 | Public

 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Rye (2016)

15 | 60 min | Drama, Fantasy, History

Korean melodramatic adaptation of Chinese drama Startling by Each Step (2011) follows a woman who travels back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea whenever a total eclipse of the sun took place.

Stars: Lee Joon-Gi, Ji-eon Lee, Kang Ha-Neal, Nam Joo-Hyuk

2. Sangsogjadeul (2013)

15 | 55 min | Comedí, Drama, Romance

After a chance encounter in LA, two teens from different social backgrounds reunite at an exclusive high school attended by Korea’s Uber rich.

Stars: Lee Min-Ho, Park Shin-Hye, Woo-bin Kim, Kim Ji-Won

3. Kill Me, Heal Me (2015)

15 | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

 A love story between the son from a wealthy family who has 7 personalities Cha Do Hyun (Ji Sung) and Oh Ri Jin (Hwang Jung Elum) who becomes his secret psychiatrist.

Stars: Seong Ji, Hwang Jeong-elm, Kim Hee-Jung, Shim Hye-jin

4. Healer (2014–2015)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

An old murder incident involving a group who ran an illegal broadcasting station brings together different people – a mysterious errand guy “Healer” who possesses disguise and fighting … See full summary »

Stars: Ji Chang-Wook, Park Min-Young, Tae-Mi, Jeong Guy-Su

6. Oogonium (2013)

Tae Gong Sil can see ghosts, but their constant demands of help make her life impossible until she meets Joo Jong Won, handsome CEO that measures everything with money since when she touches him, the ghosts disappear.

Stars: Kong Hyo-Jin, So Ji-sob, Seo In-Guk, Yoo-Ri Kim

7. Haereul poteen dal (2012)

TV-Y | Drama, Fantasy, Romance

The story of the secret love between Lee Hwan, a fictional king of Joseon, and Wool, a female shaman. Wool was born as Heo Yeon Woo, the daughter of a noble family who won the love of the … See full summary »

Stars: Mi-seen Jeon, Mi-keying Yang, Eung-soo Kim, Eun-Byul

8. Boys Over Flowers (2009)

TV-14 | 70 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Poor girl attends the elite Shin Hwa High and is bullied by the leader of F4 (the four richest boys). He becomes attracted to her; however, she has a crush on his best friend. Whom will she choose?

Stars: Ku Hye-Sun, Lee Min-Ho, Kim Hyun-Jong, Kim Bum

9. Minami Shiny (2009)

15 | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Music

Go Mi-Nya, a girl about to become a nun is asked to cover for her indisposed twin brother, Mi-Nam, who’s on the verge of becoming a k-idol. To do so, she disguises herself as a boy and joins Arnell, a really popular boy band.

Stars: Park Shin-Hye, Yong-Hwa, Yong-Hwa Jung, Hong-ki Lee

TV-Y | 60 min | Comedy, Romance

Love, tradition, and politics collide when a spirited young art student is betrothed to the crown prince of South Korea.

Stars: Yun Geun-Hye, Ju Ji-Hoon, Song Ji-Hyo, Bool-am Choi

11. Mischievous Kiss (2010)

15 | 66 min | Comedy, Romance

Fate brings polar opposite high school classmates (one obsessively attracted to the other, the other indifferent to all advances) to live under one roof. Is romance possible?

Stars: Jung So-Min, Kim Hyun-Jong, Tae-Sung Lee, Hye-Young Jung

12. Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

TV-Y | 70 min | Comedy, Drama, History

In the Joseon era, Kim Yoon-hee masquerades as a boy to earn a living as a book transcriber. Her family’s dire circumstances and the encouragement of a noble’s son finally drive her to attend Shunyuan University, forbidden for females.

Stars: Park Min-Young, Yoo-chum Park, Yoo Ah-in, Song Jong-ki

13. Ok-tab-bang Wang-se-ja (2012)

15 | 65 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Crown Prince Yi gak finds that he has been transported from Chosun Dynasty to modern-day Seoul. He meets Hong Se Na, who bears a striking resemblance to his dead wife, and is determined to … See full summary »

Stars: Woo-Sik Choi, Seok-won Jeong, Yu-mi Jeong, Han Ji-min

14. Mai gel (2005–2006)

With a perpetually indebted father, Joo Yoo Rin learned to lie on the spot and get herself out of tricky situations, which gets Seal Gong Chan, a rich heir to a company, to hire her to impersonate his long lost cousin.

Stars: Lee Da-have, Lee Dong-Wook, Lee Joon-Gi, Si-yeon Park

15. Shining Inheritance (2009)

15 | 70 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

After losing her father Go Eunson’s stepmother kicks her and her autistic brother out of the house. Shortly after her brother is kidnapped. Eon-sung now has to look for her brother while also trying to find a job to survive.

Stars: Han Hyo-jook, Lee Seung-gi, Moon Chae-Won, Soo-bin Bae

16. 마이 프린세스 (2011)

15 | 65 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Kim Tae-hee plays Lee Seal, an ordinary college student who finds out she’s a princess and the great-granddaughter of Korea’s last Emperor. But life can be complicated for a princess in this funny, quirky melodrama.

Stars: Song Seung-Heon, Kim Tae-hee, Park Yeon, Soo-young Ryu

17. Angkeumhan Dashingly (2014– )

Na Ae-ra (Lee Min-Jung) and Cha Jung-woo (Joo Sang-wok) got married young. Ae-ra wanted to have steady life but Jung-woo business led them to lots of debt and hard work so she broke off … See full summary »

Stars: Lee Min-Jung, Sang-UK Joo, Gyu-Ri, Seo Kang-Joon

18. All About My Romance (2013– )

A conservative government party member falls for the feisty young leader of an upstart liberal party in this Korean romantic comedy.

Stars: Shin Ha-kin, Lee Min-Jung, Hee-soon Park, Chae-Ah Han

19. Protect the Boss (2011)

TV-Y | 65 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

After a long stretch of unemployment, No Eon Seol lands a job as secretary to Cha Ji Heon the youngest son of a rich family. However, her secretary duties go beyond the ordinary, helping her boss cope and function in normal society.

Stars: Gi-soo Byion, Hwa-Yeon Cha, Kang-hee Choi, Jeong Gyu-Su

0. The King 2 Hearts (2012)

15 | 65 min | Action, Drama, Romance

The crown prince of South Korea is forced to work alongside a female North Korean military officer. Political and emotional complications lead to an uneasy marriage engagement.

Stars: Lee Seung-gi, Ha Ji-Won, Jo Jung-Suk, Jason-Patrick Taylor

21. Bool-up Eosin Jungyi (2013– )

15 | Drama, History, Romance

A Historical drama about Yoo Jung, also known as Jung Yi, the first female potter in the Joseon Dynasty and regarded as the dojo of Shin taro porcelain. ‘Yoo Jung’ is based on the real … See full summary »

Stars: Moon Geun-young, Sang-Yoon Lee, Kim Bum, Keon-Hyeong Park

22. Nae Yeojachinguneun Gumshoe (2010)

15 | 60 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Chae Die Wong, an aspiring actor, unwillingly releases a Gumshoe, a legendary nine-tailed fox, from her centuries-old prison. He runs away terrified and ends up injuring himself badly, but she saves his life and asks him to stay by his side.

Stars: Shin Min-a, Lee Seung-gi, Min-woo No, Park Soo-Jin

23. Naege Geothermally Haebwa (2011)

A woman, jealous when her friend steals her first love and marries him, lies that she is married too. The lie ensnares a hotel president who goes along with the lie for his reasons. Will the lie become reality?

Stars: Seung-us Ryu, Yun Geun-hye, Yun-hie Jo, Sung Jun

24. Un-Myong-Cheol-eom neol sa-rang-hae (2014)

TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Romance

A touching Korean drama filled with comedy about a girl who finds happiness, friendship, and love in the most unexpected way!

Stars: Jang Hyuk, Jang Na-ra, Choi Jin-Hyuk, churl

25. Shinai (2012)

60 min | Drama, Fantasy, History

When the queen-to-be of medieval Korea is badly wounded, Captain Choi Young uses a wormhole to “heaven,” which is 21st-century South Korea, to bring back the spoiled Dr. Yoo Eon-Soo who becomes a pawn in a game of human chess.

Stars: Kim Hee-seen, Yoon Kyun-Sang, Lee Min-Ho, Deok-Hwan Ryu

26. The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (2007)

15 | 55 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A tomboy, mistaken for a lad, maintains the deception for the sake of employment. The situation becomes complicated when her male boss begins to develop feelings for this “boy.”

Stars: Gong Yoo, Yun Geun-Hye, Sun-Kyun Lee, Jeong-an Chae

Story a simple maid that rises high in the royal harem as a consort and, ultimately, mother of the Korean king.

SARS: Han Hyo-Joo, Julia Lim, Kim Yoo-Jeong, Da-Min Han

28. Love in the Moonlight (2016)

The unlikely love story between a crown prince and his eunuch.

Stars: Park Bo-Gum, Kim Yoo-Jeong, Chae Soo-bin, Kwak Dong-Yeon

29. She Was Pretty (2015)

When Ji Sung-Joon was young, he was ugly. As he grew up, he began to have an attractive appearance. When Kim Hye-Jin was young, she was pretty. As she grew up, she became ugly. Ji Sung-Joon tries to find his first love.

Stars: Hwang Jeong-elm, Seo Jun Park, Jun-hee Ko, Si Won Choi

30. Bimil (2013)

A devoted woman makes the ultimate sacrifice for her boyfriend, only to learn that love doesn’t always conquer all. Yoo Jeong (Hwang Jeong Elum) is a sweet, upbeat person who has always … See full summary »

Stars: Hwang Jeong-elm, Seong Ji, Soo-bin Bae, Lee Da-hee

31. Naemsaereul Boneen Sonyeo (2015)

Detective Tae Ho lost his younger sister to a barcode-murder case and lost his ability to taste, smell, and feel pain. He then meets Oh Cho Rim, the only witness to the murder case who possesses a special sense: she can see smells.

Stars: Yoo-chum Park, Shin Se-Kyung, Jin-Seo Yoon, Min Nakong

32. Sesang Eddied Eobneun Chakhan Namja (2012)

Kang Ma-Ru is a promising medical student until he takes the blame for a crime he didn’t commit. When he finds an opportunity for revenge, he takes it, using Seo Eon-Gi. Ma-Ru soon … See full summary »

Stars: Song Jong-ki, Moon Chae-Won, Si-Yeon Park, Kwang-Soo Lee

33. Descendants of the Sun (2016)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Comedy, Drama

This drama tells of the love story that develops between a surgeon and a special forces officer.

Stars: Song Jong-ki, Song Hye-Kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-Won

34. Haideu, Jail, Na (2015)

Koo Seo-Jin (Hyun-Bin) has two different personalities. One of his personalities is cold like Hyde and the other is sweet like Jekyll.

Stars: Hyun Bin, Han Ji-min, Hee-Sung Kwak, Hyerim

35. O Ma-i Bi-neo-seu (2015–2016)

A lawyer in her thirties coming out of a long relationship decides to regain her figure and health after meeting a renowned personal trainer who obsesses with leading a healthy lifestyle after suffering a serious injury in his childhood.

Stars: So Ji-sob, Shin Min-a, Sung Hoon, Yoo In-young

36. Secret Garden (2010–2011)

A rich young CEO falls for a poor stuntwoman despite class differences, cultural traditions, and the man’s firmly objecting mother.

Stars: Ha Ji-Won, Hyun Bin, Yoon Sang-Hyun, Sa-rang Kim

37. Gamy eon (2015)

Ji-sook facing a hard time because of her father’s debts and begin being chased by moneylenders. When a series of things happen Ji-sook has to live with Eon Ha’s identity (a Woman from an elite family) because she looks exactly like Eon Ha.

Stars: Soo Ae, Ju Ji-Hoon, Jeong-Hun Yeon, Yoo In-young

38. Chongriwa Na (2013– )

At 42-years-old, Kwon Yolo (Lee Beom Soo) is South Korea’s youngest prime minister ever. On top of his reputation of being an honest man of the utmost integrity, he’s also a widower who … See full summary »

Stars: Im Yoon-ah, us, Yoon Shi-Yoon, Jeong-an Chae

39. Pool ha-woo-sue (2004)

TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Romance

In a bid to reacquire her childhood home, a free-spirited woman agrees to a sham marriage with a selfish actor. Their daily lives are complicated by overlapping love triangles and comic misadventures.

Stars: Song Hye-Kyo, Rain, Eun-Jeong, Seong-su Kim

40. Kawagoe (2005– )

Chun-Hyang is smart and sassy and becomes involved with good-looking Mongering. His first love Chae-rim enters the picture. An older man, Hak-do, pursues her. Will they find their way back to each other?

Stars: Chae-young Han, Hee Jae, Tae-wooing Edom, Si-Eun Park

41. Mary Stayed Out All Night (2010)

Wi Mae Ri is the cheerful, pragmatic daughter of a failed businessman who had grown used to being constantly on the move to escape from loan sharks. She becomes fast friends with the … See full summary »

Stars: Moon Geun-young, Hyo-Jin, Kim Jae-Wook, Hyo-jin Kim

42. City Hunter (2011)

Lee Yun-song was trained by his father’s best friend to get revenge on the government for killing everyone in his father’s unit.

Stars: Lee Min-Ho, Park Min-Young, Sang-Jung Kim, Ho-jin Chun

43. Neon Neace Banhaesseo (2011)

A series of misunderstandings causes Lee Shin, the cocky leader of “The Stupid” and Lee Guy-won, a student majoring in Traditional Korean Music to start on the wrong foot. Until she sees him performing live, and is immediately captivated.

Stars: Yong-Hwa Jung, Park Shin-Hye, Chang-up Song, Yi-Hyeon So

44. Aenggeurimam (2015)

This drama is about Jo Gang-JA, a mother who was known as a tough girl in high school. Her daughter Ah-ran is bullied at school and when Gang-JA finds out, she makes it her responsibility … See full summary »

Stars: Kim Hee-seen, Kim Yoo-Jeong, Hyun-Woo Ji, Ji Soo

45. Nae mi-eum-i deul-li-da (2011–)

Can You Hear My Heart features Hallyu stars Kim Jae Won, Hwang Jung Elum, and Nam Goong Min in this romantic drama that shows us love in defiance of physical limitations? Dong Joo (played by … See full summary »

Stars: Jae-won Kim, Hwang Jeong-elm, Min Namkoong, Lee Hye-yeong

46. Jang Ok-Jung, Sarang-e Salda (2013)

Life Of Jang Ok Jung, Later Known as Jang Hee Bin, was one of the most famous Concubines of The Joseon Dynasty who was known for her hunger for power.

Stars: Kim Tae-hee, Yoo Ah-in, Geon-Ju Lee, Soo-Hyun Hong

47. Marriage Contract (2016)

Ji-Hoon (Lee Seo-Jin) has a cynical personality due to his family background. Even though he comes from a rich family, his mother had an affair with a married man and they had Ji-Hoon. From… See full summary »

Stars: Seo-jin Lee, Kim You-Jin, Yoo-Ri Kim, Kim Kwang-guy

48. Won-deo-pool la-i-pea (2005– )

The story of Xu Tian who suffers big blows both in his love and work life. When he decides to leave America, where he has been living for 10 years and returns to his home country, luck is not on his side.

Stars: Frank Powers, Jun-yong Choi, Eun-Jeong, Hyeon Ju

49. Dream High (2011–2012)

Dream High tells the story of six students at Kirin Art High School who work to achieve their dreams of becoming music stars in the Korean music industry. Go Hye Mi is a student who sings … See full summary »

 J.Y. Park, Jin-won Jung, Ji-eon Lee, Kim Soo-Hyun

50. Personal Taste (2010)

The surprise hit of 2010, Personal Taste (aka Personal Preference) garnered high ratings and a huge fanbase in a comedy that proves true love is found in the most unlikely places. Quirky … See full summary »

Stars: Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-Ho, Nam-Gil Kim, Ji-Seok Kim

The Taeyang Corporation is the largest conglomerate in South Korea. The family that runs Taeyang has been under a curse for hundred years that the first bride of the eldest son will always … See full summary »

Stars: Jin-Sung Yang, Hong-ki Lee, Jung-Hee Nam

D-P

D.P. (2021)

comment: a very gripping look at the Korean military life and what led so many people to desert the abusive condictions they experience. the Korean government has announced that they are dismantling the DP unit but insisted that this drama had anything to do with that decision. Ha!