The year 2024 saw the Korean drama industry go back to basics, with traditional cable TV offerings largely outshining bigger-budget streaming productions. There were a few notable exceptions, however, including the return of the biggest K-drama of all time. Here is our pick of the best Korean dramas of 2024, ranked from good to great. … Read more
Lead cast: Sul Kyung-gu, Kim hee-ae, Im Se-mi Hot on the heels of Song Kang-ho, who recently made his long-awaited K-drama debut in Disney+’s Uncle Samsik, Sul Kyung-gu (Oasis) is the latest veteran actor making his small-screen debut – which he does in The Whirlwind, opposite The World of the Married star Kim Hee-ae. Sul’s … Read more
On the other hand, the series’ mix of real historical events with fictional ones, and the density of the political machinations depicted, created an opaque narrative whose meaning was hard to fathom. Part of the opacity came from the confusing jumble of coups d’état depicted. The coup which swept General Park Chung-hee to power in … Read more
Lead cast: Song Kang-ho, Byun Yo-han, Lee Kyu-hyung, Jin Ki-joo Like many period political dramas, director Shin Yeon-shick’s Uncle Samsik is leading us towards an ending we already know will happen. Much like the recent film 12.12: The Day, the events of this story will culminate in a coup d’état. In contrast to that hit … Read more
Korean history buffs! Remember the divide during the tumultuous 1950s and 60s, when a nation cleaved in two mirrored the clashing ideas within? This politically unstable era, rife with power struggles and self-serving ambition, becomes the captivating backdrop for the latest K-drama, Uncle Samsik. Imagine a historical drama where strategy reigns supreme. Picture political figures … Read more
Lead cast: Song Kang-ho, Byun Yo-han, Lee Kyu-hyung, Jin Ki-joo, Seo Hyun-woo After almost 30 years on the big screen, Korean acting legend Song Kang-ho (Parasite) makes his long-awaited small-screen debut as a wily fixer in the political drama Uncle Samsik. Directed by Shin Yeon-shik and presented by Disney+, this big-budget drama series evocatively recreates … Read more
Looking for your next binge-watch? May 2024 is heating up the K-drama scene with a sizzling line-up! Song Kang Ho makes his small-screen debut in the drama Uncle Samsik, while Wi Ha Joon lands his first lead role in The Midnight Romance at Hagwon; Ryu Jun Yeol returns in the mysterious The 8 Show. Craving … Read more
Song is played by Go Kyung-pyo (Love in Contract), while Kang Han-na (My Roommate Is a Gumiho) plays On Woo-joo, a determined reality TV writer who becomes obsessed with Ki-baek’s unusual behaviour and tries to land him for her show. (JTBC, May 1) 2. The Atypical Family Lead cast: Jang Ki-yong, Chun Woo-hee Bok Gwi-joo … Read more
Set in the 1960s, the series follows the idealist Kim San (Byun), who dreams of transforming his country into an affluent one like America. San enters into an uneasy alliance with fixer Pak Doo-chil (also known as Uncle Samsik, and played by Song), who can help the young man achieve this prosperous future with sometimes … Read more
