Bashing on the wealthy has become a trend in South Korean media nowadays. It could have been sparked by various news last year where children of wealthy families have been in the spotlight. “Veteran,” a box office hit last year,
Bashing on the wealthy has become a trend in South Korean media nowadays. It could have been sparked by various news last year where children of wealthy families have been in the spotlight. “Veteran,” a box office hit last year, became the all-time third-most tickets sold for a Korean film, with over 13 million.
The story is about a relentless detective on the trail of a wealthy conglomerate son and his crime spree. Using his wealth and connections, he manages to elude the detective in a cat-and-mouse chase. Similarly, a current TV series “Remember,” on Wednesdays and Thursdays, has a very similar plot where a handsome son of a wealthy conglomerate has committed murder but puts the blame on their landscaper, who has Alzheimer.
“Veteran” and “Remember” have very similar qualities as the evil character is handsome, powerful, charismatic, extremely wealthy, short on temper and evil to the bone. At least for now, it seems writers and directors are pointing their interest at the second, third and fourth generation wealthy class and their privileged lifestyle and supposedly their abuse of power.
In a time where making a living even with dual income in Korea is difficult and the high cost of living has been adding stress on the working class, finger-pointing at the wealthy class has escalated.
Weekly update:
‘The Legendary Witches’
Episodes 33 & 34
Today, 6:30 p.m.: Soo-yin goes to see Do-hyun when she hears he’s alive. Do-hyun finds out his father framed Soo-yin and sent her to prison. Ang-ran tells Chairman Ma that it’s her to drive him out of his company.
Today, 7:45 p.m.: Mio finds out Do-jin has been working as a chauffeur. Woo-seok goes to see Do-hyun. Soo-yin confronts Ang-ran about not telling her about Do-hyun sooner.
‘Root of the Throne’
Episodes 31 & 32
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Bang-won is bothered by the contents of Jung Do-jeon and Jung Mong-ju’s conversations, but he doesn’t let on. Jung Do-jeon tells Bang-won to look into Cho Young and Moomyung, and tells Yeon-hee to overtake Hwasadan.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Gil Seon-mi is feels the pressure when he hears Jung-ya went to see Bang-won. Moomyung tails Yoon-rang to find out who killed Baek Geun-su.
‘Remember’
Episodes 13 & 14
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Filled with rage after being abandoned by Ilho Group, Detective Kwak gives Jin-woo a video of his confession, angering Nam Gyu-man even more. Gyu-man finds out Jin-woo’s family and Dong-ho’s father died in the same auto accident.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Dong-ho turns his back on Ilho Group and secures a crucial piece of evidence against Chairman Nam. Jin-woo and his colleagues raid drug party of the wealthy heirs with Detective Kwak’s help.
‘Identical Affairs’
Episode 41 & 42
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Hae-kang drives Chairman Choi into a corner with audio file evidence. But Chairman Choi threatens Hae-kang right back that Jin-eon will also be ruined if he’s made a murderer. Hae-kang hesitates when she sees Se-hee suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Jin-eon finds out his father is planning to use Hae-kang as a scapegoat to avoid criminal charges for Mido Pharmaceutical case. He gives up his attack against Tae-seok to help Hae-kang.
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Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which airs Korean dramas with subtitles. This column summarizes dramas playing in Hawaii. Chung can be reached at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
