Bashing on the wealthy has become a trend in South Korean media. It could have been sparked by last year’s news coverage spotlighting children of wealthy families. “Veteran,” a box-office hit last year, made over $13 million in ticket sales, earning it the third-highest spot in ticket sales for a Korean film. The story is about a relentless detective on the trail of a wealthy conglomerate owner’s son and his crime spree. Using his wealth and connections, he manages to elude the detective in a cat-and-mouse chase.
A current TV series, “Remember,” which airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on KBFD, has a similar plot in which a handsome son of a wealthy conglomerate owner has committed a murder but puts the blame on their landscaper, who has Alzheimer’s disease.
The main characters in “Veteran” and “Remember” have similar qualities: They are handsome, powerful, charismatic, extremely wealthy, short on temper and evil to the bone.
For now it seems writers and directors are interested in the second-, third- and fourth-generation wealthy class, their privileged lifestyle and supposed abuse of power. In a time where making a living 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.
This week’s synopses
“The Legendary Witches”
Episodes 33 and 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 trying 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 and 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 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 and 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 a drug party of the wealthy heirs with Detective Kwak’s help.
“Identical Affairs”
Episodes 41 and 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 the Mido Pharmaceutical case. He gives up his attack against Tae-seok to help Hae-kang.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.co
