Charismatic Killers in Korean Dramas and Films: Part 1

In Korean dramas and films, bad guys usually don't look like bad guys. They're mostly good looking, charismatic, well-mannered and educated. Even when you hate them you'd still remark how beautiful they look. Who finds themselves compromising their principles because the killer is simply too irresistible?! 

I do!

I thought about dividing murderers into different categories but that would take me to so many tunnels so I decided to cut them into two: Killers (assassins, contract killers, etc..) and Gangsters. 

So Ji Sub / A Company Man

In the breathtaking film, the almighty So Ji Sub plays Ji Hyeong Do; a contract killer in a company employee disguise. Ji Hyeong Do finally finds a job, but it turns out to be that of a hit man. He takes the job and everything works well until he falls in love, and the human inside starts resurfacing. 

So Ji Sub presents a perfect conflicted killer. He's well-built with distinguished eyes. His eyes showed the murderer inside him. His fighting scenes were incomparable. I'm not a big fan of long and exaggerated fight scenes, but I enjoyed them here. With his suit on, So Ji Sub wouldn't blink an eye before he'd murder anyone. He was redeemed and everything -you know- but I would have loved him anyway; even if he stayed the bad guy till the very end.

Han Go Eun / A Man Called God

Han Go Eun played one of my most favourite female characters in K-dramas; the assassin in love, Vivian. Vivian believed in her boss and considered him her god, therefore she sacrificed everything for him. She loved him and wanted him to be hers, and when she couldn't have him she tried to seek revenge, but in the end her love won over. 

Han Go Eun in this drama was extremely beautiful, sexy and charming in how shrewd, meticulous, talented, confident and independent she was. The character itself is lifeless, but with Han Go Eun playing it I ended up supporting her; one of the rare cases where I ship the 'bad' girl with the main lead. If you watched the drama, you must have seen the contrast between the three female leads, and how the main one was the weakest. Vivian's killing scenes were perfectly done. She'd kill like it was nothing, and that ruthlessness suited her just perfectly.

Lee Soo Hyuk / A Tree With Deep Roots

Who can forget Yoo Pyung; the merciless cold-eyed, bloodthirsty, assassin. Lee Soo Hyuk didn't have many lines in the drama. He didn't need any. That was my first drama of him and that was more than 3 years ago, but I still vividly remember how his expressionless eyes would make my blood run cold. He was one character I loathed with all my might which shows how good he was.

Yeon Woo Jin / Arang and the Magistrate

In the period fantasy drama, Yeo Woo Jin played the conflicted villain Joo Wal; a character I couldn't love, but couldn't hate. Joo Wal had to kill a woman every full moon. He couldn't remember what he did afterwards. His character becomes intriguing when he actually starts remembering. 

Yeo Woo Jin has that ability to convince as an atrocious cold-blooded villain. He did a good job here.

Soo Ae & Cha Seung Won/Athena: Goddess of War

There were so many killers here. Everyone was a killer actually, for good or for evil. I just want to mention the two bad bad killers; those who killed because they were 'bad'. 

Soo Ae is a very gifted actress, and she's specially good at being the bad girl. In Athena, she was one hell of an assassin. You could see murder in her eyes even when pretending to be a normal person. Her actions scenes, which she performed without a stand-in, were impressive. Her icy voice, wintry eyes and subtle gestures alluded at a dangerous personality. But that is nothing compared to the moment the assassin gets to work. Her actions scenes at the beginning of episode one, and in the island, were breathtaking. You'd know what I mean if you watched the drama. If you want to watch a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you've got to see Soo Ae playing Yoon Hye In.

Yoon Hye In's boss and the reason she became a killer is Son Hyuk played by the invincible Cha Seung Won. Athena was a groundbreaking action drama, but Cha Seung Won was the best thing about it. How I hated him!! Those eyes of his and that deep merciless voice!! Apart from the moments he'd look at Hye In, Son Hyuk would empty himself out of any human emotions. He was an emotionless killing machine. He received orders and he completed them. His ego did not allow him to always be an underling which brought his doom. He was a conniving genius; charismatic, diplomatic, shrewd and experienced. He did everything flawlessly, from killing to love making, and from politics to physical fights. Cha Seung Won as Son Hyuk is the most attractive and memorable killer in K-dramas -at least for me-.

I'll bring you some more next time. Tune in.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts.