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Hero (2009 TV series)

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Hero
Promotional Poster
GenreComedy, Action, Drama
Written byKwon Ki Young
Park Ji Suk (박지숙)
Directed byKim Kyung Hee
Lee Dong Yoon (이동윤)
StarringLee Jun Ki
Yoon So Yi
Um Ki Joon
Baek Yoon Shik
Country of origin South Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
ProducerLee Jae Dong
Production locationSouth Korea
Running timeWednesdays & Thursdays 21:55
Original release
NetworkMBC
ReleaseNovember 18, 2009 –
January, 2010

Hero / Heroes (Hieoro, 히어로; Unseen Warfare, 보이지 않는 전쟁; Strange Heroes, 수상한 히어로즈) is a South Korean comedic-action drama [1] about Korea's top reporters and ordinary citizens fighting against the inequalities between society’s masses and its very elite. It is loosely based on a comic by Park Ji Suk and produced by Lee Jae Dong. It was reported that Heading to the Ground had ended early which allowed Hero to switch from the November 18-11, beginning a week earlier than planned to give MBC more to work with in the Wednesday-Thursday ratings battle. But due to the female leads unexpected injury it was pushed back a week later and will officially premiere November 18, 2009. [2] The female pop group, KARA will appear in the the first episode of MBC Hero and the two main characters of the drama Lee Jun Ki and Yoon So Yi will be cheering for KARA at the concert. [3] October 20, a ceremony took place to wish the staff of Hero success at the Yang Ju Gyung-Gi-Do MBC Culture Village. Lee Jun Ki's fans had also arrived on location bringing with them 100 sets of lunch packs to share with everyone giving the staff/actors strength and determination. [4]

Synopsis

Jin Do Hyuk [5] (Lee Jun Ki) works as a journalist for a third-rate newspaper. He lost his parents at an early age, after they were involved in a fatal hit and run car accident and Do Hyuk was left alone with his older sister Do Hee (Jang Young Nam). Although Do Hee is older than Do Hyuk she is quite immature, impulsive and whenever Do Hyuk had money she would take his money. He had always dreamed of becoming a journalist like his father, attending the prestigious “Dae Sae Ilbo,” but because of his poor financial situation Do Hyuk was unable to attend college, which created a temporary roadblock for him. So instead Do Hyuk ends up working for the third rate news rag "Monday Seoul". Although the "Monday Seoul" is lower than the "Dae Sae Ilbo," Do Hyuk works with passion and uses any means necessary to cover a story. Joo Jae In (Yoon So Yi) lost her father at an early age. Her father, a police officer, died while on duty. Since then, she has wanted to follow in her father's footsteps to become a police officer. Jae In eventually graduated at the top of her class in the police academy. She likes Kang Hae Sung (Um Ki Joon), who interviewed her for the "Dae Sae Ilbo." Jae In was also interviewed by Do Hyuk for the "Monday Seoul," but she doesn't know what to make of Do Hyuk. Kang Hae Sung, a highly respected Dae Sae Ilbo journalist, currently dates Choi Ho Kyung (Shin Ju Ah), the daughter of Choi Il Doo (Choi Jyung Woo), the president of parent company Dae Sae Corporation. Choi Il Doo views Ho Kyung somewhat like his right hand man. Often, Ho Kyung will spin news stories to favor Il Doo and the Dae Sae Corporation. Il Doo hopes Hae Syung will one day become his son-in-law. But, Hae Syung notices Jae In and Do Hyuk becoming closer and becomes jealous. One day, Do Hyuk awaits outside of a prison to interview former mobster Jo Yong Deok, a leader of the Twin Ax gang prior to his 15 year jail sentence. On the day of his release the only persons awaiting for him are journalist Do Hyuk and a former underling. Yong Deok then decides to start his own newspaper with Do Hyuk named the "Yong Deok Ilbo".

Characters

Main

File:Hero(MBC) Cast.jpg
Cast of Hero
Um Ki Joon (left), Baek Yoon Sik (middle left), Lee Jun Ki (middle right), Yoon So Yi (right)
  • Jin Do Hyuk, a newspaper reporter who is full of ambition.

Jin wants to become a reporter like his father, but he comes from a family which struggles from the rigors of life and he was not able to study of his own will due to his immature sister who financially worsens the situation. Jin barely gets into a third-rate newspaper but runs into a wall when the paper decides to cease publication. However, he grows with new dreams and expectations, when his interviewee, a former gang boss, proposes that they set up a new newspaper. Jin's optimism and aggressiveness could be taken as someone who is fun compared to Lee's previous roles where he was an undercover agent for the intelligence service or had to be a real hero carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders. Lee repeatedly emphasized that Jin is a character who is "less serious and more cheerful" than previous characters he has played. But Lee will not have a completely easy time with his role playing someone who transforms into a reporter with a strong sense of justice and speaks up for the lower middle class society.

  • Joo Jae In, a leader of a police department's homicide team.

Joo, a detective who graduated police academy with first honors, is a character who always plays by the book. At work, she is alike her father who passed away while on duty but in normal life, she is alike her mother who is feminine and elegant yet a little immature. That is why she will sweep out criminals with various types of martial art fighting, but wears pink pajamas at home or will carefully sneak into a crime scene but turns shy in front of the ones she likes. That is where her appeal is and the reason why she will be confused over liking Jin and Kang. According to producer Kim, Jae In will "always quarrel with Jin who seems to be living a third-rate life, ignoring him and despising him until she gradually realizes his attractiveness and starts to mature."

  • Kang Hae Syung, an elite reporter who dreams of becoming successful.

Um concisely explained that Kang is one who is "full of ambition" and will "use any means possible to achieve his goal". While Kang is cold-hearted and nimble-witted, he is the typical character who gets engaged to the daughter of his newspaper Dae Sae Ilbo's chairman and secures his position as the mainstream reporter in the economic section of the paper. However, as he starts to grow feelings for detective Joo, he cannot stand her getting closer to Jin and agonizes from it.

  • Jo Yong Deok, a former gang boss who prepares for revenge for the first time in 15 years.

Jo comes out into society after serving 15 years in a prison. He no longer has any followers except for Sang Chul (Jo Kyung Hoon), his wife has remarried with someone else and his daughter, who has become a college student, turns her back on him. He now has no-one to turn to, and ends up proposing that he and Jin, who was after him for an interview, set up a newspaper through which Cho tries to settle his hidden past with newspaper Dae Sae Ilbo. Baek, who always has considerable presence in his films or dramas, whether he protagonist or antagonist, refrained from answering most of the questions about his character and replaced them with his chuckles. "There weren't any difficulties. (chuckles) I just try to make it realistic." Despite his short responses, we can expect Baek, the master who has been accumulating on his experience over the years, to fulfill his role well. [6]

Minor

  • Jin Do Hee, Do hyuks elder sister, the mother of Jin Sol and Jin Jeong.
  • Myung Hee, the mother of Jae In and also the owner of Tesoro Coffeehouse. Myung Hee is an adorable mother with elegance and sensitivity, but a little naive. She raised Jae In alone ever sinceher husband died on duty.
  • Gong Chil Sung, the second leader of the Double Axe Gang, used to be the follower of Yong Deok and has been watching him carefully since Deok was released from prison. He is also envious of Hae Syung, who is trusted by Choi Il Do, and continues to guard his second position beside Ii Do.
  • Choi Il Do is the President of DaeSe Enterprise and owner of DaSe Press. He single handedly developed DaeSe into one of Korea's top enterprise, but he has his eyes set on absolute power.
  • Park Sang Hun is the photographer for DaeSe Press and is the trusted sidekick of Hae Syung.
  • Kim Bok Soon is the proud mother of Hae Syung. When she met the glamorous Ho Kyung she became worried because of Kyung's over-priviledged personality.

Cast

File:HCastListingNew.jpg
Character Chart

Extended Cast

Filming

On October 8, new stills were released of Lee Jun Ki in action on the set, which follows a previously released still of second lead Eom Ki Joon, who plays a rival reporter.

Announced October 9, was the series confirmed cameo of pop girl group KARA,[7] which will be featured in the first episode in a performance scene. The mini-concert marks the first meeting for Lee Jun Ki and Kim Min Jung. Driven by the star power of Lee Jun Ki, the drama has been licensed for a Japanese broadcast even before it airs in Korea. This is not that surprising considering Lee Jun Ki’s widespread popularity throughout Asia, but what is surprising is the recent admission that the licensing was prepared in advance of November 2008.

The staff of Hero had planned to air by November has conducted an online selection for 'Hero Supporters'. The supporters were selected from 10 Korean fans and 2 overseas fans from China and Taiwan. There are a total of 341 people that applied for the selection which lasted since September 30 - October 11, this is a tight fight of 1 out of 30. And the supporters selected were announced on October 13 and were invited to the drama shooting scene and sites of official activities, to be the supporters for the promotion of the drama. Although there are similar cases which utilizes UCC netizens for promotion, but conducting the selection in such an official way allowed them to receive an increasing amount of attention. [8]

Lee Jun Ki donned a white shirt with a glittering flower-print vest on top, briefly transforming into as a nightclub waiter. On set, Lee played the role of the nightclub waiter so well that the staff jokingly asked if he really had worked part-time at a nightclub before. [9]

Episode Ratings

Date Episode Nationwide Seoul
2009-11-18 1 5.4 (38th) (<9.0)
2009-11-19 2 4.9 (42nd) (<8.6)
2009-11-25 3 - -
2009-11-26 4 - -
2009-12-02 5 - -
2009-12-03 6 - -
2009-12-09 7 - -
2009-12-10 8 - -
2009-12-16 9 - -
2009-12-17 10 - -
2009-12-23 11 - -
2009-12-24 12 - -
2009-12-30 13 - -
2009-12-31 14 - -
2010-01-06 15 - -
2010-01-07 16 - -
Average - -

Source: TNS Media Korea

Trivia

  • Han Ji Min [10] [11] was originally cast as the main female character, Joo Jae In, but was later replaced with Kim Min Jung. [12]
  • MBC official on October 14 said, “Due to the poor audience rating record, “Heading To The Ground” will be ended early on the 5th next month.” he added, “while as the consequence, Lee Jun Ki’s drama “Hero” will air a week early on November 11.” [13].
  • On October 22, MBC Hero drama while shooting the KARA concert at the Cheongju Art Center. Lee Jun Ki as Jin Do Hyuk surprised everyone with a hang-wire Tarzan action.
  • Actress Kim Min Jung had injured her shoulder during the shooting of Hero, but she still continued the film-shoot while undergoing therapy by orthopedics. When Kim's muscle shoulder ligament was injured, her persistence was very much appreciated, but her injury due to the recent film-shoot has now damaged 30% of Kim's shoulder and ligament.[14].
  • Due to the previous shoulder injury, on October 31 actress Kim Min Jung had submitted a request (which was accepted) to leave the production, 12 days prior to the airing date, being replaced by Yoon So Yi, eventually pushing the airing date back to it's original, November 18. [15].

References

  1. ^ First Look at Hero's heroes, Dramabeans, 2009/10/07. Retrieved October 09, 2009.
  2. ^ Hero premiere to delay by one week, Joins News, 2009/11/05. Retrieved November 05, 2009.
  3. ^ Kara To Make Drama Cameo Appearance, Allkpop, 2009/10/09. Retrieved October 09, 2009.
  4. ^ 'Hero' First Shooting Praying Ceremony "All Aboard!", Newsen, 2009/10/20. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  5. ^ Lee Jun Ki Returns as a Journalist, Allkpop, 2009/10/02. Retrieved October 02, 2009.
  6. ^ (PREVIEW) MBC TV series "Hero", Asiae, 2009/10/23. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  7. ^ Hero Gets Pop-Star Cameos And A Japanese Broadcast, Dramabeans, 2009/10/10. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  8. ^ MBC 'Hero' Supporters 1 out of 30 Selection, Will It Be A Hit?, Newsen, 2009/10/13. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  9. ^ Lee Jun-ki turns waiter in drama "Hero", Asiae, 2009/10/16. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  10. ^ Lee Jun-ki and Han Ji-min for ‘Strange Heroes’, Popseoul, 2009/08/14. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  11. ^ Lee Junki and Han Ji-min together in Hero, Dramabeans, 2009/08/13. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  12. ^ Kim Min Jung replaces Han Ji Min in Hero’, Allkpop, 2009/09/21. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
  13. ^ Heading To The Ground will be Ended on The 5th Next Month, Asiae, 2009/10/14. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  14. ^ Kim Min Jung, 30% Damage of her Shoulder Muscle Ligament "Insists to Continue Shooting", Newsen, 2009/10/21. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  15. ^ 'Hero' urgently replaces lead actress one week before premiere, Newsen, 2009/11/03. Retrieved November 03, 2009.

News Articles

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