Narco-Saints Explained
Image Upright: | 1.15 |
Alt Name: | The Accidental Narco[1] |
Native Name: | Hangul: | 수리남 | Rr: | Surinam | Lk: | Suriname |
|
Creator: | Netflix |
Director: | Yoon Jong-bin |
Music: | Jo Yeong-wook |
Country: | South Korea |
Language: | Korean |
Num Episodes: | 6 |
Budget: | billion |
Network: | Netflix |
Narco-Saints is a 2022 South Korean television series directed and co-written by Yoon Jong-bin, and starring Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hae-soo, Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Min-gwi, and Chang Chen. Inspired by true story, the series depicts an ordinary entrepreneur who has no choice but to risk his life in joining the secret mission of government agents to capture a South Korean drug lord operating in Suriname.[2] It was released on Netflix on September 9, 2022, alongside an English language dub renamed Narco-Saints,[3] [4] in order to draw similarities to Netflix's previous similarly-premised series Narcos (2015–2017) and (2018–2021), the "play next" of the latter series linking to Narco-Saints.[5]
Synopsis
The life-threatening journey of Kang In-gu (Ha Jung-woo), a civilian businessman who has no choice but to cooperate with the secret operation of the National Intelligence Service to catch Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), a South Korean drug lord who has taken control of Suriname.
Cast
Main
A businessman who arrived in Suriname for skate business, only to be forcefully pulled in by the National Intelligence Service for a secret operation to catch Yo-hwan.
A Korean drug lord currently based in Suriname, moonlighting as a pastor.
The team leader of the National Intelligence Service's Branch in the Americas.
The right-hand man of Yo-hwan; he was formerly under the Chinese organisation before betraying to work for Yo-hwan.
The consultant lawyer for Yo-hwan.
A deacon and close aide of Yo-hwan.
A Chinese gang leader based in Chinatown, Paramaribo.
Supporting
In-gu's wife.
- Jordan Preston as President Delano Alvarez
The President of Suriname who came to power after conducting a military coup with the help of Yo-hwan.
He works closely with Chang-ho to arrest Yo-hwan.
Yo-hwan's church figure, she is cruel like him.
Member of the National Intelligence Service and Chang-ho's assistant.
- Hyun Bong-sik as Park Eung-soo[11]
In-gu's high school friend and a sailor, he suggested that In-gu goes to Suriname for skate business.
In 1993, at a investment briefing headed by Yo-hwan, she disclosed false information regarding Yo-hwan having connections to the president to millionaires.
- Kim Si-hyeon as Si-hyeon[13]
Chang-ho's assistant.
- Chidi Ajufo as Gallas
- Anupam Tripathi as a soldier of the Surinamese Army[14]
- Song Ho-bum as Chen Zhen's underling[15]
- Lee Sung-min as The voice of a fishing boat captain[16]
- Nubel Feliz Yan as Nubel The Mercenary 2[17]
Production
Casting
On March 23, 2021, the cast of K-drama Suriname, inspired by Netflix's Narcos,[18] was announced to include Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, Park Hae-soo, and Choo Ja-hyun, in addition to Ha Jung-woo and Hwang Jung-min, who had already been confirmed as the lead roles. The first script reading of the cast was held on March 22, 2021, at a location in Seoul.
Filming
Production of Suriname planned to be filmed at Dominican Republic from April last year, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the production was postponed indefinitely. Later, production started filming on a set in South Korea from last April and decided to shoot in Dominican Republic, not in Suriname, for about two months starting in November.[19]
On November 9, 2021, it was reported that actors and staffs of Suriname departed to Dominican Republic from the end of October and plans return to Korea in mid-December. Yoo Yeon-seok recently returned to Korea in the end of October, Hwang Jung-min and Ha Jung-woo departed to Dominican Republic in late October and early November. Jo Woo-jin is scheduled to leave the country soon. This story background location will not resemble the Surinamese country.[20]
The series was produced with an estimated cost of .[21]
Controversy
Suriname's government has taken legal action against the production company for allegedly damaging Suriname's image by featuring drugs in the series. Suriname's government, which takes legal action with just one drama, also said it would lodge a protest with the South Korean government. Specifically, the series showed a corrupt president, as well as a drug scene. However, as national issues made a choice.
On September 13, 2022 (local time), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname expressed his displeasure about the Netflix original series, saying, "Suriname has been portrayed as a drug-transfer country for many years. We are working to improve the image. But we are at a disadvantage again with Netflix's Suriname' isn't just foreshadowing legal action against producers." He also announced that he would send an anti-job protest letter to the US ambassador in Suriname. A senior government official in Suriname went public about the job and expressed his discomfort. The interest in Netflix's response was consolidated.[22] Later, Ahn Eun-joo, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced "If there is a misunderstanding, try to resolve it". In the end, it even showed signs of turning into a diplomatic issue. The Embassy of South Korea in Venezuela asserted that it was concerned about the safety of local residents in Suriname.[23]
Accolades
Notes and References
- Web site: Starring Joo Won, Netflix's Carter Will Be Released On August 5. Sara Merican. Forbes. July 28, 2022. August 8, 2022. August 8, 2022. https://archive.today/20220808051906/https://www.forbes.com/sites/saramerican/2022/07/28/starring-joo-won-netflixs-carter-will-be-released-on-august-5/?sh=4304a8f5535f. live.
- News: Jung Seung. May 27, 2021. Director Yoon Jong-Bin's First Collaboration With Netflix Confirms Production and Casting For Suriname (WT). Netflix. January 21, 2022. March 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230330080139/https://about.netflix.com/en/news/director-yoon-jong-bins-first-collaboration-with-netflix-confirms-production. live.
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- Web site: Jo Ji-young. August 8, 2022. [공식] 하정우X황정민→윤종빈 감독 '수리남' 9월 9일 추석 연휴 넷플릭스 공개 확정]. [Official] Ha Jung-woo X Hwang Jung-min → Yoon Jong-bin's 'Suriname' confirmed to be released on Netflix on September 9th during Chuseok holiday. August 8, 2022. Sports Chosun. ko. Naver. August 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220808004738/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=076&aid=0003902534. live.
- News: Simons. Roxy. September 9, 2022. Is Netflix's Narco-Saints Connected to the Narcos' Franchise?. Newsweek. Newsweek Publishing LLC. September 9, 2022. September 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220909153247/https://www.newsweek.com/netflix-narco-saints-connected-narcos-franchise-k-drama-1741511. live.
- News: Mo Shin-jeong. March 23, 2021. [단독] '수리남' 하정우·황정민·조우진·유연석·박해수·추자현, 드림 캐스팅 확정... 4월말 크랭크인]. ko. [Exclusive] 'Suriname' Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, Park Hae-soo, Choo Ja-hyun, Dream Casting Confirmed... End of April crank-in. hankooki. March 23, 2021. February 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180202162151/http://m.hankooki.com/m_sp_view.php?m=. dead.
- News: Kim Ye-eun. May 28, 2021. 넷플릭스 '수리남' 제작...하정우·황정민·박해수·조우진·유연석 출연 [공식입장]]. ko. Netflix 'Suriname' production... Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hae-soo, Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok appeared [official position]. Naver. xportsnews. May 28, 2021. May 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210528003517/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=311&aid=0001303596. live.
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- Web site: Narcosantos, la serie de Netflix de espionaje y acción que te mantendrá en suspenso. Edgar Quiñónez. Narcosantos, the espionage and action Netflix series that will keep you in suspense. News1. República. September 13, 2022. September 13, 2022. es. September 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220914021106/https://republica.gt/vive-guatemala/narcosantos-la-serie-de-netflix-de-espionaje-y-accion-que-te-mantendra-en-suspenso--20229132000. live.
- News: Tne. Iftekhar. September 19, 2022. Narco-saints: K-drama's version of the famed Narcos. en. FE Online. The Financial Express. September 19, 2022. September 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220919124124/https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/entertainment/narco-saints-k-dramas-version-of-the-famed-narcos-1663590610. live.
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