Lucifer (South Korean TV series) explained

Native Name:
Hangul:마왕
Hanja:魔王
Rr:Mawang
Lk:Devil
Director:Park Chan-hong
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Episodes:20
Executive Producer:Lee Deok-geon
Runtime:70 minutes
Company:Olive 9
Network:KBS2
Related:Maō

Lucifer[1] is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Uhm Tae-woong, Ju Ji-hoon, and Shin Min-a. It aired on KBS2 from March 21 to May 24, 2007 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.

The series is the second installment of the revenge trilogy by director Park Chan-hong and writer Kim Ji-woo, after Resurrection in 2005 and followed by in 2013.[2]

Plot

A string of murders brings together a conflicted detective, a psychic librarian, and a mysterious lawyer with dubious motives. Detective Kang Oh-soo (Uhm Tae-woong) is assigned to two seemingly unrelated murder cases, where the only clues left behind are tarot cards, with the first card meaning "judgment." This leads him to Seo Hae-in (Shin Min-a), a quiet librarian who has the uncanny ability to make a psychic connection to an object to discover its history. She reveals to him that the victims were connected to the death of a high school boy years ago. The one common link between the suspects is their defense attorney, Oh Seung-ha (Ju Ji-hoon), a young lawyer who is seemingly kind and altruistic. Hae-in and Seung-ha later fall in love, though Oh-soo also has feelings for her.

As the culprit continues to leave clues, more lives are ruined and the body count rises. Oh-soo races to uncover the truth, but he is also haunted by the sins of his past which he has been trying to atone for. An incident in his youth 12 years ago has snowballed into a larger tragedy, and the two men involved are destined to face each other again, unsure who is good and who is evil.

Cast

Main

A 29-years old detective who works in the violent crimes division. He is energetic, brave, relentless in his duties, and a straight talker. Oh-soo comes from a rich family and is the second son of a famous politician. During his middle school years, he was considered a troublemaker and a bully. At 17, he stabbed a fellow student to death during an argument. To atone, he turned away from his dark past.

A 28-years old public defender. Known for his kindness, Seung-ha frequently volunteers at a soup kitchen, and always listens intently to his client's problems and suggests solutions. 12 years ago, his life changed after the death of his older brother, followed shortly by his mother's death due to shock and grief. He disappeared after graduating from middle school, and resurfaces as a lawyer. While hiding his real identity, he meticulously prepares for revenge.

A 24-years old librarian who possesses an ability for psychometry and is knowledgeable about tarot cards. Bright and optimistic, she lives with her widowed mother, who is deaf and mute. Hae-in learned about her supernatural ability when she was 12 years old.

Supporting

Kang Oh-soo's family
Kang Oh-soo's friends
Police detectives
Supporting cast
Extended cast

Ratings

width=100 Datewidth=100 Episodewidth=100 Nationwide
2007-03-21 1 9.3%
2007-03-22 2 8.7%
2007-03-28 3 7.9%
2007-03-29 4 6.9%
2007-04-04 5 8.4%
2007-04-05 6 7.7%
2007-04-11 7 7.1%
2007-04-12 8 6.9%
2007-04-18 9 7.4%
2007-04-19 10 6.4%
2007-04-25 11 6.5%
2007-04-26 12 7.0%
2007-05-02 13 6.2%
2007-05-03 14 7.4%
2007-05-09 15 6.4%
2007-05-10 16 6.9%
2007-05-16 17 7.3%
2007-05-17 18 8.4%
2007-05-23 19 7.0%
2007-05-24 20 8.3%
Average 7.4%
Source: TNS Media Korea

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2007KBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesUhm Tae-woong
Ju Ji-hoon
Excellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesShin Min-a

Remake

See main article: Maō (TV series). Lucifer became very popular in Japan when it aired on cable channel So-net in October 2007.[5] [6] This led to the production of a Japanese remake in 2008 titled Maō, starring Satoshi Ohno, Toma Ikuta, and Ryoko Kobayashi.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lucifer. KBS World. January 2, 2023.
  2. Web site: Bae. Sun-young. Kim Nam-gil and Son Ye-jin Returning with Hot Romance and Cold Revenge. TenAsia. 2013-05-23. 23 May 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140329214801/http://www.tenasia.com/kim-nam-gil-and-son-ye-jin-returning-with-hot-romance-and-cold-revenge/. 29 March 2014.
  3. Web site: Um Tae-woong to Meet with Japanese Fans in Seoul. KBS Global. 2013-06-15. 18 April 2007.
  4. Web site: Ju Ji-hoon Selected New Asian Star of 2007. KBS Global. 2013-06-15. 13 March 2007.
  5. Web site: Japanese Fans Keen on Drama Mawang. KBS Global. 2013-06-15. 13 April 2007.
  6. Web site: OST of Drama Devil Big Hit in Japan. KBS Global. 2013-06-15. 29 October 2007.