Korean Drama Review: The Master’s Sun

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As I am a huge fan of Korean movies, I couldn't help but take a look at the film that dethroned "Bohemian Rhapsody" from the top of the Korean box office.

"Default" is a movie inspired by events that took place in 1997, when the South Korean economy was on the verge of a global crisis. As a result of the growth of public and corporate debt, overheating of the economy, and other depressing factors, the country suddenly finds itself just one step from complete bankruptcy.

The Characters

There are three main characters we can observe. The first is the head of monetary policy Han Si-hyeon, who was the first to understand where things were going by doing simple calculations and analyzing the results.

The second character is Yun Jeong-hak, a financial analyst who predicts a collapse and opens his investment fund, playing against the South Korean economy.

The third character is a middle-class businessman Gap-su, who was lucky enough to get a large order just on the eve of the crisis.

Oh, and a nice surprise for Vincent Cassel fans! He also appears in the movie for just a few minutes as the Managing Director of IMF.

The Story

It is almost impossible to keep the intrigue in movies based on real events as we usually already know how it will end. That is why the author's submission, dialogues, and key ideas are of particular importance.

There are three parallel storylines that allow us to look at events through the eyes of each of the characters. Si-hyun is trying to resolve the problem, scarcely reaching the leadership and literally forcing them to convene an emergency meeting. However, she soon realizes that these people will do anything to hide the problem from the people. And the longer they are silent, the less chance ordinary people have to stand on their feet.

At the same time, the cunning Yoon Jong Hak is trying to get rich off the soon-to-be-collapsed economy and create his own investment fund. And finally, we can see the dramatic consequences that faced Gap-su after winning a contract to supply products to a large department store before it went bankrupt.

The whole storyline shows us how in just one night, people who had a stable income, ambitious life goals, and plans can lose everything. As you understand, the problem is much more serious than the one that can be solved with 1 hour payday loans. It reminds me a bit of one of the episodes of the "Years and Years" series.

Conclusion

"Default", little by little, but extendedly, tells all the stories to help us understand every person, not only the characters shown but ordinary residents of South Korea who were affected by the economic crisis. The gloomy atmosphere and great disturbing music already cause tension and anxiety at the subconscious level.

Although financial movies are usually quite difficult to perceive when you are far from the financial sector, filmmakers are trying their best to tell how it works in an accessible language. As we delve deeper into the story, we learn how politicians and corporations play their games at the highest levels, serving their personal goals and forgetting about the problems and needs of ordinary people.

So, we can say that Default is not a film about money but people. Although about money too, of course.

Best wishes in your life full of adventure,

Madame Writer