Green Snake Media, the production company of SBS "Iljimae", gave up purchasing the copyright of Ko Woo-yeong's comic due to production costs, and are using an original story based on the story of a chivalrous robber. The setting is the Chosun era, and Iljimae is faced with breaking the rules of social status and the pursuit of reform.
Actor Lee Joon-ki, who rose to stardom with "The King and the Clown", is the main character, and he is to show historical acting and action skills that he has perfected. A representation of the production company said, "Different from Ko Woo-yeong's Iljimae that has his stage in Southeast Asia, SBS Iljimae will have his stage within Korea, which will express the Korean sentiment in a better way".
In response to what genre it is, he said, "There is a satire of today's society, but it's not a fusion historical drama as "Hong Gil Dong". It is a drama of chivalry that is seasoned with comedy".
The plan to show Lee Joon-ki, like Lupin, MacGyver, or Zorro, who appears at any time and vanishes mysteriously, is drawing much interest.
In addition to Lee Joon-ki, they have a great cast of Han Hyo-joo, Park Si-hoo, Lee Yeong-ah, Kim Chang-wan, Lee Moon-sik, Jo Min-ki, Kim Seong-ryeong, Son Tae-yeong, Lee Won-jong, Ahn Kil-kang, and Kim Roi-ha.
Lee Seung-gi's "Iljimae"
MBC is remaking Ko Woo-yeong's famous comic "Iljimae". Lee Seung-gi, who is the main character, will show the original with sadness, humor, and satire. Although Lee Seung-gi has less acting experience than Lee Joon-ki, Lee Seung-gi is currently very popular, so the battle for ratings is still unknown.
If Lee Joon-ki's 'Iljimae' starts with the personal desire to avenge his family's death, Lee Seung-gi's 'Iljimae' shows decisive opposition for social discrimination and exploitation. As the original comic mixes fantasy, Lee Seung-gi acts as the hero that everyone wants more than staying faithful to a historical background.
Iljimae, who comes back from studying abroad, realizes the true situation of exploited Chosun, and becomes a chivalrous robber to help the people, and the producers will insert many episodes from the original.
The producing company, Jipi Workshop, of MBC "Iljimae" started producing after receiving the copyright after battling for it against Green Snake Media last February. They began filming in March, and the staff is looking around the whole nation to find a traditional house, a river, a cave, and mountains to set the stage for the drama.
Presently, MBC plans for 24 episodes of 70 minutes each, and they are targeting to air by the end of the year. The reason why they are focusing on organization more than ever is because it is rare for two broadcasting companies to have two dramas with the same name and similar stories in the same year.
Jipi Workshop is remaining faithful to the script and even requested certification of the storyline from Green Snake Media to protect the original work.
Original Korean article at news.naver.com
English translation by www.hancinema.net
