Ha Jung-Woo 하정우 [Drama “Narco-Saints” | Upcoming: Movies “Nocturnal”, “Ransomed” | Travel Reality Show “Bros on Foot”]

[Helena]

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065579562054742
S.Korean Netflix original series 'Narco-Saints' to premier on September 9

YonhapNews / 2022-09-03 11:19:22
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Joonha Yoo)

Spoiler

▲These photos, provided by Netflix, show scenes from 'Narco-Saints.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, September 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Netflix Original series “Narco–Saints” attracts the audience while following the basics of structure of Crime series



Netflix Series, “Narco-Saint” is about a civilian who has no other choice but to work with the national intelligence service because he is framed by the drug kingpin who rules over the South American country Suriname.


The drama series is based on a true story of South Korean drug lord known as Mr. Cho who got captured in 2011. By featuring actors Hwang Jung-min, Ha Jung-woo, Jo Woo-jin, Park Hae-soo and more the drama adds solid finishing touch to the production.


Throughout the drama, plot thickens the tension continues on rising as each of the characters are suspicious of one another.



A businessman Kang In-gu acted by Ha Jung-woo faces sudden change in his life due to pastor Jeon Yo-han, acted by Hwang Jung-min who wanted to use Kang In-gu’s business as a mean of transport for his cocaine business. Therefore Kang In-gu decides to team up with the national intelligence service and go on an undercover mission as a drug trafficker and approaches to Jeon Yo-han.


One of the greatest swindlers of the world Jeon Yo-han wields absolute power among his faithful devotees who he uses as a mean of distributing his cocaine. Insanity portrayed by cocaine addict followers of Jeon Yo-han adds tension throughout the series.


Plan provided by the national intelligence service is to help Jeon Yo-han with supplying cocaine to South Korea through United States, Agent Choi Chang-ho acted by Park Hae-soo goes undercover as a colleague of Kang In-gu, however due to his curiosity, both of the undiscovered assets go through numerous difficulties throughout the series creating the intense atmosphere. Potential betrayal of Kang In-gu is one of the reasons why the national inelegance service consider this operation to be risky.


Rivalry which cannot opt out in crime series also appear throughout “Narco- Saints.” Chinese drug ring specializing in Methamphetamine due to firm grip of Jeon Yo-han who monopolizes cocaine business adds additional tension throughout the series. Kang In-gu who contacted with Chinese drug ring in order to draw Jeon Yo-han receives death threats and the success of the whole operation gets jeopardized.



One of the biggest attracting point of “Narco-Sains” is the realistic act of the South Korean actors 



South Korean actor Hwang Jung-min realistically portrayed psychotic, devil like cult leader while Ha Jung-woo portrayed rough, but humble character Kang In-gu perfectly throughout the series.


Actor Park Hae-soo who left long lasting impression to the audiences due to his roles as an antagonists throughout the series, transformed into very sharp, calm and realistic agent of the national intelligence service. Actor Chang Chen from “Crouching Tiger; Hidden Dragon” stars in “Narco-Saints” as the leader figure of the Chinese drug ring, adding power to the series.


Series “Narco-Saints” is directed by Yoon Jong-bin who is known for his movies “The Spy Gone North,” in 2018, “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time,” “Beastie Boys” in 2008 and more. In the beginning of the production, “Narco-Saints” was going to be produced as a movie; however it went through a structural change and became a six part series drama.


Since “Narco- Saints” which will be released by Netflix is premiering on Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving holiday, despite of the series being a very well made show, it is hard for the series to fulfill the audiences expectation and interest.


Since all six of the episodes are interconnected to create a one whole big picture, the series lack in introducing new fresh factors. Adding on, despite of the rigidly process of national intelligence service’s undercover operation the series lack in plot twist as well.



Since it was originally created as a movie the drama drags a little, by spending over 20 minutes for protagonist Kang In-gu to actually go to Suriname, and one of the main figures of the drama Jeon Yo-han appeared towards the end of the first episode. In order to put emphasize on the drug kingpin, the series feature a lot of female figures with very provocative clothes, therefore some of the audiences might feel uncomfortable watching the drama.



However, South Korean actor Hwang Jung-min and Ha Jung-woo’s act throughout the drama was spot on. But the typical protagonist and antagonist’s image of how protagonist cleverly overcomes all the difficulties and the antagonists are always worked up with insanity decreases characters charisma a little.


Character which actor Ha Jung-woo acted throughout the drama Kang In-gu’s extravagant ability to quickly reacts and wisdom to over every difficulty is far off from reality. Also the glorifying the agent of the national intelligence service makes it hard for audience to truly engage into the drama.


Netflix series “Narco-Saints” will be available starting in September 9. (END)
 

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

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[Helena]

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220907007000315
'Narco-Saints' is crime-thriller about civilian undercover agent: Director

By Kim Boram (brk@yna.co.kr) |  September 07, 2022
 

In this photo provided by Netflix, the cast of "Narco-Saints" poses for a photo during a press conference in Seoul on Sept. 7, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

‘Narco-Saints’ lead actors Hwang Jung-min and Ha Jung-woo during its press conference in Seoul on Sept. 7, 2022. (Netflix/Yonhap)

Director Yoon Jong-bin during ‘Narco-Saints’ press conference in Seoul on Sept. 7, 2022. (Netflix/Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- The director of the upcoming Korean-language Netflix original "Narco-Saints" said Wednesday that it tells an unprecedentedly enthralling story about an untrained citizen who takes undercover missions to capture a drug kingpin in a South American country.

"I've looked for a film or a TV series covering a civilian working undercover, but failed to find one," Yoon Jong-bin, who helmed the six-part Netflix series, said in a press conference in Seoul. "The key point is that an ordinary businessman who has no experience of specialized training survives life-threatening situations only with the talent of accommodating himself to the circumstances."

Based on a true story, the series follows an ordinary businessman named Kang In-gu (Ha Jung-woo), who is forced to join a secret mission tasked by the National Intelligence Service while being involved in a drug-related plot conspired by Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), a Korean drug lord in Suriname disguised as a Christian pastor.

The director said he was so impressed by the real-life story about a drug ruler named Cho Bong-haeng, who ran a major drug-smuggling ring in Suriname and was arrested in Brazil in 2009 by the Korean spy agency in collaboration with a businessman in Suriname.

"I was so interested in this story. When I first read the script for a two-hour film, I thought it missed too many interesting episodes and ideas," he said. "So I wanted to tell this tale in a longer rhythm and joined hands with Netflix."

"Narco-Saints" is the first TV series by Yoon, who is well-known for many South Korean box-office hit films, including the espionage thriller "The Spy Gone North" (2018) and the historical action movie "Kundo: Age of Rampant" (2014).

He said it was hard for a veteran filmmaker to adjust to the tight shooting schedule of a longer TV series and make cliffhanger endings to keep the audience hooked for the next episode.

"I had to shoot a six-hour series under the similar time limit with a film. That's huge pressure," he said. "And I spent a lot of time focusing on the last scenes of each episode to maintain the tension."

Actor Ha Jung-woo, who has written and directed two films, "Fasten Your Seatbelt" (2013) and "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant" (2015), played a role in encouraging director Yoon to work on this project about seven years ago.

"I thought the true story about the Suriname drug lord is worth dramatizing. It's so dramatic," he said. "It is so impressive and interesting that I thought it would be adapted into a film someday in the future."

"Narco-Saints" will be available on Netflix this Friday. (END)

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220907000655
Let no man deceive you by any means: ‘Narco-Saints’

Netflix’s adaptation of true story of Korean drug lord operating in Suriname presents another tense crime thriller

By Lee Si-jin (sj_lee@heraldcorp.com) | Sept 7, 2022

From left: Actors Yoo Yeon-seok, Park Hae-soo, Hwang Jung-min, Ha Jung-woo and Jo Woo-jin pose for photos before a press conference at Josun Palace in Gangnam, southern Seoul. (Netflix)

Netflix’s upcoming “Narco-Saints” is set to present an explosive crime saga in a new setting with a dynamic story and a pseudo religious leader.

“I thought the series held a powerful story. A Korean becoming a drug lord in a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America? This is an exciting setting for a movie,” Ha Jung-woo, who makes his return to a drama series after 15 years, said at a press conference held at Josun Palace in southern Seoul, Wednesday.

“When I first heard about the story, I hoped it would make a jump into either a crime film or a drama series. Because the series had a mesmerizing storyline, I was able to wait for six to seven years, handing out ideas for ‘Narco-Saints,’” Ha added.

 

Spoiler

Still image of "Narco-Saints" (Netflix)

Based on a true story about a South Korean man in Suriname who smuggled cocaine from South America to Europe using Koreans as carriers, the six-episode series revolves around Kang In-gu (Ha), a hard-working man who does not want his children to live in poverty.

Hoping to change his life, Kang starts a new business with a friend in the unfamiliar locale of Suriname.

After Kang unexpectedly encounters Korean pastor Jeon (Hwang Jung-min), who is also a drug king, he becomes a pawn in the international drug trade. A new mind game begins when Kang is caught by Choi Chang-ho (Park Hae-soo), a South Korean government agent.

A still image shows Hwang Jung-min (left) as Pastor Jeon and Ha Jung-woo (center) as Kang In-gu at a church in "Narco-Saints." (Netflix)

Director Yoon Jong-bin, who was behind hit crime films “Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time” (2012), “A Violent Prosecutor” (2016) and “The Spy Gone North” (2018), said that he decided to make his drama debut with “Narco-Saints” because two hours would not be enough.

Director Yoon Jong-bin attends a press conference for "Narco-Saints" in Seoul, Wednesday. (Netflix)

“When I read the script written for a 120-minute film, I recognized that many exciting points had been left out. I felt that producing a crime film will be difficult and this eventually led me to make a drama debut,” Yoon said.

The director added that the character of Pastor Jeon was created to help viewers understand Kang’s situation and empathize with the character.

“When I heard the real story, Kang was simply a person who passionately wished to help the drug king. And I didn't think this was convincing. I thought about a type of job that could easily win people's trust,” Yoon said. "A pastor was the answer."

 

Thrilling stories aside, the director said that shooting the top actors in the same scene was a dream-come-true moment.

“The energy that these actors -- and Taiwanese actor Chang Chen -- brought to the scenes was tremendous,” the director said, expressing confidence that the cast’s outstanding performances will capture people's attention.

“Narco-Saints” releases on Netflix on Friday.

[Helena]

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/09/07/entertainment/television/NarcoSaints/20220907154503484.html
Upcoming Netflix original series 'Narco-Saints' takes inspiration for real drug lord

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr] | September 7, 2022

 

Actors Hwang Jung-min, left, and Ha Jung-woo pose for photos at a local press event to promote their upcoming Netflix original series "Narco-Saints" on Thursday at Josun Palace in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. The series revolves around an ordinary entrepreneur named Kang In-gu, portrayed by Ha, who chooses to cooperate with the National Intelligence Service and go on a secret mission to capture Korean drug lord Jeon Yo-hwan, portrayed by Hwang. [NEWS1]

A drug lord active in Suriname and secret agents working undercover to capture him seems like the perfect plot for an action film.

However, the upcoming Netflix original series “Narco-Saints,” which is based on this narrative, is actually adapted from true events about a drug lord named Cho Bong-haeng who operated a massive trafficking organization in Suriname between the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The series is director Yoon Jong-bin’s first-ever drama. Yoon is known for portraying society’s dark sides such as military violence and crime cartels as seen in his prior films “The Unforgiven” (2005),” “Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time” (2012) and “The Spy Gone North” (2018).

 

Spoiler

Hwang portrays the Korean drug lord Byun Yo-hwan, based on a real-life character of a drug lord named Cho Bong-haeng who operated a massive drug trafficking organization in Suriname between late 1990s and early 2000s. [NETFLIX]

The series adds one more protagonist - an ordinary entrepreneur named Kang In-gu, portrayed by Ha Jung-woo, who chooses to cooperate with the National Intelligence Service and go on a secret mission to capture the Korean drug lord Jeon Yo-hwan, portrayed by Hwang Jung-min, who disguises himself as a benevolent pastor.

Director Yoon fronts this protagonist as his series’ unique charm that distinguishes itself from other similar works about spies.

 

Spoiler

Ha Jung-woo portrays an ordinary civilian-turned-spy who seeks revenge on Yo-hwan and decides to cooperate with NIS to capture him. [NETFLIX]

“There is no content, I believe, about a civilian being deployed to a secret operation led by a government organization,” he said at a local press event on Thursday held at Josun Palace in Gangnam district, southern Seoul. “That’s what I think is original about this series. In-gu isn’t professionally trained [to go undercover] and he pulls through the mission using only his guts and his instinct for survival [...] What’s more, the biggest attraction about this series is that it’s adapted from a real-life event, so I think that makes our story feel more grounded.”

 

From left, actors Yoo Yeon-seok, Park Hae-soo, Hwang Jung-min, Ha Jung-woo and Jo Woo-jin pose for the photo at a local press event to promote their upcoming Netflix original series "Narco-Saints" on Thursday at Josun Palace in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. [NEWS1]

The series features a star-studded cast including one of the leads of hit Netflix Korea series “Squid Game” (2021), Park Hae-soo who plays NIS agent Choi Chang-ho who is in charge of the operation to capture Yo-hwan; Jo Woo-jin as Yo-hwan’s ruthless second-in-command Byun Ki-tae; Yoo Yeon-seok as David Park, the brain of the drug organization and an attorney who is multi-lingual and helps Yo-hwan operate his drug ring; and Taiwanese actor Chang Chen as Chen Jin, another leader of a crime ring dominating Suriname and Yo-hwan's biggest competitor in the crime world.

“Narco-Saints” will be released on Netflix worldwide on Friday.

[Helena]

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2022/09/688_335762.html
Netflix series 'Narco-Saints' to tell real-life story of Korean drug lord

By Lee Gyu-lee | 2022-09-08

From left, actors Yoo Yeon-seok and Park Hae-soo, Director Yoon Jong-bin, actors Hwang Jung-min, Ha Jung-woo and Jo Woo-jin pose during a press conference for the new Netflix series, "Narco-Saints," at Josun Palace in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix is set to release another blockbuster Korean original series, "Narco-Saints," scheduled to hit the platform on Friday, in time for the Chuseok holiday long weekend. 

Based on a true story, the thriller crime series revolves around an entrepreneur, Kang In-gu (Ha Jung-woo), who traveled to Suriname, a small country in South America, to start a fish trading business to make ends meet for his family back in Korea. One day he comes across a Korean priest, Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), who helps him out during a dispute with the local Chinese mafia.

When he is accused of smuggling drugs, In-gu finds out Yo-hwan is actually the country's Korean drug lord who uses his fish business to export drugs. He then joins a secret government mission to take him down with agent Choi Chang-ho (Park Hae-soo).

Filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin, who is known for the 2018 drama film "The Spy Gone North" and the 2014 period action film "Kundo: Age of the Rampant," is making his series directorial debut with "Narco-Saints." He co-wrote the series with scriptwriter Kwon Sung-hui, whose previous work includes the 2020 horror film "The Closet."

The director shared that the drama, which was originally meant to be a film, was developed into a six-part series to explore the story of the real-life Korean drug lord in Suriname, who was apprehended in 2009.

"When I first heard about the story, I thought it was really interesting. But when I got the script for the film, a lot was missing, like the things that drew my interest at first. It seemed to be difficult to capture the whole story in a two-hour running time," he said during a press conference for the series, held at Josun Palace in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. 

Actor Ha is making a return to the small screen with the series since his drug use conviction, where he was fined last year for illegally using propofol for non-medical purposes.

Ha, who was part of the project since its development stage, said he felt the uniqueness of the story was worth making into a series. 

"I believed that this story based on real life has huge energy. A Korean going to a small South American country and becoming a drug smuggler, itself, felt like a movie," he said. "Because of that the story was powerful, I knew that it would be made into (a series) sometime."

Hwang shared that he joined the project as he was intrigued by its intense storyline. "When I read the script for all six episodes, it had this energy that pulled me toward the next page. After reading the first episode, it made me want to flip right to the next page," he said.

He added that he felt satisfied to see the final product after working with star-studded cast members, Ha, Park, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Jo Woo-jin.

"It's my first time working with these actors … I actually felt bigger energy after watching the series than during the shooting. I was watching the final version quite a time after the filming and everyone did such a great job with their characters," he said.

[Helena]

#Netflix #NarcoSaints #수리남
Narco-Saints | Making Of | Netflix

 

"Can you believe who's in the cast?"
A star-studded lineup
Breathes life into their characters

Starring Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hae-soo, Jo Woo-jin and Yoo Yeon-seok
With a special appearance by Chang Chen

Director Yoon Jong-bin weaves an intensely rich tale
For his Netflix debut series

Go behind the scenes of Narco-Saints

Narco-Saints | 9 September, only on Netflix
#Netflix #Narco_Saints #수리남

Narco-Saints | Making Of | Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/NetflixAsia

An ordinary entrepreneur joins a secret government mission to capture a Korean drug lord operating in South America. Based on true events.

 

—

 

[ theswoonnetflix + netflixkr + NetflixKR ] Category is: seriously talented men

Photos: Ahn Joo-young (@ahnjooyoung_)

#narco_saints #hajungwoo #hwangjungmin #parkhaesoo #jowoojin #yooyeonseok #yoonjongbin

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

[Helena]

https://www.esquirekorea.co.kr/article/70597
ESQUIRE KOREA Pictorial

BY Oh Junghoon | 2022.09.08

Spoiler

 

 

[Helena]

#NarcoSaints #HaJungwoo #HwangJungmin

[ENG SUB] How well does the cast of Narco-Saints know each other?

 

Join the cast of NARCO-SAINTS as they get into the nitty-gritty of their show! From fashion choices to secret signals and even a surprise language test, find out who pays the most attention to their costars—and who’s going to have to channel their inner K-pop idol?

 

Watch NARCO-SAINTS on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81343748

Subscribe to The Swoon: https://bit.ly/2IiIXqV
Follow The Swoon on Instagram: https://instagram.com/theswoonnetflix

#NarcoSaints #HaJungwoo #HwangJungmin #ParkHaesoo #JoWoojin #YooYeonseok #TheSwoon #Kdrama

 

—

 

Narco Saints Netflix | The Real Life Story of the Korean Drug Lord of Suriname | History Recaps

Spoiler

Everything about History and more.
Serial Killers | Murder Cases | History Events | Conspiracy Theories
Documentary.
He lived in Suriname from the late '90s to the early 2000s, running a large drug trafficking organization, and was arrested in 2009 for coordinating operations with the NIS, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Brazilian police. In 2011, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 100 million fines. 
The Drug King of the Republic of Korea
Cho Bong-hang was originally a ship refrigerator in the 1980s. 
At the time, he lived in Suriname for about 8 years and was bright on the local situation

[Helena]

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065597844525881
Neflix 'Narco-Saints' ranks No.8 two days after release

YonhapNews / 2022-09-12 16:24:11
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)

 

▲This photo, provided by Netflix, shows Narco-saints. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by Flix Patrol, shows TV show rankings. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Sept. 12 (Yonhap) -- Netflix's new original series "Narco-Saints" rose to eighth in the global rankings just two days after its release.


 

According to an online ranking site Flix Patrol on Monday, The series ranked eighth in the Netflix TV program category as of the previous day. It has been two days since the episodes were released on Sept. 9.



It topped in four countries: Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam.



It ranked second in Malaysia and third in the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Taiwan and Thailand.

The series also placed seventh in the United States, ninth in Canada, and 10th in Australia.



The series tells the story of a ordinary entrepreneur who cooperates in the secret operation of the National Intelligence Service to arrest a Korean drug lord who has taken over the South American country. Actors such as Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hae-soo, and Jo Woo-jin star.



Although it is a highly anticipated film released by Netflix during the Chuseok holiday, it did not meet the world-wide popularity of "Money Heist: Korea -Joint Economic Area," which was released in last June.



"Money Heist: Korea -Joint Economic Area" ranked 3rd in the world within one day of its release and topped in 5 countries.  But "Money Heist: Korea -Joint Economic Area" was already receiving worldwide attention as the remake of a Spanish drama and "Narco-saints" is likely to rank higher over time.



Flix Patrol ranks and totals rankings by country based on the TOP 10 rankings provided by Netflix.



KBS drama "Young Lady and Gentleman," which ended in last March, ranked sixth, and ENA drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" ninth, and the tvN drama "Alchemy of Souls" 10th. (END)
 

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

 

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http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2022/09/13/2022091301292.html
Another Korean Series Makes Netflix Top 10

By Lee Tae-hoon | September 13, 2022 12:54

Korean series "Narco-Saints" ranked eighth on Netflix's global charts on Monday, according to FlixPatrol, which provides streaming rankings worldwide.

It is Netflix's biggest-budget Korean series at W35 billion in production costs, W10 billion more than mega hit "Squid Game" (US$1=W1,384).

Starring veteran actors Ha Jung-woo and Hwang Jung-min, it topped Netflix's TV show chart in Korea on Sunday and placed eighth globally a day after its release on Friday in time for Korea's biggest holiday Chuseok.

It is director Yoon Jong-bin's first drama series after hit films like "Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time" and "The Spy Gone North."

The six-episode series revolves around a man who joins a secret mission to capture a Korean drug lord operating in the South American country of Suriname.

Most of Yoon's work features strong male leads, and the onscreen chemistry between Ha and Hwang seems to have engrossed viewers.

[Helena]

https://top10.netflix.com/tv-non-english

Global Top 10 [ SEPTEMBER 5 - SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 ]

Weekly Top 10 list of most-watched TV (Non-English)

 

 

NARCO-SAINTS: SEASON 1
Top 10 in TV in 13 countries on Netflix
IN THE AMERICAS: Bahamas•Guadeloupe•Jamaica•Martinique
IN AFRICA: Kenya
IN ASIA: Hong Kong•Indonesia•Malaysia•Singapore•#1 South Korea•Taiwan•

[Helena]

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/09/14/entertainment/television/korea-suriname-netflix-suriname/20220914172005643.html
Suriname's foreign minister says country will take legal action against producers over unfair portrayal

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr] | September 14, 2022

 

A scene in Netflix's “Narco-Saints,” featuring actors Ha Jung-woo, left, and Hwang Jung-min, right. [NETFLIX]

Korea's hit Netflix series “Narco-Saints” has caused a stir in Suriname, a country located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America, next to Brazil.

According to an article in the Suriname Herald published on Sept. 13, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Albert Ramdin said during a press briefing on Sept. 12 that he will take legal action against the producers of Korea's Netflix series that is depicting Suriname as a corrupt country associated with cocaine.

The minister is quoted as saying that Suriname has made so much effort to distance itself from such negative images and “is no longer a country associated with drugs.”

  
“However, the country is on the verge of a crisis of being tainted again with the image due to Netflix’s recent series. I am going to make contact with Korea regarding the issue,” the minister said.

The report said that the minister plans to reach out to the U.S Embassy in Korea as there is no Korean embassy in Suriname.

The South American nation became familiar to most Koreans only after being featured in the Netflix series “Narco-Saints,” which is titled “Suriname” in Korean.

The series revolves around a drug lord active in Suriname and undercover secret agents working to capture him. It’s adapted from true events about a Korean drug lord named Cho Bong-haeng who operated a massive trafficking organization in Suriname between the late 1990s and early 2000s.

[Helena]

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/09/15/entertainment/television/narco-saints-suriname-accidental-narco/20220915132543983.html
Overseas Koreans told to take care after Suriname's threat of legal action against Netflix series

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr] | September 15, 2022

A scene from the new Neflix Korea series "Narco-Saints" [NETFLIX]

After the South American country of Suriname announced it will take legal action against the hit Netflix Korea series “Narco-Saints” for depicting it as a drug-ridden nation, the Korean embassy warned local Korean residents to pay special attention to their safety. 

The Korean embassy in Venezuela posted an official statement titled “Safety Notice for the Korean community in Suriname” on its website Tuesday.   

“We are assuming that many Korean residents in Suriname are very troubled due to the aftermath of ‘Suriname,’” the statement reads. “Please pay attention to your safety, and if there are any concerns or need for help, please notify us through the local president of the Korean community immediately.” 

“The embassy has the safety of Koreans as our first concern and will do our best for your security,” it added.

 

The Korean embassy in Venezuela posted an official statement titled “Safety Notice for the Korean community in Suriname” on its website Tuesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Korea and Suriname established diplomatic relations in 1975. The Korean embassy in Venezuela also covers Suriname. 

On Monday, the Surinamese government officially objected to the Neflix show’s portrayal of the country and announced it would take legal action. According to an article in the Suriname Herald published on Sept. 13, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Albert Ramdin said during a press briefing on Sept. 12 that he will take legal action against the producers of Korea's Netflix series that is depicting Suriname as a corrupt country associated with cocaine.   

The minister is quoted as saying that Suriname has made so much effort to distance itself from such negative images and “is no longer a country associated with drugs.” 

“However, the country is on the verge of a crisis of being tainted again with the image due to Netflix’s recent series. I am going to make contact with Korea regarding the issue,” the minister said.   

The report said that the minister plans to reach out to the U.S Embassy in Korea as there is no Korean embassy in Suriname. 

 

A scene from the new Neflix Korea series "Narco-Saints" [NETFLIX]

The South American nation, located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America next to Brazil, became familiar to most Koreans after being featured in the Netflix series “Narco-Saints.” The show’s original title in Korean is “Suriname.”   

The series revolves around a drug lord active in Suriname and undercover secret agents working to capture him. It’s adapted from true events related to a Korean drug lord named Cho Bong-haeng who operated a massive trafficking organization in Suriname between the late 1990s and early 2000s.   

Five days after launching on Sept. 9, “Suriname” is currently the third most-watched on Top TV shows on Netflix, according to data analysis company FlixPatrol as of Thursday.

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220915000528
[Herald Interview] Ha Jung-woo breaks silence after two-year break with ‘Narcos-Saints’

Top movie star apologizes for illegal use of propofol in 2019, determined to focus on acting career

By Lee Si-jin (sj_lee@heraldcorp.com) | Sept 15, 2022

Ha Jung-woo (Netflix)

After meeting with a group of local reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, actor Ha Jung-woo, 44, wished to deliver an apology for violating the Narcotics Control Act and his illegal use of propofol in 2019.

Though the court decided Ha does not seem to have a dependence on the drug or have visited the local hospital only to receive propofol injections, it said in a ruling in September 2021 that the actor colluded with his doctor to fabricate his medical records to cover up illicit drug use.

“I felt that I only had one option at the moment. And that was to listen to the criticisms and read the news about my actions. I thought it was not the right time to make an explanation,” Ha said before the interview on Tuesday.

“I was fully responsible for my misbehavior. I spent a lot of time reflecting on myself and felt that I had a loose standard for my actions. I sincerely apologize to the many people who have been disappointed. I will focus all my attention on my work and develop as an actor,” Ha added.

The actor then shared a mixed bag of emotions on viewers’ opinions and thoughts about his latest series now streaming on Netflix, “Narco-Saints.”

“I was, of course, grateful for various feedback and criticism. But I was a little upset when viewers perceived my acting completely different from the original intention,” the 44-year-old actor said.

Ha explained that his character Kang In-gu is someone who tries to remain calm and deceive others with a relaxed composure. But he recognized that many people felt unsatisfied by Kang for dropping the tension in the series.

When asked about performing in English, Ha said that getting used to the English lines took him several months.

“I already had the experience to act in English in an action film ‘Take Point’ (2018), so it was not new. Though Kang did not have a proper English education, he naturally learned English by working in a car shop near the US military base in South Korea,” Ha told The Korea Herald.

The actor added that director Yoon Jong-bin did not want Kang’s English to be sophisticated. He said if anyone could understand what Kang was saying, that was more than enough.

“But English is not my first language, so finding the appropriate tone, pronunciation and ways to let the foreign language be absorbed in my acting was very challenging,” the actor said, hoping both local and global viewers were comfortable with his performance in “Narco-Saints.”

Ha Jung-woo plays Kang In-gu, a middle-aged businessman who unexpectedly gets involved in the drug business in "Narco-Saints." (Netflix)

Ha also shared his experience of meeting the real Kang In-gu. The series is based on the true story of South Korean drug lord Cho Bong-haeng, who smuggled cocaine from South America to Europe using Koreans as carriers.

“I only met him once, but I understood the reason Pastor Jeon (the character based on Cho Bong-haeng) would trust this man (Kang). He was a man with a strong body as well. He lives an ordinary life in Korea,” Ha said.

Though he was satisfied with the six-part series, Ha felt that presenting more of Kang’s active role in the gang might have been useful to convince viewers of Pastor Jeon’s trust and belief in Kang.

“I also wanted Kang to receive the appropriate reward for his dedication,” Ha added.

The six-part crime series ranked third as of Wednesday on the global Netflix chart, according to US-based streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol.

[Helena]

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20220915114000325
Ha Jung-woo in Netflix original 'Narco-Saints'

 

September 15, 2022

 

This photo, provided by Netflix, Inc. on Sept. 15, 2022, shows South Korean actor Ha Jung-woo, who starred in the six-episode Korean-language Netflix original "Narco-Saints." Based on a true story, the series follows an ordinary businessman named Kang In-gu (Ha Jung-woo), who is forced to join a secret mission tasked by the National Intelligence Service while being involved in a drug-related plot conspired by Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), a Korean drug lord in Suriname disguised as a Christian pastor. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)


(END)

 

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Surinames taking four-cut photos

 

[ NetflixKR + netflixkr  + theswoonnetflix ]  

Spoiler

 

[ theswoonnetflix ] Giveaway alert! A signed photo of the NARCO-SAINTS cast is up for grabs.  Just comment on this post with your answer to the following prompt:

- Convince a stranger to watch NARCO-SAINTS in 20 words or less

Be creatively persuasive, and you just might find yourself with a photo of these guys in your pocket!

*This giveaway is open internationally and is not affiliated with Instagram. Contest ends on Sept 16, 12 PM KST. Winners will be contacted privately via DMs and participants below the age of 18 require parental consent.

 

[Helena]

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065592040977772
Ha Jung-woo 'Unrealistic character only available in the movies ..hoping to be invited to Emmys 2023'

YonhapNews / 2022-09-15 14:47:55
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Dowon Kim.)

 

Spoiler

 

▲These photos, provided by Netflix, Inc. on Sept. 15, 2022, show South Korean actor Ha Jung-woo, who starred in the six-episode Korean-language Netflix original "Narco-Saints." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, September 15 (Yonhap) -- Kang In-gu (played by Ha Jung-woo), a business man, is a very common and unrealistic character at the same time, who somehow ends up working with the NIS in an operation to capture a Korean drug dealer acting like a pastor in Suriname, a South American country.


 
In an interview on September 13 at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, actor Ha Jung-woo, who played Kang In-gu in the new Netflix Original series "Narco-Saints," said that the character he played is unrealistic but is someone who brings out the tension in the show. 

 
Kang In-gu is a father who worries about his children's studies and their housing lease, but he perfectly deceives Jeon Yo-hwan (played by Hwang Jung-min), the drug dealer, right in front of his eyes, and wins over fights with Jeon Yo-hwan's side members with his Judo skills he learned during school. 

However, there are opinions saying that the unrealistic character who traveled across to Suriname to export skates to Korea and shows outstanding skills as much as the professional agent lacks reality and immersion.



Ha Jung-woo said, "I also had disagreements about Kang In-gu's impressive abilities," he said, adding, "and I wondered how a normal fisherman could have such skills just by learning Judo."



He continued, "I personally think it's a character only allowed in the movies" and said, "It was chosen to follow the rhythm of the show rather than persuade the character to the audience."



Ha Jung-woo is wrongfully imprisoned in South America after falling for Jeon Yo-hwan's ruse, and he joins the NIS operation in the desperate hope that he will be able to return to his children. There are also opinions from the audience saying that they were heartbroken when Ha Jung-woo pretended to be fine while he was on the phone with his family.


He said, "The part when Kang In-gu was on the phone, telling his wife that she should never take out the house rent and worrying about his children's homework even when he was imprisoned in a faraway land, gained sympathy from the audience."



The show "Narco-Saints" added dramatic elements such as fictional characters and incidents based on the true story of a criminal who ran a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Suriname, South America, from the 1990s to the early 2000s.



Ha Jung-woo chose the unique characters of this show as the fun point of the show, which he had never seen in famous non-Korean series dealing with drugs.


He mentioned Jeon Yo-hwan, who made his own kingdom as a pastor of a pseudo-religion, and said, "The interesting setting of the story was how these outdated Koreans traveled to South America and were doing drug business and evil deeds.

 


He continued, "The fact that Asians became the masters in the Latin American drug market, which is a kind of a "family business," and Korean settings such as a Korean pastor and a skate business, seemed to be a unique viewing point for viewers all around the world."



He laughed while mentioning the Emmy Awards, which was held on the day of the interview and said, "I wonder what it would feel like if we could get an award for "Narco-Saints" next year."



Ha Jung-woo said that the shooting scene of the show "Narco-Saints," which deals with drug organizations, was different from other shows. In particular, the prison scene was filmed in an actual prison in the Dominican Republic, and 200 exemplary prisoners, actually imprisoned, participated in the scene.


He said, "When Kang In-gu was being imprisoned, there was a scene where the prisoners over the barbed wire on both sides shouted and cheered, and it was really tense." He added, "it was hard to walk for more than 10m near, and even to look to the sides."


Ha Jung-woo finally came back with the show "Narco-Saints" after going through a hard time from the illegal use of propofol. He was sentenced to a fine in September of last year for this incident.


Ha Jung-woo said, "I apologize to everyone who felt disappointment" and added, "I spent time regretting and looking back as a person, Kim Seong-hoon (Ha Jung-woo's real name), not an actor, as Ha Jung-woo, the first time after my debut. I caused harm to many people. " (END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

[Helena]

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220915006500315
Director of 'Narco-Saints' tries to strike balance between true, fictional stories

By Kim Boram (brk@yna.co.kr) | September 15, 2022

This photo, provided by Netflix, shows director Yoon Jong-bin of "Narco-Saints." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Spoiler

These images, provided by Netflix, show scenes in "Narco-Saints." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Yoon Jong-bin is one of the most bankable filmmakers in South Korea with several box-office hits under his belt like the crime drama "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time" (2012), the period action thriller "Kundo: Age of Rampant" (2014) and the spy thriller "The Spy Gone North" (2018).

His works are well-known for the director-writer's skills to narrate formulaic and corny stories in a more thrilling and enthralling way by creating three-dimensional characters.

In the new Netflix original "Narco-Saints," his first ever small-screen project, the 42-year-old director exerted his ingenuity in storytelling and character building.

Based on a true story in the early 2000s, the show follows an ordinary businessman named Kang In-gu (Ha Jung-woo), who is forced to join a secret mission tasked by the National Intelligence Service while being involved in a drug-related plot concocted by Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), a Korean drug lord in Suriname disguised as a Christian pastor.

"I was so impressed by the real story and the businessman who worked undercover to catch the drug kingpin in a Latin American country," Yoon said during a media interview Thursday. "I thought I needed enough time to create In-gu's character from the beginning in order to explain why this normal guy decides to take the undercover mission."

The six-part series starts with a summary of In-gu's entire life, struggling to survive in poverty after losing his parents at an early age and supporting two young siblings. His hardship continues and even increases after he gets married and has two children.

His live-or-die effort to earn money and become richer leads him to do business in Suriname, a distant and little-known country in South America.

Yoon said the introductory explanation on In-gu in "Narco-Saints" aimed at portraying In-gu's strong endurance and determination and giving a plausible account of his choice. The director did not include many twists in order to follow the true story of the real-life businessman whose name has been withheld.

"When I first heard this story, I thought it didn't make any sense. I couldn't believe an untrained citizen did this dangerous operation," he said. "But when I met him for an interview, I just got it. He looked so strong and powerful that he could do anything in Suriname to survive."

But he said he has changed the character of the villain to a large extent to make the entire story more dramatic and exciting. He made Yo-hwan a pastor, who wins unconditional public confidence, to weave a complex story of In-gu asking for help from Yo-hwan after getting into trouble.

"In the real story, the two were just business partners. I couldn't understand why the businessman relied on the drug lord from the beginning," he said. "For a TV series, I needed to make their first encounter more dramatic and plausible and create some fictional events to push In-gu into a corner where he had to make an unprecedented revenge."

Since its official release last Friday, "Narco-Saints" has been gaining popularity in and out of the country.

It debuted at No. 5 on Netflix's weekly viewership chart for non-English TV shows, while it placed third on the daily top TV show table for Wednesday compiled by streaming analytics firm Flixpatrol.

Yoon, who made his first feature, "The Unforgiven," in 2004, said he was surprised with the larger-than-expected impact of the global online streaming platform.

"I'm pleased that lots of people have seen my work. Nearly all of my friends around me have seen it. The response has been much faster than that of films," he said. "I've received the most phone calls for the TV show than any other project since I made my directorial debut." (END)

[Helena]

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2022/09/688_336137.html
[INTERVIEW] 'Narco-Saints' lead actor and director boast years-long friendship

 

Yoon makes directorial debut for series with longtime friend Ha

By Lee Gyu-lee | 2022-09-16 

Actor Ha Jung-woo plays the role of a businessman involved in a drug crime investigation in the Netflix new original series, "Narco-Saints." Courtesy of Netflix

Actor Ha Jung-woo and director Yoon Jong-bin, who went to the same school, have had quite a long-term relationship both professionally and personally, getting their careers off the ground together with the film "The Unforgiven." 

Picking up their partnership as actor and director since the period film "Kundo: Age of the Rampant" (2014), the two have reunited for Netflix's new original series "Narco-Saints."

"There's no other director who had filmed me more than director Yoon. He knows my strengths and weaknesses. So he knows what would come out as convincing (in acting) and what wouldn't. It's like he has a user's manual of me," Ha said in an interview with The Korea Times, held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. 

Director Yoon Jong-bin of the series "Narco-Saints" / Courtesy of Netflix

Inspired by a true story, the action crime series, which was released on Sept. 9, revolves around entrepreneur Kang In-gu (Ha), who travels to the South American country, Suriname. He starts a fish trading business, dreaming of achieving success for his family back in Korea. However, his plans soon take an unexpected turn when he meets a Korean priest, Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), who secretly uses In-gu's business to smuggle drugs to Korea.

After finding out that Yo-hwan is actually a Korean drug lord, In-gu becomes part of a secret government mission to take him down with agent Choi Chang-ho (Park Hae-soo).

Yoon said he initially declined to direct the series, which originally was offered to be made as a film. 

"(The real-life story) interested me. But I just had finished the crime film 'Nameless Gangster,' and after I finished filming 'The Spy Gone North,' Ha brought (the series) up again … and people were telling me that 'this is the story that you are best at,'" he said. "I felt that this is the type of genre that the audiences want from me and that was the start of it."

A still from the series "Narco-Saints" / Courtesy of Netflix

The series picks up parts of the real-life story of Suriname's Korean drug lord, surnamed Cho, who was apprehended in 2009, and his former roommate, a civilian who helped carry out the operation to arrest the kingpin.

The director shared that he felt the story deserved more than a two-hour film and decided to make it into a series. This is Yoon's directorial debut for a series.

Ha, who joined the series in the early stage of development, faced one of the biggest scandals of his career in 2020 when he was investigated for drug abuse. He was convicted of illegally using propofol ― a sleep-inducing drug ― for non-medical purposes and was fined last year.

Saying that he wanted to express his apology during the interview with reporters, Ha said that he took time to reflect on himself after facing the charges. 

"I just walked a lot (during the time) and had a chance to look back on my life as an actor; not just with that situation but also about other faults that I've come across," he said.

"I came to think a lot about fundamental things like how I should live as an actor and move forward, and what mindset I should have. I used to think that I should just focus on what's ahead, but it taught me that it's not always the answer." 

The actor said that he tried to bury himself in work to take his mind away from the circumstances that he was in. 

"I just tried to stay more focused and tried to forget about the situation I was in. And that brought up the feelings I felt when I started acting and I found the things that I was missing," he said. "When I stood in front of the camera on the set, it felt like I was getting a breath of fresh air and I could breathe."

[Helena]

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/09/120_336113.html
'Narco-Saints' tests Korea's diplomatic ties with Suriname

 

Korean Embassy in Venezuela issues safety warning to Korean residents of Suriname

By Lee Hae-rin | 2022-09-15

A scene from Netflix series "Narco-Saints" / Courtesy of Netflix

The hit Netflix series, "Narco-Saints," has become a point of contention for Korea's diplomatic relations with the South American country of Suriname. The government of Suriname has threatened to take legal action against the series producers for what it has called a misleading portrayal of the country. It has also said it will send a letter of protest to the U.S. ambassador in Suriname over Netflix's support of the series. 

The 6-part Netflix original series released on Sept. 9 resolves around a civilian informant who collaborates with Korea's National Intelligence Service to capture a Korean drug lord operating in the South American country. It is based on a true story of Korean drug dealer Cho Bong-haeng, who operated a massive trafficking organization there two decades ago and was arrested in 2011.

Suriname complained that the series' negative portrayal of the country as a drug trafficking hub is unfair and puts the country at a disadvantage.

"Suriname no longer has the image that emerges in the series or no longer participates in these kinds of practices," Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation (BIBIS) Albert Ramdin said in a statement released on the government's website, Monday.

In the statement, the minister acknowledged that "the aspect of free speech must be taken into account" but "it's about creating a negative perception" about the South American country. He said that "the whole world sees these things, so this is not good," noting that the country has been working on eradicating criminal practices portrayed in the series for decades.

Ramdin said that he will consider taking legal action against the series' producers for alleged defamation as well as make a diplomatic protest to the Korean government through the ambassador.

Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it "has not received any official complaint from Suriname since the series has been aired," noting that it is "trying to maintain friendly relations" with the South American country.

The Korean Embassy in Venezuela, which is also responsible for relations with Suriname, issued a safety warning to Koreans livening in Suriname on its website.

"We understand that the Korean community in Suriname is embarrassed because of the possible fallout of the Netflix series, 'Narco-Saints.' We, the embassy staff, are deeply concerned about the safety of Koreans and will do our utmost to keep you safe," the statement posted on its website reads. 

"Please be aware at all times … Should anyone have any issue that causes concern or require help, please contact us via the president of the Korean community in the region," the statement reads.

Korea and Suriname established diplomatic relations in 1975 after the South American country gained independence from the Netherlands. The Korean Embassy in Suriname withdrew from the country in 1993 and handed over relevant duties to the embassy in Venezuela.

According to the streaming analytics platform FlixPatrol, Thursday, "Narco-Saints" ranked number 3 globally among Netflix's TV series. It is the most watched Netflix show in eight regions including Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, while hitting the 5th most popular series in the U.S.

During the press conference on Thursday, the series director, Yoon Jong-bin, was asked to comment on the complaints of the Suriname government but he declined. Netflix has not made any official statement but is "preparing to make an announcement."

 

 

[Helena]

https://flixpatrol.com/top10/netflix/
TOP 10 on Netflix in the World

 

The most popular movies and TV shows on Netflix in the World. Who was #1 on Netflix on {specific date}?

 

# | TITLE | POINTS | CHANGE | COUNTRIES | ⌀/COUNTRY | DAYS | ⌀/DAY | TOTAL
3. Narco-Saints | 570 | +3% | 86 | 7 | 1 | 570 | 2,687

• #1 in 18 countries: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Hong-Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

 

# | TITLE | POINTS | CHANGE | COUNTRIES | ⌀/COUNTRY | DAYS | ⌀/DAY | TOTAL
3. | Narco-Saints | 556 | +3% | 83 | 7 | 1 | 556 | 2,117

• #1 in 18 countries: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Hong-Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

 

SEP 10 ~ SEP 16

Spoiler

[SEP 10] #1 in 1 country: South Korea
[SEP 11] #1 in 4 countries: Hong-Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam
[SEP 12] #1 in 7 countries: Hong-Kong, Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam
[SEP 13] #1 in 8 countries: Bahamas, Hong-Kong, Kenya, Morocco, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam
[SEP 14] #1 in 14 countries: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Hong-Kong, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam
[SEP 15] #1 in 18 countries: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Hong-Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

[SEP 16] #1 in 18 countries: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Hong-Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

 

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[ENG] Nation Great Actors HaJungwoo HwangJungmin Park Haesoo Jo Woojin YooYeonseok’s Netflix Recommendations |  Suriname |  Netflix