[DRAMA REVIEW] JOSEON GUNMAN: THE MAN'S DREAM

 

I just finished watching "Joseon Gunman" or "The Gunman of Joseon". The drama is set during the Joseon era of Korea where enlightenment has been talked among the scholars and even the King wants Joseon to make it happen. Because of this enlightenment that mostly led by scholars and their teachers, the guns or western weapons start to be imported to Joseon. The guns have been a talk among all the officials and people in Joseon since it is different from swords and marks the new era of war: gun vs sword. There are some gunmen who work for those who disagree with the idea of enlightenment in Joseon. There are three of them at the moment. One of them is a leader of merchant group in Joseon that has been the slave of the So Ho Gee group that against the enlightenment. The idea of enlightenment which is being talked by scholars is the idea of revolution from the class-based-on-culture where the noble ones (yangban) will be richer every time and the poor will be poorer. At that time Joseon is divided by the noble class and slaves. Slaves will work their hell out for the noble. Even the noble ones compare the slaves with animals. This is what have been seen by the scholars as a wrong-doing and they want to make equality in Joseon. Everyone can have the same right. Not only the noble kids who can get to study, but also all people in Joseon. Not only men can work as officials, but also women. This is what has been dreamed by Soo In (Nam Sang Mi). She wants to make the new world comes true. On the other hand, Park Yoon Kang (Lee Jun Ki) is a man who likes to play around and does not even know what he wants to do in his life. Although he is a man who loves his family very much. Both of them have to meet and eventually involved in tragic and extraordinary fate.

This drama is actually directed by the director of "Princess's Man" which I dropped the drama during its first episodes since the drama is too tragic and I couldn't take it anymore because my heart was too weak. But, for "Joseon Gunman" I can finish it. It's really amazing. It's not as tragic as "Princess's Man" in my opinion although in some scenes I can recognize "Princess's Man" within it. However, in "Joseon Gunman" there is no scene where head is being displayed in the court, etc. It's a lot "softer" compared to "Princess's Man". Besides, the romance is like 20% of the whole. This is really good since the love line feels so natural and is not forced on the plot. It's so fresh since too much romance will make it look like "just another drama". About the acting, well, all of them are great, especially Lee Jun Ki. I never been a fan of him, but I usually watch his drama, the last time was "Arang and the Magistrate" and I always come to like his character. I don't know how but his character always so alive. His eyes really... talk a lot.

I like how this drama has portrayed many things. Of course the setting itself which is Joseon has given interesting insights even before watching it. I have expected to see the hanbok everywhere in the drama, or  traditional carriage, and ornaments and the languages. I really love Korean historical drama. Really. I come to love this drama more since it raises about revolution. The scholars want to win over the corrupt officials or the royals. The portrayal is actually talking a lot about the condition in our society too. There is someone who is greedy, loyal, two-face, etc. But, the most interesting part for me is when the women in this drama state their minds of wanting to be equal with men, or at least can do or accomplish something. As we know, woman is believed to always walk few steps behind her man. However, in this drama Soo In has been shown as a woman who walks side by side with her man, Park Yoon Kang. They talk a lot, discuss a lot, and help each other in accomplishing their dream of enlightenment for Joseon. Although in the end, their striving for new world has failed, they are still together and helping other people to establish the better Joseon. 

Park Yoon Kang is at first a man without dream. But, he then realizes that Soo In is his dream, he wants to live together with her. I can assume because he adores Soo In's knowledge and also her beauty. But, mostly he loves Soo In because she is a woman of the enlightenment itself. However, after his father is killed, Park Yoon Kang has to runaway since the accusation of high treason and his sister made to be a slave. He then is separated from Soo In. He is then thought to be dead from the gunman's shoot. In the end he is alive and living in Japan. He is back to Joseon as a Japanese man, Hasegawa Hanjo, a success merchant under Yamamoto, a famous Japanese merchant. When he is back to Joseon, he carries his own mission of revenge towards those who have killed his father. Again, he meets Soo In and starts to do the revenges. However after several times killing others, Park Yoon  Kang thinks that revenge only gives him emptiness in his heart. He then finds his real dream, that is working for the humankind. He helps people who needs his hands. He gives rice to the poor people and frees the slaves. His doing soon becomes an idea for story teller and he gets himself a name "The Dark Gunman Under the Moonlight" because he always carries gun as his weapon. Park Yoon Kang has been the hero for the mistreated people in Joseon. Yes. Then, along with his dream of wanting to live together with Soo In, he has set a new dream of doing justice since he doesn't believe the King anymore. He has thought that the King has no power whatsoever. The King is just a man with power who has the need to save his own life. It is complicated since the politics do many things here. Park Yoon Kang has his own ideology, so does the King. 

Well, I recommend this drama for those who like to watch an action-romance drama with the thought of feeding your minds. "Joseon Gunman" is not really a drama that you seek for laugh but it's not bad to try.