Heartless City
Heartless City[1] (Korean: 무정도시; RR: Mujeongdoshi; lit. Cruel City) is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Jung Kyung-ho, Nam Gyu-ri and Lee Jae-yoon.[2] It aired on JTBC from May 27 to July 30, 2013 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 23:00 (KST) time slot for 20 episodes.
Heartless City | |
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![]() Promotional poster | |
Genre | Noir/Crime Action Romance |
Written by | Yoo Seong-yeol |
Directed by | Lee Jung-hyo |
Starring | Jung Kyung-ho Lee Jae-yoon Nam Gyu-ri |
Composer | Nam Hye-seung |
Country of origin | South Korea |
Original language | Korean |
No. of episodes | 20 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Kim, Uno |
Producers | Kang Cheol-woo Kim Eui-seok |
Production location | Korea |
Cinematography | Choi Yoon-man |
Editors | Lee Hyun-mi Lee Young-rim |
Production company | DRM Media |
Distributor | JTBC |
Release | |
Original network | JTBC |
Original release | May 27 – July 30, 2013 |
External links | |
Website |
Synopsis
This noir / crime drama revolves around the love and struggles of undercover agents and members of the nation's largest drug ring.
When her older sister Lee Kyung-mi (Go Na-eun) is murdered by drug lords, Yoon Soo-min (Nam Gyu-ri) is recruited to try and catch the prime suspect, "The Doctor's Son" (Jung Kyung-ho). But in the shadows, there are no rules or reason; Soo-min falls for The Doctor's Son after a fateful encounter, not realizing who he is. Unknown to her, The Doctor's Son is also an undercover agent. Working under the orders of police director Min Hong Ki (Son Chang-Min), The Doctor's Son works to take down the Busan drug ring and seek revenge against the dealers who turned his mother into an addict.
Cast
Main
- Jung Kyung-ho as Jung Shi-hyun ("The Doctor's Son") - Grew up in a red light district / brothel until his mom died from drug-overdose. Then ran away from an orphanage (to Jin-sook) and eventually became a drug courier for "Uncle" Safari. Shi-hyun is nicknamed "The Doctor's Son" and became the boss of a mid-sized gang. Highly ambitious. He is plotting to take over the position of "Scale", his drug supplier.
- Sung Yu-bin as Shi-hyun (young)
- Lee Jae-yoon as Ji Hyung-min[3] - Hyung-min graduated from the police academy with top scores and gets promoted at a young age. Was studying law to join the Prosecutor's office, but returned to the police force to avenge an undercover officer's death. Now the section chief of a special investigation unit, his goal is to take down "Scale", which leads him to Shi-hyun.
- Nam Gyu-ri as Yoon Soo-min[4] - Soo-min grew up in an orphanage with Kyung-mi, and they treat each other like real sisters. When Kyung-mi is killed in the line of duty, Soo-min goes undercover to catch her friend's killer and finish what Kyung-mi started. However, she ends up falling for "The Doctor's Son", the drug lord Kyung-mi was investigating until her untimely death.
- Son Chang-min as Min Hong-ki, Director of the police / special investigative unit.
- Kim Yoo-mi as Lee Jin-sook, President / CEO for various adult entertainment establishments. Worked the streets at a younger age. Close friend to Shi-hyun's mom. Looked out for Shi-hyun as he was growing up. Along with Soo, they both support and follow Shi-hyun's direction / quest to take over the drug distribution channel.
- Choi Moo-sung as Moon Deok-bae ("Safari") - Knew Shi-hyun as a child. Paths did not cross again until he was sent down to Busan to pursue "Doctor's Son". Taught / gave Shi-hyun a switchblade knife when he was younger (this became Shi-hyun's weapon of choice).
- Yoon Hyun-min as Kim Hyun-soo - Met Shi-hyun in prison and both worked under "Halibut". At times, hot headed but loyal to a fault.
Supporting
- Go Na-eun as Lee Kyung-mi, an undercover agent. She is Hyung-min's girlfriend and Soo-min's older sister. She grew up with Shi-hyun at the orphanage and is hinted that she is Shi-hyun's love interest, she later on died after being shot in the head by a sniper during an undercover mission to catch "Doctor's Son" who happened to be Shi-hyun.
- Park Soo-young as chief of detective squad
- Kil Yong-woo as Ji Man-hee, Attorney general and Hyung-min's father
- Kim Byeong-ok as Jeoul ("Scale"), Head of the narcotics ring (drugs, loan sharking, adult entertainment establishments). Leader behind the scenes for "Halibut" and "Meth Kim".
- Kim Jung-hak as Ahn Kyung-chan, prosecutor
- Song Min-ji as Cha Hyo-joo, reporter
- Jung Soo-young as Oh Jung-yeon, prosecutor
- Kim Jong-goo as Jo ("Busan") aka "Chairman"
- Leader of Busan gang.
- Jung Ji-soon as Jo Ha-neul
- Son of "Busan".
- Park Young-ji as Cha
- Lawmaker and Hyo-joo's father.
- Jung Moon-sung as Shi-hyun's subordinate
- Kim Min-sang as Kim Bbong ("Meth")
- Kim Hyo-sun as Eun-soo
- Lee Moo-saeng as Detective Kim
- Shim Min as Joo-young
- Soo-min's friend since kindergarten.
- Kim Jae-hwa as Park Eun-ae
Original soundtrack
The soundtrack digital single "Hurt" was sung by Kim Yong-jin of pop group Bohemian. Its repetition every episode followed the dark noir theme of the series.[5]
International broadcast
References
- "Heartless City". JTBC Worldwide. JTBC Content Hub. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
- Lee, Sun-min (22 May 2013). "Cruel City gets a glitzy start". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- Kim, Hyung-eun (28 May 2013). "Lee's new role not quite so Heartless". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- Han, Jae-hee (6 August 2013). "Nam finds catharsis, even if she's a weirdo". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- "'보헤미안 용진의 '무정도시' OST '상처', 극 몰입도 고조 '호평'". WStarNews (in Korean). 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
External links
- Official website (in Korean)
- Heartless City at IMDb
- Heartless City at HanCinema