[비즈한국] There is a term called ‘deus ex machina.’ Coming from classical Latin, it means ‘a god descended from a machine on stage,’ referring to a plot device in literary works that suddenly introduces an unexpected event to resolve a conclusion or conflict. In short, it’s a problem solver. In the SBS Friday-Saturday drama ‘Flex x Cop,’ a chaebol (conglomerate heir) appears as the problem solver. It’s an interesting element that he solves problems using his absolute, unassailable power—money—and that the nature of these problems is police investigation.
‘Flex x Cop’ claims to be a growth-oriented police procedural that combines crime, action, thriller, and comedy. However, if forced to categorize it into one genre, it should be viewed as fantasy. The very process by which the protagonist, third-generation chaebol Jin I-soo (Ahn Bo-hyun), becomes a police officer is pure fantasy. Jin I-soo, who lives only for daily thrills, accidentally gets into a scuffle at a crime scene where the Gangha Police Station violent crimes team is investigating, and he takes down a man in self-defense. Due to a misunderstanding, Jin I-soo becomes an assailant who beat up an innocent citizen, and as the incident hits the news, his father, Hansoo Group Chairman Jin Myung-chul (Jang Hyun-sung), who had just announced his candidacy for mayor, finds himself in an awkward position.
As it turns out, the citizen Jin I-soo took down was actually a murderer. Fearing criticism for being incompetent police officers who couldn't even catch a murderer and instead arrested Jin I-soo as an assailant, the police accept a proposal from Jin I-soo’s older brother and Hansoo Group Vice Chairman, Jin Seung-ju (Kwak Si-yang), who wants to salvage his father’s mayoral campaign. The plan is to cover it up by claiming that Jin I-soo, who holds a law license, recently became a police officer through a special appointment for lawyers and had been secretly investigating with the Gangha Police violent crimes team. Just like that, overnight, Jin I-soo becomes a parachute-hired detective.
The problem arises when Jin I-soo becomes genuinely invested in police work, which was originally intended to be a mere show for the media and the public. A thrill-seeker who holds every certification from skydiving to helicopter piloting, dives among sharks, and enjoys racing, Jin I-soo wasn't entirely uninterested in police work to begin with—he even owns special forces gear and once rented out an entire department store to play survival games. On top of that, when his colleagues—including Lee Kang-hyun (Park Ji-hyun), the leader of the Gangha Police violent crimes team, with whom he shares a contentious first encounter—subtly ignore and provoke him, he puts his full effort into utilizing his capabilities (wealth) to solve cases in a way that shows them up.
‘Flex x Cop’ turns the chaebol—often depicted in Korean pop culture as either a "prince" or an "abuser of power"—into a full-blown "munchkin," providing viewers with a sense of catharsis. Need to investigate VIP spaces that you couldn't even step foot in without a search warrant? No problem. As a third-generation chaebol, Jin I-soo has unfettered access to VIP-only secret clubs and yacht docks. Need to bait a suspect with a large sum of money, but can't find cash in the middle of the night? No problem. Jin I-soo is the type who can call a commercial bank president at midnight and casually withdraw 1 billion won in hard cash.
Is that all? He stands out with a perspective different from ordinary detectives, such as early on noticing patterns in a celebrity yacht murder case that differed from those of other chaebols, and performing good deeds beyond just solving cases, like hosting an art exhibition for an innocent victim who committed suicide after having their work plagiarized by a famous professor. For Jin I-soo, every obstacle in the world is just a phone call away from a "no problem" resolution. It’s no wonder Lee Kang-hyun asks, "What kind of world do you live in, anyway?"
Viewers who have seen countless depictions in pop culture where chaebols use their influence to cover up crimes—be it kidnapping, confinement, violence, arson, or murder—find a sense of catharsis in seeing Jin I-soo use that same unassailable power, even if just for self-satisfaction, to serve justice. While there have been precedents like in 'Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation,' where a wealthy detective uses his resources for justice, Jin I-soo’s scale is on "another level." Comparing him to someone? Maybe Tony Stark from 'Iron Man'? Unless Thanos shows up, it seems ordinary people won't have much to worry about regarding Jin I-soo’s actions. When Jin I-soo answers Lee Kang-hyun’s question by saying, "A world where most things just work out?", we don't feel anger or frustration. We just nod.
In reality, people often act like they hate chaebols, yet they also show a great deal of awe. In Korea, chaebols boast a majesty comparable to royalty or superstars. If a figure like Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-young005930 makes even a slight gesture of friendliness, he can garner positive public interest and admiration. Just like the youngest detective of the violent crimes team, Choi Kyung-jin (Kim Shin-bi), who showed an open liking for Jin I-soo from the start, despite not getting any particular "crumbs" from him. While I’m not quite like Choi Kyung-jin, I too feel a dopamine rush from Jin I-soo’s fantasy-like journey. However, after watching an entire episode, I feel a subtle sense of emptiness. A world where a chaebol is not just a "munchkin" but a "deus ex machina." For ordinary people who have to work hard like ants their whole lives just to protect their own quiet existence, how could they not feel empty looking at the lives of chaebols who live in a world where most things just work out?
Of course, the underlying nuance of 'Flex x Cop' is comedic, and as mentioned, this drama is (despite all the satirical elements of reality) no different from fantasy, so there's no need to take it too seriously. Moreover, given that there appears to be a secret behind the death of Jin I-soo's mother, in addition to the pain of being an illegitimate child, it is predicted that he will eventually cast off the title of a third-generation chaebol and grow through his own strength. I’m enjoying 'Flex x Cop,' but a sliver of anxiety remains. I fear that chaebols will continue to reign as the "problem solvers" for every genre. Isn't that too easy of a solution?
About the author, Jung Soo-jin?
I have worked across various magazines covering film, travel, and pop culture. I don't want to fall behind on trends, but I have become an old-school person who predicts only the obvious clichés in the next scenes while watching the latest dramas. I am drifting through the vast OTT world, trying to regain my lost intuition. My only wish right now is for an integrated OTT subscription plan.