[비즈한국] Hong-rang (Lee Jae-wook), the son of the Joseon dynasty's largest merchant group, returns after 12 years having lost his childhood memories after going missing. While his family is convinced he is Hong-rang, his step-sister Jae-i (Jo Bo-ah)—who had desperately searched for him high and low—immediately suspects that he is not her brother. Is Hong-rang truly who he says he is? And if he is an imposter, why has he come here under the name Hong-rang?
Based on the web novel "Tangeum: Swallowing Gold," the Netflix series "Tangeum" garnered high expectations from its teaser and official trailers alone. It drew attention for being directed by Kim Hong-sun, known for "Voice," "The Guest," and "Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area," and for being the second historical drama featuring Lee Jae-wook, who was declared "irreplaceable" for his role in the "Alchemy of Souls" series. Moreover, the cinematography, costumes, and mise-en-scène shown in the trailer, combined with stylish music and action, positioned it as a highly anticipated release.
I binged "Tangeum" until dawn on the day of its release, and to put it bluntly, I was disappointed. To be precise, I went through a phase of suspicion and anger, eventually reaching a state of gloom. Was my expectation too high? Of course, "Tangeum" has clear strengths. The relationship between a younger brother returning after 12 years of disappearance and his step-sister, who is wrapped in a strange tension while doubting his identity, is certainly an intriguing subject. The eerie and lethal atmosphere created by the mystery-melodrama historical genre is worthy of praise, and as mentioned earlier, the mise-en-scène that builds that atmosphere is quite excellent. However, no matter how beautifully a dish is plated or how enticing it smells, it is all for nothing if the taste is mediocre.
The story touches on too many mysteries, yet fails to capture the palate with any single one. Is Hong-rang's identity real or fake? What is the organization that raised him as an assassin during his disappearance? What is the full picture of the serial child abduction case he is chasing, and who is the mysterious 'Snowman' appearing at every scene? Why are Jae-i and Hong-rang's father—the head of Min Sang-dan, Shim Yeol-guk (Park Byung-eun)—and his head wife—the de facto owner of the group, Min Yeon-eui (Uhm Ji-won)—building such walls and fighting for power? And what is the role of Prince Hanpyeong (Kim Jae-wook), the group's biggest client who claims to be the finest artist in Joseon? While there are twists in these intertwined mysteries, they aren't as shocking as one might expect, and the narrative framework is neither solid nor particularly interesting.
The melodrama aspect is even more disastrous. The tension between Hong-rang, Jae-i, and Moo-jin (Jung Ga-ram)—who was adopted into Min Sang-dan in place of the missing Hong-rang—should have been maintained from beginning to end, but Jae-i's character, caught between two men, is unappealing. Jae-i, who used to be proactive by building a gang of beggars and cross-dressing at night to find her brother, suddenly shifts to "I only know love" after giving her heart to Hong-rang, which is frankly baffling. Unlike the beautiful mise-en-scène, the dialogue in the romantic scenes is shockingly blunt and clumsy.
Because the heroine is not an engaging character, there is no emotional resonance in the romance with the two male leads. In particular, Moo-jin's love, which should oscillate precariously between pure devotion and obsession, fails to strike a chord, largely due to the synergy between Jung Ga-ram's flat acting and Jo Bo-ah's stiff facial expressions and strained eyes. The awkward performances of several other supporting actors are also quite disheartening.
So, all that remains is Lee Jae-wook. Just as people said about "Doona!" that "nothing else mattered, watching Suzy was enough," the only thing you can trust in "Tangeum" is Lee Jae-wook. His solid vocal projection, acting with fluid control, natural demeanor as if he were born to wear *dopo* (traditional robes), and slick action sequences that utilize his innate physical capabilities make his performance a joy to watch. It is rare to see an actor pull off cringeworthy lines like "How dare you, treat my sister so recklessly" in such an enchanting way.
However, no matter how much of a Lee Jae-wook fan you are, 11 episodes is too long to watch just for him. While Park Byung-eun, Uhm Ji-won, and Kim Jae-wook give good performances, the narrative fails to hold together, leaving the actors to carry the weight of the show entirely on their own shoulders. Tangeum refers to an ancient Chinese form of execution where one is forced to swallow a lump of gold, leading to a slow and painful death. While comparing a newly released drama to an execution is harsh, I certainly wouldn't recommend pulling an all-nighter or watching it with intense scrutiny. If you do, it might actually end up feeling like a punishment.
Who is the writer Jung Su-jin?
I have covered movies, travel, and popular culture across various magazines. I don't want to fall behind on trends, but I have become an 'old-timer' who predicts the obvious clichés in the next scenes of the latest dramas. I am currently drifting through the vast world of OTT platforms, trying to regain my edge, and my current wish is for a unified OTT subscription plan.