With the filing of certificates of candidacies for 2022, it’s officially the start of election season. All throughout your social media feeds, you’ll see photos of politicians holding a piece of paper and proudly smiling (ideally behind a face mask). The extension of voter registration has also been announced recently. Some say you’ll need to allot a full day for this process—but isn’t it a great excuse to take a day off and line up while binge-watching those K-drama episodes you’ve been dying to finish?
If you’re still on the fence about whether you should take advantage of the moved deadline, maybe a political Korean drama can help seal the deal? If you’re already a registered voter, these fictional but passionately written stories might just also make you realize what to prioritize in terms of who to vote for. Of course, there are many local films and series that will do the same, too. However, if those aren’t your cup of tea, here’s a list of dramas to choose from that could ignite your patriotic bones:
K-Dramas That Discuss Politics
1. Chicago Typewriter (2017)
Where you can watch it: Formerly on Netflix
A mix of fantasy, drama, and rom-com, this drama stars Yoo Ah In, Im Soo Jung, and Go Kyung Pyo. The trio met in their past lives back in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Back then, they were part of the youth who fought for the freedom of their country. The mystery of their connections unfolds throughout the story, mainly taking place during modern times where Ah In and Soo Jung’s characters were reincarnated and Kyung Pyo’s existed as a ghost. As they get pulled into each other’s lives and discover their past, their memories show how passionate they were in liberating their country from oppression.
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2. Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Where you can watch it: Netflix
Lee Byung Hun, who’s also in Squid Game, leads the cast of this epic drama. It’s set in the time when the Japanese were about to invade Korea. Byung Hun plays a former slave who escapes to America and becomes a military officer. Later on, he gets assigned to a base in Korea, where he revisits his past and meets the citizens of his motherland. The story takes you through different relationships during that time, including those of people who belong to nobility and those who were fighting for Korean Independence. It’s the latter that will really touch you and you’ll end up rooting for those fighting for their country—something we all should do even today.
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3. The Fiery Priest (2019)
Where you can watch it: Netflix
Running a country is no joke, obviously, but adding humor to a political story makes it more palatable—and that’s the case in this drama. The setting is a little bit like the Philippines, TBH, where the lines between church and state could be blurred sometimes. Kim Nam Gil plays a quick-tempered Catholic priest who teams up with two prosecutors (one played by Kim Sung Kyun from Reply 1988 and another by Honey Lee from Extreme Job). They set out to solve a murder case with their distinct principles.
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4. Chief Of Staff (2019)
Where you can watch it: Netflix
This series stars Squid Game’s Lee Jung Jae and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s Shin Min Ah. Unlike in those series, their roles in this political drama are quite serious and cunning. Jung Jae plays the ambitious aid of a National Assembly official. He wants to reform the system and clear it of corruption if he ever gets into office. However, he has to muddle through his employer’s dirty history and dabble into deceptions along the way.
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5. Designated Survivor: 60 Days (2019)
Where you can watch it: Netflix
What happens when a Minister of Environment suddenly needs to take over the role as head of a country? When a terrorist attack kills the South Korean President along with his entire cabinet, the big weight falls on the shoulders of Park Mu Jin (Ji Jin Hee). He has no political ambition or experience, and he was actually set to go back to a more quiet profession. But he ends up needing to prevent World War III and maximize his 60 days in office to stabilize the country. He also needs to survive the traps of the opposition’s leader, who wants him to be impeached, and the public’s vultures (the media), who wish for him to be involved in scandals.
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6. Kingdom (2019-2021)
Where you can watch it: Netflix
Of course, what better way to snuff out real leaders than a plague that could wipe out entire villages? Look past the wild, nasty zombies and you’ll see the story of a Joseon dynasty crown prince (Ju Ji Hoon) with responsibility thrust upon him. Behind the scenes, there are the government officials fooling the people and covering up the fall of the head of the nation. Doesn’t the thought make you so angry that you wish you could do something so that it doesn’t happen to us IRL? Let’s really hope not.
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LOOKING FOR MORE K-DRAMAS? RIGHT THIS WAY:
6 Must-Watch Dark And *Intense* K-Dramas
11 K-Dramas To Watch After Work That Won't Stress You Out, Promise
10 *Super Funny* K-Dramas For Your Dose of Good Vibes
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Source: Cosmo PH
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