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Im Kkeok Jeong 임꺽정

Genre: Historical (sageuk)
Episodes: 44
Broadcast network: SBS
Broadcast period: 1996-Nov-10 to 1997-Apr-12

Production credits:

PD: 김한영 (Kim Han-Young) [파도 (Waves, SBS 1999), 옛사랑의 그림자 (Shadows of Old Loves, SBS 1998), 박병숙 변호사 (Lawyer Park Byeong-Sook, SBS 1993~]

WRITER: 김원석 (Kim Won-Seok) [8일 (Eight Days, Channel CGV 2007, 토지 (Land, KBS 1988)] 유동윤 (Yoo Dong-Yoon) [왕과 나 (The King & I, SBS 2007), 무인시대 (The Age of Warriors, KBS 2003), 여인천하 (Ladies of the Palace, SBS 2001)]

CAST

Jung Heung Chae as Im Kkeokjeong
Kim Won Hee as Uncheong
Park In Hwan as Kkeokjeong’s Father
Kim Hye Ok as Kkeokjeong’s Mother
Kim Heung Gi as Nam Chigeun
Song Chae Hwan as Soheung
Yoon Yu Seon as Seopseop
Lee Jeong Gil as Yang Jupal
Go Doo Shim as Uncheong’s Mother
Cha Gwang Su as Lee Bonghak
Lee Gi Young as Bae Dolseok
Jung Jin as Master No
Im Hyun Shik as Mister Oh
Choi Ju Bong as Han On
Yoo In Chon as Yeonsan
Kim Byung Se as Lee Janggon
Kim Cheong as Queen Mother Munjeong
Park Geun Hyung as Yoon Wonhyeong

INTRO – by MisterX

Like a perverse (virtuous!) circle, it seems like every 10 years or so the sageuk genre is completely reinvented by something that changes the playing field. While it’s no secret that the 1980s were dominated by Lee Byung-Hoon and Shin Bong-Seung with their landmark franchise 조선왕조 500년 (500 Years of Joseon) and that the 2000s were pretty much defined by the final swan song of a dying genre (in its three most significant renditions, from fusion to political and even hybrids) through 신돈 (Shin Don), 한성별곡-正 (Conspiracy in the Court) and 8일 (Eight Days), it’s a little trickier to choose one potential candidate from the 1990s. One could say 1996′s 용의 눈물 (Tears of the Dragon), the apotheosis of the political sageuk canon, one of the few sageuk past the 100 episodes able to maintain a strong narrative flow from start to finish, please the hardcore history buffs, and even titillate the mainstream’s whims with incredible acting by Kim Mu-Saeng (as an unforgettable Lee Seong-Gye) and Yoo Dong-Geun, along with enough pathos to make Shakespeare proud. Lee Byung-Hoon’s 허준 (Hur Joon) is another good candidate, for rejuvenating a moribund genre by essentially dressing up trendy dramas as sageuk, and making them more accessible for everyone – although his nearly demential fall from grace in the last half decade has just about erased three decades of consecutive accolades with every new show he helms.

But no, the right choice is 임꺽정 (Im Kkeokjeong), a forgotten masterpiece from 1996 which was doing what now is considered commonplace in the sageuk canon, back when nobody was not even thinking about it. Wonder whether Hur Joon was the first to really take advantage of outdoor shoots, instead of the usual stuffy sets inside which old men with fake mustaches were screaming at each other? Im Kkeokjeong was there already, in 1996. How about the movie-like cinematography and top notch action-direction which made 추노 (Slave Hunters) such a treat to watch? Although there were no Red One cameras to benefit from back then, Im Kkeokjeong pretty much embarrasses every sageuk produced today when it comes to visual luster, choice of music (with a genial soundtrack by Gang San-E), action choreography and last but not least acting, no surprise considering the impressive cast (from super veterans like Na Moon-Hee and Yoon Yeo-Jung to the unknown commodity who almost became a star thanks to this show, Jung Heung-Chae).

Telling the real-life story of baekjeong (the lowest caste in Joseon society, mostly butchers and executioners)-turned-Korea’s own Robin Hood Im Kkeokjeong, the show mixes clever historical commentary along with a grass roots approach to storytelling that is both accessible (a lot more than most sageuk, actually, which explains the average 26-27% the show was getting back then, for a while even beating Tears of the Dragon itself) but also strangely compelling, taking advantage of its literary roots (Hong Myung-Hee’s classic novel from the 20s). Im Kkeokjeong was one of the very first Korean dramas to essentially complete all its shoot before broadcast (the final half dozen episodes were shot later, technically speaking), and it certainly shows, not only in terms of visuals, but also in the assured, novel-like approach to storytelling.

It’s 14 years old, but it feels like it was shot yesterday, while at the same time respecting the foundations of what made this genre great. And it’s time to bring it out of the clouds of oblivion, for a sweet trip down memory lane. This is how sageuk should be done, and now you’ll get a chance to see it as well.

WHERE TO DOWNLOAD?

D-ADDICTS TORRENTS (many thanks to bshater)

SUBTITLES:
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CREDITS:

EPISODE 1
Subtitles by MisterX
Timing QC: julier
Coordinators: mily2, ay_link

EPISODE 2
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EPISODE 3
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EPISODE 4
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EPISODE 5
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Timing QC: wichitawx
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EPISODE 6
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EPISODE 7
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EPISODE 8
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EPISODE 33 *NEW*
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EPISODE 41 *NEW*
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EPISODE 44 (FINAL) *NEW*
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