More Info about “Faith” Characters and Storyline

I’m on a Faith roll today because my excitement is bubbling over with the opening of the drama website and the release of the posters and story information.

The official English title of the drama is called the “Great Doctor” but I’m going to stick with Faith since it is the literal translation of the Korean word. It also sounds more meaningful in the context of the drama than “Great Doctor.” Who decides these official English titles anyway?

Fantasy meets History. (Caption between pictures)

When we look back on history, we wonder “What if?”

What would history look like if at that moment, something different happened?

This drama unravels that point of curiosity.

The drama starts with time-space travel.

It is seasoned with depictions of military strategies.

The background of this drama is the first year of the reign of King Gongmin.

When it is uncertain whether Goryeo will be subjugated under the Yuan Dyansty of China.

Starting at the last stand. We will spread our imagination.

A drama of a different imagination from other sageuks will be born.

Man meets Man.

A fateful story of two people who meet over hundreds, possibly thousands of years,

a love story.

This world is overfilled with love stories.

The fact that people are thirsty for love stories show how hard it is for people to meet true love.

A man who gave on people and love, a woman who doesn’t believe in people and love.

The love story starts with their meeting. The time that they live in, or their viewpoint of the world,

they share nothing.

Perhaps that is why they are able to start a pure love.

Man meets Heaven.

Politics exists to allow people to love.

That is why this story is about politics.

A warrior who is trying to protect his country and king, a doctor who is questioning what true medicine is.

People who disregard history and human lives for their selfish desires.

This drama follows their lives to understand what proper politics are.

It might offer an answer for us who are facing an upcoming presidential election.

Do the heavens give us a wise leader?

Or do we create a leader with our own hands?

This story is about the people who help make a king.

This is a record of people who are searching for Heaven’s profound meaning.

Choi Young (Lee Min Ho)

A Goryeo man who has no affection for the world.

29 years old. Head escort of the King.

He traveled 660 years to bring back “Seoul Woman” Yoo Eun Soo. A Goryeo warrior. The leader of the King’s escorts and bodyguards. He has no desire for money or women. He has no affection for the world. His hobby is sleeping. His skill is sleeping long.

Since he doesn’t have even a single thread of affection for the world, he is not afraid of dying. A person who is not afraid of dying does not strategize. So instead of forming strategies, he faces things head on. If he succeeds doing this, then good. But if he dies? Oh well.

Yoo Eun Soo (Kim Hee Sun)

A woman who has a lot of affection for the world, a contemporary woman.

33 years old. A plastic surgeon.

She was once a general surgeon but once she realized that a regular surgeon only worked hard without making much money, she transferred to plastic surgery without any regret. Her plan was to work hard for three years and set up a private practice in Gangnam with the help of her rich friends. But one day an “extra” in a warrior’s outfit kidnaps her and she arrives on Goryeo land.

What? Goryeo Dynasty?

What? General Choi Young?

What? King Gongmin?

What bullshit.

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At first I was more excited about Arang and the Magistrate but now with this background information, I’m anticipating Faith more. I’ve been itching for an epic drama and nobody does epic more perfectly than this PD-Writer combo (Kim Jong Hak– Song Jin Ah). I mean, look at their track record. I was very hesitant about this drama because of Kim Hee Sun at first but then I remembered that this PD-Writer combo could elevate any level of acting with their directing and story. They’ve taken many newbies or mediocre actors to greater fame with their dramas like the actress Lee Ji Ah with The Legend. You forget about the actors or actresses when you are watching a drama from this pair. Their characters can come alive with just the directing and writing alone. Plus, my heart leans toward Lee Minho more than Lee Junki. But both dramas are going to rip me apart, I think, with their love stories that cross time and spiritual dimensions. Here’s to hoping that both will end up happy. August is going to be one hell of a month but I’ve never welcomed hell more than this.

Faith will start airing Mon-Tues on SBS starting August 13 after The Chaser ends. Arang and the Magistrate airs Wed-Tues on MBS starting August 15. The date was recently pushed back.

(http://wizard2.sbs.co.kr/greatdoctor/index.html)