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In my own world
"I have three extra things in my heart... greed, suspicion and betrayal.”
Reborn Rich is a social satire of the upper class with a satisfying regression and makjang twist. It has quickly become one of the highest-rated dramas in South Korean cable history, alongside Sky Castle and The World of the Married.
PLOT & CHARACTERS:
Yoon Hyun Woon is a high school graduate who's forced to become the loyal dog that handles the dirty deeds for the Soonyang conglomerate to climb the corporate ladder. He's then murdered and reincarnated as the youngest grandson, Jin Do Joon, of the very same family that enslaved him. Rather than placating his newfound rich grandfather for a meager share of the inheritance, he holds the ambition of buying out Soonyang as revenge. What ensues is a thrilling and intense battle of wits as Doo Joon entraps his relatives by using their own insatiable greed and ulterior motives against them.
Through the ruthless succession conflicts, we not only see the degradation of society but also the salvaged shreds of humanity that are left. While Do Joon has to master the art of "greed, suspicion and betrayal" in his quest for vengeance, he still maintains a bottom line to protect the interests of those he cares about. He's not exactly the hero type, but he can get the job done in the most spectacular (and unconventional) way without resorting to illegal means. Each episode is filled with unexpected plot twists and crazy cliffhangers that keep you on the edge of your seat. It's interesting how there's no singular villain since every member of the Jin family is a culpable suspect.
However, my favourite part has to be Do Joon's relationship with his grandfather. Jin Yang Cheol is a complex character that's hard to love, or hate. He's a shrewd and cynical businessman who's built his empire upon draconian and often unethical practices. Yet he's hit with a dilemma, whether to pass his entire fortune to his oldest son's line or the one who resembles him and can make Soonyang grows the most. On the surface, Do Joon is his head-on rival. But at a much deeper level, Yang Cheol regards him as his favourite grandson, someone who genuinely cares about his welfare and business ideology.
CAST & PRODUCTION:
Behind every great show is a spectacular cast, and this is no different. Song Joong Ki is a surprising yet very fitting choice for the lead role. I love how he can quickly switch from the playful college student into the cut-throat gangster when he's about to 'negotiate' a deal. I guess it's a great balance between his character in Vincenzo and Descendants of the Sun. Plus, the turtleneck and baggy jeans definitely add to the Steve-Job entrepreneur vibe as well. I really like his chemistry with Shin Hyun Bin who plays the female lead. She certainly has a makeover from the sleep-deprived surgeon in Hospital Playlist into a feisty and stylish prosecutor.
Lee Sung Min is definitely a force to reckon with. As a veteran actor, he pulls off the mean and hard-to-please expression of Jin Yang Cheol extremely well. As the powerful head of the Soonyang Corporation and Jin family, he's supposed to be the most commanding presence in the room. It's not until the later episodes that we get to see glimpses of a softer and perhaps more vulnerable Jin Yang Cheol when he's with Do Joon, his favourite grandson. The rest of the Jin family is very well cast. They're each greedy, entitled and scandalous in their own way.
OVERALL:
While the plot and characters have been exaggerated for entertainment purposes, the drama still contains many real-life events that make it quite a nostalgic watch, especially for South Koreans. It's refreshing to see Do Joon walking us through the IMF Crisis, the South Korean team in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, Seo Taiji and Boys' disbandment, and the list goes on. There have also been suggestions that the drama also drew inspiration from the current political landscape in South Korea, with the omnipotent status of conglomerates and 'chaebols'.
Reborn Rich is a masterpiece in its own right. It's a perfect combination of fantasy, business, family and revenge themes that somehow has a duality to it. Dramatic and shocking yet still very humane.
FAVOURITE QUOTES:
“I guess I’m like you [his grandfather]. I have three extra things in [my heart]. They’re full of greed, suspicion, and betrayal.” Jin Do Joon
“When you bring up a servant, you mustn’t give him great housing and a full stomach... Because he’ll begin to think that he’s the master… Righteous management? To me, money is righteousness.” Jin Yang Cheol
“The day that he defies me, it won’t matter if he’s my family or not.” Jin Yang Cheol
“The two things a fighter has no use for are his appendix and compassion. Sympathy! You cannot afford to drag such useless emotions to war. It’ll only weigh you down. ” Jin Yang Cheol
“I know he wouldn’t hesitate to sell me if he could buy Soonyang. If he tramples all over me to go forward, there will be nothing he can’t do. Only then can he protect Soonyang.” Jin Yang Cheol
“Being born a servant was not my choice. But I could choose the owner to serve.” Jin Yang Cheol's secretary
PLOT & CHARACTERS:
Yoon Hyun Woon is a high school graduate who's forced to become the loyal dog that handles the dirty deeds for the Soonyang conglomerate to climb the corporate ladder. He's then murdered and reincarnated as the youngest grandson, Jin Do Joon, of the very same family that enslaved him. Rather than placating his newfound rich grandfather for a meager share of the inheritance, he holds the ambition of buying out Soonyang as revenge. What ensues is a thrilling and intense battle of wits as Doo Joon entraps his relatives by using their own insatiable greed and ulterior motives against them.
Through the ruthless succession conflicts, we not only see the degradation of society but also the salvaged shreds of humanity that are left. While Do Joon has to master the art of "greed, suspicion and betrayal" in his quest for vengeance, he still maintains a bottom line to protect the interests of those he cares about. He's not exactly the hero type, but he can get the job done in the most spectacular (and unconventional) way without resorting to illegal means. Each episode is filled with unexpected plot twists and crazy cliffhangers that keep you on the edge of your seat. It's interesting how there's no singular villain since every member of the Jin family is a culpable suspect.
However, my favourite part has to be Do Joon's relationship with his grandfather. Jin Yang Cheol is a complex character that's hard to love, or hate. He's a shrewd and cynical businessman who's built his empire upon draconian and often unethical practices. Yet he's hit with a dilemma, whether to pass his entire fortune to his oldest son's line or the one who resembles him and can make Soonyang grows the most. On the surface, Do Joon is his head-on rival. But at a much deeper level, Yang Cheol regards him as his favourite grandson, someone who genuinely cares about his welfare and business ideology.
CAST & PRODUCTION:
Behind every great show is a spectacular cast, and this is no different. Song Joong Ki is a surprising yet very fitting choice for the lead role. I love how he can quickly switch from the playful college student into the cut-throat gangster when he's about to 'negotiate' a deal. I guess it's a great balance between his character in Vincenzo and Descendants of the Sun. Plus, the turtleneck and baggy jeans definitely add to the Steve-Job entrepreneur vibe as well. I really like his chemistry with Shin Hyun Bin who plays the female lead. She certainly has a makeover from the sleep-deprived surgeon in Hospital Playlist into a feisty and stylish prosecutor.
Lee Sung Min is definitely a force to reckon with. As a veteran actor, he pulls off the mean and hard-to-please expression of Jin Yang Cheol extremely well. As the powerful head of the Soonyang Corporation and Jin family, he's supposed to be the most commanding presence in the room. It's not until the later episodes that we get to see glimpses of a softer and perhaps more vulnerable Jin Yang Cheol when he's with Do Joon, his favourite grandson. The rest of the Jin family is very well cast. They're each greedy, entitled and scandalous in their own way.
OVERALL:
While the plot and characters have been exaggerated for entertainment purposes, the drama still contains many real-life events that make it quite a nostalgic watch, especially for South Koreans. It's refreshing to see Do Joon walking us through the IMF Crisis, the South Korean team in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, Seo Taiji and Boys' disbandment, and the list goes on. There have also been suggestions that the drama also drew inspiration from the current political landscape in South Korea, with the omnipotent status of conglomerates and 'chaebols'.
Reborn Rich is a masterpiece in its own right. It's a perfect combination of fantasy, business, family and revenge themes that somehow has a duality to it. Dramatic and shocking yet still very humane.
FAVOURITE QUOTES:
“I guess I’m like you [his grandfather]. I have three extra things in [my heart]. They’re full of greed, suspicion, and betrayal.” Jin Do Joon
“When you bring up a servant, you mustn’t give him great housing and a full stomach... Because he’ll begin to think that he’s the master… Righteous management? To me, money is righteousness.” Jin Yang Cheol
“The day that he defies me, it won’t matter if he’s my family or not.” Jin Yang Cheol
“The two things a fighter has no use for are his appendix and compassion. Sympathy! You cannot afford to drag such useless emotions to war. It’ll only weigh you down. ” Jin Yang Cheol
“I know he wouldn’t hesitate to sell me if he could buy Soonyang. If he tramples all over me to go forward, there will be nothing he can’t do. Only then can he protect Soonyang.” Jin Yang Cheol
“Being born a servant was not my choice. But I could choose the owner to serve.” Jin Yang Cheol's secretary
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