Rustic Period (2002-2003, SBS Daeha Drama)

Historical TV dramas (known as "Daeha Dramas" in Korea) featuring a large number of episodes have long been a successful genre within Korean TV Dramas. After the end of SBS's Ladies in the Palace (Yeoin Cheonha), the time slot was filled by another historical drama Rustic Period (Yain Shidae), which ended up as the most successful TV drama in Korea last year, with at its height over half of the TV ratings in prime time.

Rustic Period is a 100-episode drama based on the life of a mystery -- Kim Doo-han (1917-1972). The whole drama was split into two parts. Part 1 (Episode 1-50), performed by Ahn Jae-mo as Kim, is based on how Kim came to be a triad leader around the Jongno area during the days when the country was invaded by the Japanese. Part 2 (Episode 51-100), performed by Kim Young-chul, is based on the days when Kim served as a Council member. Stories about Kim Doo-han are not new. Previously, Im Kwok-taek's Son of A General film series were based on Kim Doo-han.

Compared to other dramas, Rustic Period features an unique heroic style which is rarely found in melodramas or historical dramas like Morning of the Emperor. Despite the large number of characters, this drama gives an adequate atmosphere in introducing the people around Kim Doo-han and how he made friendships with his gang crew, in a less typical way than a normal drama.

Action is also another successful factor which captured audiences' hearts. Part 1 of the drama contains lots of fighting along Kim's path to becoming a triad gang head, which is also unusual for Korean dramas in such a set up. The song "Ye-in", which is used from time to time for fighting, has also became one of Korea's most popular ringtones. The usual scene for fighting, the street outside "Yeomi-gwan" is also used for the poster of My Tutor Friend.

Ahn Jae-mo, who has previously acted in minor roles in films like My Wife is a Gangster and The Humanist gives a much sharper image in the film, as sharp as Kim is described in Lee Hwan-kyung's original drama. This drama also gave Ahn a chance to transfer into a career as a singer afer spending weeks on the top as Korea's most popular male actor.

Foreign viewers may find it difficult in catching up without some background information on Kim Doo-han. It would be useful to recall the Son of a General series or films like The Anarchists before watching this drama.