Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Gun disaster series 'Trigger' hits amid Korea's real shooting incident
Actors Kim Nam-gil, right, and Kim Young-kwang pose during a press conference for the Netflix series "Trigger" at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo District, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Netflix
By Park Jin-hai
As Korea — long perceived as a gun-free country — confronts the shock of a rare shooting involving a homemade firearm, the new Netflix series "Trigger" is set to debut Friday, thrusting viewers into a dystopian scenario where illegal, untraceable firearms are rampant. The show’s resemblance to current events has drawn both anticipation and unease.
"Trigger" is a 10-part disaster action thriller that follows two men who pick up weapons for personal reasons in a society where firearms circulate freely and untraceably and public safety has collapsed.
While "Trigger" initially garnered anticipation for its depiction of a chaotic society stripped of safety measures and dynamic action, the series now arrives in an atmosphere of heightened anxiety following a shooting on Sunday in which a man used a homemade gun to kill his son during a family gathering in Incheon. The series canceled a scheduled live broadcast during a fan event on Tuesday in light of the incident.
"This work tells a story of guns becoming widespread in Korea, where firearms are still illegal. It encapsulates the thought of 'What if things we only imagined became reality,'" director Kwon Oh-seung said during a press conference for the drama at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo District, Seoul, Tuesday.
"I want to express my regret regarding the unfortunate incident. However, I believe its connection to 'Trigger' is different. If you look at how the characters use guns in the drama, it leads to different approaches and different outcomes, so I hope people view this heartbreaking incident and our series separately."
Kim Nam-gil is seen in a scene from the Netflix series "Trigger." Courtesy of Netflix
Given the recent surge in tragic incidents and the deep-seated conflicts and unrest permeating Korean society, the director elaborated on his intention behind this drama.
"I became fascinated by how people would behave if someone were to cunningly exploit such a volatile situation by distributing guns."
In light of the shooting, the director emphasized that the drama never romanticizes violence.
"If you watch the series to the end, I believe you will absolutely not think it glorifies crime," Kwon said. "I think Korea is a safe country to live in because there are no guns."
Kim Nam-gil, an actor celebrated for his action roles including "The Fiery Priest" and "The Pirates," takes on the role of Lee Do, a former military sniper-turned-police officer who picks up his gun again to uphold justice.
"(This is) a character who constantly grapples with whether it's right to wield a gun to protect someone," Kim said. "He is a person who actively demonstrates the idea that he can save others through ways other than a gun."
Kim worked hard to showcase action sequences in the series.
“Because I’m portraying a character with values, I tried to deliver more restrained action as opposed to the kind of aggressive or violent action seen in typical gunplay scenes where characters hurt others for the sake of impact," he said.
The actor pointed out that the significance of "Trigger" lies in it being "a narrative about our own lives and story."
"It explores how people would react if they had a tool to unleash their inner trigger, a trigger everyone carries within them or if we were to possess a gun. Through this, the series explores empathy, understanding, consideration and restraint," he said.
Actor Kim Young-kwang co-stars as Moon Baek, a mysterious helper who finds amusement even in crisis, bringing a sense of unpredictability to the series.
"I found Moon Baek refreshing and I was curious about what would become of this free-spirited figure," Kim Young-kwang said. "Since he's someone who constantly questions others, I felt compelled to take on the role."