Three days in a roll writing about Park Sihoo-ssi’s drama “Local Hero” (“Neighborhood Hero”) to celebrate the broadcast of his drama in Japan on Mnet Japan. Three big themes – Minion Mentality, Temptations and today, Wheeling and Dealing. Good enough reminder of what the drama is about? Do they whet your appetite for more? I still have a few more thoughts in mind, but I think I will leave them for now. Let our Japanese fans enjoy viewing the drama at their own pace 🙂
Of course, if anyone is interested, you can check out all the episode previews and recaps of “Local Hero” right here on ParkSihooSsi.com! Enjoy!
One of the biggest themes that ran through Park Sihoo-ssi’s “Local Hero” was wheeling and dealing. It was so prevalent in the featured neighborhood and in the Korean society as portrayed in the drama that it appeared to be a way of life! I sure hope that this was only fictitious and not something that happened in real life in Korea! If it does, then life would be thoroughly miserable and one would have to watch one’s back at every turn! What a life that would be!
Corporate villain Yoon Sangmin was the slick businessman. His whole life, he had been involved in wheeling and dealing. From the time he grew up as a street kid in New York to getting his first taste of a hard earned dollar. Now big time wheeler dealer, with strong aspirations to make it to the top, he was the go-between for the big boys in their ruthless ventures to squeeze out the small towners to earn big bucks. And if he couldn’t get his way smoothly, he was not above mowing down everyone in his path – including killing his best friend and threatening to bring down the big boys with the knowledge of the misdeeds he held over them and their fathers.
Yet, he was also not above being the beggar when he needed to. In a no-win situation when he had to bail out, his wheeling and dealing bought him witness protection and a compromised sentence by collaborating with Park Sihoo-ssi’s Baek Siyoon, backed by the new CIA director. It also brought him the public limelight he so craved!
Remember nice old President Hwang, the former owner of the neighborhood Bar 이웃? He wrote a memoir detailing all that he had seen while he was in the service of the CIA. His memoir would compromise the image and power of the agency and bring down many top ranking officials in the Korean society. This was a bargaining tool for his wheeling and dealing with those out to harm people he cared about. Unfortunately, he underestimated the power of the agency and his ability to defend both himself and his compatriots, which saw him murdered. Well trained in espionage, he was already prepared for the worst and put Baek Siyoon in trust of this important bargaining chip.
Baek Siyoon also learnt to wheel and deal. He tried negotiating with his ex-CIA supervisor Jung Suhyuk to get the agency off the backs of the ex-agents involved in the Macau tragedy. In exchange he would not reveal the details of President Hwang’s memoirs. However, that did not work and he became the marked man. His ultimate wheeling and dealing came in two folds. First in negotiating with the current CIA director for support to bring down the corrupt soon-to-be appointed country President Hong Gyuman and his supporters. Second, in bartering for witness protection and a lighter sentence for Yoon Sangmin to get him to spill the beans. He successfully brokered and saved his country from a raw deal!
Great deal! Our hero, Park Sihoo-ssi aka Baek Siyoon saved the day! Ace super spy and accomplished wheeler-dealer!
不择手段的交易
为了庆祝施厚君的电视剧“小区英雄”(“邻家英雄”)在日本Mnet电视台的播出,连三天都写关于这电视剧。三大主题 – 奴才心态,诱惑和今天的不择手段的交易。希望足够提醒和重温电视剧的主要内容!脑里还有几个想法,但暂时不会发挥,不然会把大家给闷死了!让日本厚粉姐妹们享受自己的“小区英雄”节奏呗! 🙂
当然,如果有兴趣阅读和观看每一集的“小区英雄”情节和预告,可以在ParkSihooSsi.com查看! 请享用!
在“小区英雄”里,最大的主题之一是不择手段的交易。看剧时,感觉这种交易在邻里和韩国社会是非常普遍的,似乎是一种生活方式!当然希望这只是虚构的,在韩国现实生活中不是经常发生的事情!如果确实如此,那么生活会彻底悲惨,一个人必须处处时时密切关注周围的事情和举动!会是什么样的生活啊!
企业小人尹尚民是精明狡猾的商人。他的一生参与过无数不择手段的交易。从小在纽约街头长大的他,到辛苦赚来的第一块美元的滋味。现在成功商人企业家的他,具有很强的愿望达到事业顶峰,他是无情企业针对小居民小商家的中间人,为他们赚大把钱。如果目标无法顺利达到,他会不择手段把障碍推倒 – 包括杀害一起长大最要好的朋友,或用他手中拥有的劣行信息去威胁要把他搞垮的一群韩国上流社会弟子们和他们的父亲。
然而,在需要求生时,他也会拜跪找最有利的出路。在没能得胜的局面,他和白时允进行谈判妥协,得到新的中央情报局局长的支持,保护合作证人和减轻他的罪名摆脱困境。最后,他也得到梦寐以求的,当了公众风斗人物!
还记得亲切和蔼的黄社长吗?邻家酒吧이웃的前主人?他写了回忆录详细叙述在中央情报局时所看到的一切。他的回忆录可以损害中央情报局的形象和权利,糟蹋许多韩国高官和社会名流的明声和地位。这是他用来跟情报局协商,不再追杀伤害那些他关心,与澳门事件有关的前特工。不幸的是,他低估了情报局的实力,和自己的能力去保护他的同胞,后来被谋杀了。作为训练有素的前特工,他已经准备了最坏的打算,把重要的回忆录委托给了他信任的白时允。
白时允也得当协调谈判人。他试图与他的前中情局主管郑苏赫交易,放弃追究跟澳门事件有关的前特工,以换取不透露黄社长的回忆录细节。可是,失败了,自己也变成追杀对象!白时允最终当任双方谈判协调人。首先,跟目前的中央情报局局长谈判,得到他的支持去揭穿即将被任命国家总统的洪具曼(翻译)和他的支持者的腐败。二,和尹尚民协调,由他来揭穿信息,换取证人保护和减轻他的罪名。白时允成功地协商,救了国家受到不公正的遭遇!
非常好的协商交易!我们的英雄,施厚君又名白时允化险为夷!王牌的超级特工,成功的谈判家!
Photo Credits – Many thanks! OCN Local Hero 동네의 영웅, DCinside Park Sihoo Gallery, 百度邻家英雄吧
19 Comments
A good analysis of the drama!
最近の話題、きわめて深刻な!言及する現象、1つの国家、社会の常態、すべて存在している!人、欲求と需要、未知、歩いて行く道方向、不明!いつでも、心のずれは、基本!人間としての原則、簡単に捨てないでください!ボトムライン、簡単には触れないでください!現実世界、過酷、生存、も容易ではない。しかし、すばらしい期待を抱いて、すべてが容易になりやすいと希望しています!中国話「願望、ふくよかで、現実、スレンダー!」さらに、人生の不容易な解釈、人生の!愛の世界、すべての人、すべてしっかりしている!
Buen análisis del dorama y PSH además de su perfecta imagen también con excelente actuación, rodeado de buenos actores. encarnando las diferentes facetas de personajes cruzados por el sufrimiento de la vida en un mundo que está lleno de desafíos. Espero ver pronto a PSH en otro dorama!!!
Hahaha! I am in a dead serious mood these few days 🙂 Very stressed at work…and believe it or not, these 3 themes can easily apply to the corporate world too!
Nance, cheer up! Hope you are not overly stressed. Life’s like that in the corporate world and one cannot dismiss the reality of these 3 themes prevailing in the work place as well. These are serious and difficult themes which are intricately woven into the plot of Local Hero. Understand from the interview PSH gave concerning this drama series, he had a good feeling after reading the script for the first time. He thought the character Baek Si Yoon was just good for him. He didn’t elaborate why good but I believe he was interested to be involved in a drama project which deals with these hard life issues. As is his usual form, he gave a brilliant engaging performance, breathing life into BSY and making the character so believable. He said he watched lots of spy movies to prepare for his role but cognisant there is a difference between Korea and the West he chose to model after Korea. Yes, I am glad he didn’t choose to be like James Bond and that’s why I love Local Hero for its unique Korean flavour. Judging from the ending scene of the final episode it may not be too far fetch to speculate a sequel…..
Nance, as Dorothy Ooi’s above support and cheering you along when the going gets tough, we all are far too familiar with the today’s corporate world, in fact, that world probably has always been like that from day 1. Perhaps this the reason we, despite so very busy and time demanding and challenges in our own plate, yet still surface here day after day, coz this is our santuary, to release the steam of our mind, a place where the good virtues prevail.
Dorothy Ooi Thank you! I much rather like his version of a Hero! Did you hear that they are looking for a new 007 as in ala Hollywood? Speculation had it it might be an Asian and maybe even a woman! And they listed some Asian actors, including a Korean, not PSH and I shall not name names here. I have never been a fan of 007, I don’t like his style nor ethics…I just cannot associate him with PSH.
Dorothy Ooi Fantasty comment in identifying the subtle part of PSH chose to play out the Korean spy rather than imitating western spies, I recalled PSH also mentioned watching MI (that I interpret as Mission Impossible). South Korea is South Korea, Asia is Asia, just food alone is so diverse, languages, culture, so of course Korean spy got to be different from Western spies, to this wisdow, I raise my glass to PSH’s sharp thinking and cleverly decided which way to go for the role he was going to play
I hope the producer will seriously think about a good sequel, LH story basis allow lots of development. We have seen the ambitious script writer went far and wide in the short 16 episodes (the reason that LH didn’t 100% engage my attention when too many other frills were included in a short run of 16 episodes). So YES if you Korean drama circle people are trawling the internet to gauge feedback, please read this page (Nance’s page) and take notes of our valuable feedback, we don’t just come here and blab about nothing. In our respective private role, we charge by the hour for any use of our brain, kekeke 🙂
Chai Hua Loke and Nance, no adulteration, no James Bond for PSH.
In the recent Eurovision song contest, our Australian Dami Im, the original South Korean singer wow the whole Europe, she was placed no. 2. Australia is not in European grounds, yet we got to contest and got to no. 2. We were all talking what if she won the contest, does it mean next Eurovision contest is to be held in Australia – which is not Europe……Previously Australian was only being invited as guest singer, not contestant, but Dami our very 1st Aussie originally from South Korean is the 1st contestant and got to almost won the title. Made all of us so proud. we like to think she didn’t win simply because Europe doesn’t want the headache of how can Eurovision be held in Australia…..doesn’t make sense…but the rule is the winner country is the next host.. So who is to say future James Bond can’t be PSH!!!
Dorothy Ooi James Bond too by today is someone who no longer god like and fumbled in the recent Bond series. If they are smart enough to find an Asian Bond then they need to vary the ethics to suit the Asian image. No adulteration, but some romance to spice up would work? No?
I recall the James Bond where our very own countrymate Michelle Yeoh there Bond and her were purely actions, no crossing to the bed scene. So if Bond’s stories would vary when it comes to Asian characters, and a rebranded Bond to suit PSH will be a fantasy for me. After all, no matter what critics say about James Bond movies, I always enjoy the spectacular actions where movie budget could afford to showcase, which I believe PSH would not refuse such opportunity to experience if such opportunity will knock on his door.
写作的状态,如泉涌的时刻!话题的多样化,分享的快乐!引发思考,是深刻!理性的时候,中国诗:“不畏浮云遮望眼,只缘身在最高层!”与大家共勉!
Congratulations Nance for your keen analysis of another up-to-date theme , in every society but also in “NH” too, about “wheeling and dealing.” And when Baek Siyoon , excellently interpreted by PSH, is fighting against this method, the story becomes more interesting, more intricate , more lively. You say ,that you don’t believe this method should happen in Korean society, as it is revealed in the drama, and I hope you are right, but this is frequent in other societies, to get advantage by using complicated, dishonest and unfair methods. Let’s take this aspect, as it’s treated in”NH” as ficticious in Korea, as you say, but at the same time as a warning this attempt, this method should not happen. But if this happens and the one, Yoon Sangmin, using “wheeling and dealing” with all despicable methods, and deals with a non compromised person like Baek Siyoon, very intelligent, and honest, well traind in inteligence service, theYoon Sangmin is uncovered and is bound to confess his crimes and all of his collaborators . BSY is indeed a Hero, using his capacity, his intelligence, his training, his love for his neighbors, even his life to fight against the evils of his society. BSY is indeed a Hero, who cares nothing for his comfort, but he is simply determined to do what he believes to be right! “He is a dangerous uncomfortable enemy, because his body , which you can always conquer, gives you little purchase upon his soul.”[Gillbert Muray]
Oh I can’t help but needed to make a special mention that the no. of likes on this facebook is now 874!!! It was arrrh….860 yesterday if I remember correctly! YAY
And it will increase everyday Chai Hua.
Many thanks for the vote of confidence Chai Hua Loke Stefania Lupu 🙂 I will have more pressure on how to boost the readership for ParkSihooSsi.com to better support Park Sihoo-ssi now *Sweat* So I will count on you ladies and everyone for help! Many thanks in advance!
You’re welcome! Everyday by your side to support PSH!