Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Narco-Saints

Narco-Saints
Promotional poster
Also known asThe Accidental Narco[1]
Hangul
수리남
Literal meaningSuriname
Revised RomanizationSurinam
Genre
Created byNetflix
Inspired by
Narcos
by
Written by
Directed byYoon Jong-bin
Starring
Music byJo Yeong-wook
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean[a]
No. of episodes6
Production
Producers
  • Kang Myung-chan
  • Koo Soo-ran
Production locations
  • South Korea
  • Dominican Republic
Production companies
Budget₩35 billion
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseSeptember 9, 2022 (2022-09-09)

Narco-Saints (Korean수리남) is a 2022 South Korean television series directed and co-written by Yoon Jong-bin, and starring Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hae-soo, Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Min-gwi, and Chang Chen. Inspired by true story, the series depicts an ordinary entrepreneur who has no choice but to risk his life in joining the secret mission of government agents to capture a South Korean drug lord operating in Suriname.[3] It was released on Netflix on September 9, 2022, alongside an English language dub renamed Narco-Saints,[4][5] in order to draw similarities to Netflix's previous similarly-premised series Narcos (2015–2017) and Narcos: Mexico (2018–2021), the "play next" of the latter series linking to Narco-Saints.[6]

Synopsis

The life-threatening journey of Kang In-gu (Ha Jung-woo), a civilian businessman who has no choice but to cooperate with the secret operation of the National Intelligence Service to catch Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), a South Korean drug lord who has taken control of Suriname.

Cast

Main

A businessman who arrived in Suriname for skate business, only to be forcefully pulled in by the National Intelligence Service for a secret operation to catch Yo-hwan.
A Korean drug lord currently based in Suriname, moonlighting as a pastor.
The team leader of the National Intelligence Service's Branch in the Americas.
The right-hand man of Yo-hwan; he was formerly under the Chinese organisation before betraying to work for Yo-hwan.
The consultant lawyer for Yo-hwan.
A deacon and close aide of Yo-hwan.
A Chinese gang leader based in Chinatown, Paramaribo.

Supporting

In-gu's wife.
  • Jordan Preston as President Delano Alvarez
The President of Suriname who came to power after conducting a military coup with the help of Yo-hwan.
He works closely with Chang-ho to arrest Yo-hwan.
Yo-hwan's church figure, she is cruel like him.
Member of the National Intelligence Service and Chang-ho's assistant.
  • Hyun Bong-sik as Park Eung-soo[12]
In-gu's high school friend and a sailor, he suggested that In-gu goes to Suriname for skate business.
In 1993, at a investment briefing headed by Yo-hwan, she disclosed false information regarding Yo-hwan having connections to the president to millionaires.
  • Kim Si-hyeon as Si-hyeon[14]
Chang-ho's assistant.

Episodes

No.EpisodeDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Episode 1"Yoon Jong-binKwon Sung-hui, Yoon Jong-binSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-09-22)
Kang In-gu, the main character, suffers from bad forces while doing business in Suriname. Then, some Surinamese pastor says he can help him.
2"Episode 2"Yoon Jong-binKwon Sung-hui, Yoon Jong-binSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-09-22)
Kang In-gu grows his influence in prison, following the instructions of a secret agent.
3"Episode 3"Yoon Jong-binKwon Sung-hui, Yoon Jong-binSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-09-22)
After Jeon Yo-hwan's investigation, Koo Sang-man and Jeon Yo-hwan start trading.
4"Episode 4"Yoon Jong-binKwon Sung-hui, Yoon Jong-binSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-09-22)
When the route to South Korea was blocked by the military, Sangman suggests another route.
5"Episode 5"Yoon Jong-binKwon Sung-hui, Yoon Jong-binSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-09-22)
Kang In-gu fails to persuade pastor Jeon; So In-gu and Koo Sang-man get a new plan.
6"Episode 6"Yoon Jong-binKwon Sung-hui, Yoon Jong-binSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-09-22)
Everything is going as planned, but the pastor makes an unexpected action. So a rescue plan is launched to save Kang In-gu who is left in Suriname.

Production

Casting

On March 23, 2021, the cast of K-drama Suriname, inspired by Netflix's Narcos,[19] was announced to include Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, Park Hae-soo, and Choo Ja-hyun, in addition to Ha Jung-woo and Hwang Jung-min, who had already been confirmed as the lead roles. The first script reading of the cast was held on March 22, 2021, at a location in Seoul.[20]

Filming

Production of Suriname planned to be filmed at Dominican Republic from April last year, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the production was postponed indefinitely. Later, production started filming on a set in South Korea from last April and decided to shoot in Dominican Republic, not in Suriname, for about two months starting in November.[21]

On November 9, 2021, it was reported that actors and staffs of Suriname departed to Dominican Republic from the end of October and plans return to Korea in mid-December. Yoo Yeon-seok recently returned to Korea in the end of October, Hwang Jung-min and Ha Jung-woo departed to Dominican Republic in late October and early November. Jo Woo-jin is scheduled to leave the country soon. This story background location will not resemble the Surinamese country.[22]

The series was produced with an estimated cost of ₩35 billion.[20]

Controversy

Suriname's government has taken legal action against the production company for allegedly damaging Suriname's image by featuring drugs in the series. Suriname's government, which takes legal action with just one drama, also said it would lodge a protest with the South Korean government. Specifically, the series showed a corrupt president, as well as a drug scene. However, as national issues made a choice.

On September 13, 2022 (local time), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname expressed his displeasure about the Netflix original series, saying, "Suriname has been portrayed as a drug-transfer country for many years. We are working to improve the image. But we are at a disadvantage again with Netflix's 'Suriname' isn't just foreshadowing legal action against producers." He also announced that he would send an anti-job protest letter to the US ambassador in Suriname. A senior government official in Suriname went public about the job and expressed his discomfort. The interest in Netflix's response was consolidated.[23] Later, Ahn Eun-joo, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced "If there is a misunderstanding, try to resolve it". In the end, it even showed signs of turning into a diplomatic issue. The Embassy of South Korea in Venezuela asserted that it was concerned about the safety of local residents in Suriname.[24]

Accolades

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Asian Academy Creative Awards 2023 Best Actor in A Leading Role (National Winners – Korea) Ha Jung-woo Won [25][26]
Best Actor in A Supporting Role (National Winners – Korea) Jo Woo-jin Won
Best Direction – Fiction (National Winners – Korea) Yoon Jong-bin Won
Baeksang Arts Awards 2023 Best Supporting Actor Jo Woo-jin Won [27]
Director's Cut Awards 2023 Best Director in Television Yoon Jong-bin Won [28]
Best Screenplay Yoon Jong-bin, Kwon Seong-hwi Won
Best Actor in Television Jo Woo-jin Won
Best New Actor in Television Kim Min-gwi Won
Best Actor in Television Ha Jung-woo Nominated [29]
Park Hae-soo Nominated
Hwang Jung-min Nominated
Korea Drama Awards 2022 Grand Prize (Daesang) Ha Jung-woo Won [30]

Notes

  1. ^ With some dialogue in English and Mandarin Chinese

References

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  3. ^ Jung Seung (May 27, 2021). "Director Yoon Jong-Bin's First Collaboration With Netflix Confirms Production and Casting For Suriname (WT)". Netflix. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
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