Korean Action Drama: Healer

(20 episodes) Romance, Comedy, Action, and Thriller

Broadcasting station: KBS2

Broadcasting period: December 8^th, 2014 thru February 10^th, 2015.

Story line:

Healer (Ji Chang-wook) is the code name of a mysterious errand runner, who gets paid top money to fulfill the needs of anonymous “customers”. He’s a well-trained fighter with top-notch marshal art skills, equipped with wearable smart gadgets. He is the best messenger in the industry who can accomplish any tasks with his beast-like instincts. Typically, he doesn’t care who he works for, and whether the deed services a foul purpose in the end. He’s happy as long as he receives a worthy compensation for a job well done. Who gets hurt in the process is none of his concern. His dream is to earn enough money and purchase a deserted island in the South Pacific Ocean, live happily ever after…all by himself.

That dream quickly falls apart as he meets a warmhearted, ambitious, second-rate tabloid news reporter Chae Young-shin, who accidentally saves a young actress from committing suicide. As it turns out, the actress is the victim of a sex scandal that involves top political officials. It takes lots of courage to expose the wrongdoings of the rich and powerful, and Young-shin might end up losing her life over the biggest story of her career.

Moved by her passion and valor, Healer finds himself in an unfamiliar territory: helping the weak fight against the injustice, and for the first time in his life, he wishes to live a normal existence among people, and hopefully win the heart of Young-shin.

However, the appearance of a famous journalist Kim Moon-ho puts a damper on that prospect. The fact is Young-shin has admired Kim for many years. He is her hero, someone she looks up to and has a secret crush on. Meanwhile, to avoid being detected by the baddies, and bring more harm to Young-shin, Healer has to disguise himself as a coward junior reporter, who easily startles and runs away at the first sign of peril, but each time Young-shin gets trapped in a life-threatening situation, he’d show up in his full gear, with half of his face covered up, and saves the day.

As Young-shin starts to have romantic feelings towards the mysterious night errand guy, a decades-old incident involving a group of friends who ran an illegal broadcasting station casts a shadow upon their relationship. Healer discovers that his father might be the one who killed Young-shin’s father twenty years ago. There is one man who knows the truth, star reporter Kim Moon-ho. At first, he hires Healer to dig out Young-shin’s past. When her real identity is confirmed, he fears Healer might have known too much than he should, and tries to get rid of him…

Who can you trust in a world full of lies, snares, greed and thirst for power?

This is a drama about three compassionate young reporters, how they challenge the corrupted system, and with the power of media, unveil the masks of dirty politicians.

Ji Chang-wook (池昌旭) as Healer/Seo Jung-hoo/Park Bong-soo: Born on July 5, 1987, he began his career as a struggling actor in musical theater, and rose to fame in the leading role of Dong-hae in a 159-episode daily drama series Smile Again (2010-2011). Playing a Korean-American short track speed skater, he trained under a former national speed skater in order to lend those scenes as much realism as possible. the drama topped the ratings chart for 15 consecutive weeks, and he was awarded Best Actor in a Daily Drama at the KBS Drama Awards. He then took on notable roles in Warrior Baek Dong-Soo (2011), Empress Ki (2013-2014), and Healer (2014-2015). He also records a song for Empress Ki called “To the Butterfly” and another song for Healer “I Will Protect You”, a very talented young man indeed.

Park Min-young (朴敏英) as Chae Young-shin: Born on March 4, 1986, she is best known for her leading roles in dramas series Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), City Hunter (2011) and Healer (2014-2015)

Yoo Ji-tae (劉智泰 ) as Kim Moon-ho: Born on April 13, 1976, a fashion model, actor and director, starring in handful of films, a couple of TV dramas, and has directed several award-winning short films. He is raised by his mother, and is very passionate about social issues, donates his time and money to numerous charities causes.

If you love Lee Min Ho’s action drama City Hunter, you’d enjoy this TV series too. They both have great action scenes, excellent music scores, gorgeous leading man, the same leading lady, and fascinating storylines. Both tales involve a hero fighting against corrupted government officials, and injustice. Personally, I think City Hunter takes on a more serious, somber tone as the body count piles up towards the end of the story. You know there won’t be a clear winner even though the justice has been served.

Healer, on the other hand, is a lighter drama in whole. Equally smart, with lots of heart and love. Unlike City Hunter, it spends considerable amount of time on developing romantic relationship between the two leads. The story is more personal than the big picture painted in City Hunter. The ending of Healer is well done with nothing left for imagination. Meanwhile, City Hunter ends on an open note that leaves more to be desired.

If City Hunter is the best Action drama of 2011, then Healer should be crowned the best Action TV series in 2015. For real, I can’t remember the storyline of any other drama series that I have watched so far, or do I care about them, but the story of Healer stuck in my head from the beginning of this year till now. That should tell you something…