Netflix’s 2021 Korean drama My Name continues to draw in new viewers with its raw action and emotional revenge story. The show follows a young woman who joins a drug gang to find her father’s killer. The series became a global hit after its October 15, 2021 release. It reached the Top 10 in over 80 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, India, and South Korea. The show has 8 episodes, each running between 45 to 59 minutes. The story was written by Kim Ba-da and directed by Kim Jin-min, who also made the Netflix series Extracurricular. The production company behind the show is Studio Santa Claus Entertainment. Let’s look at the actors who brought these intense characters to life.
Han So Hee Transforms into Yoon Ji Woo, the Avenging Daughter
Han So Hee plays the lead role of Yoon Ji Woo. She also uses the fake name Oh Hye Jin when she joins the police. Ji Woo watches her father get murdered outside their home on her 17th birthday. This tragedy pushes her to join a crime group called Dongcheon. Her goal is to find the killer and make them pay. Han So Hee trained for months to do most of her own fight scenes. She gained about 10 kilograms of muscle for the part. The actress is known for her roles in The World of the Married, Nevertheless, and Gyeongseong Creature. Many viewers praised her action skills because she moved from playing softer characters to this tough role. The actress said doing this show was very hard on her body, but she wanted to show Ji Woo’s pain and anger in a real way.
Han So Hee joked with Sports Chosun about a possible second season: “I think I’d die. I don’t know what I have left to show. I think I’d have to develop superpowers.”
Park Hee Soon Plays Choi Mu Jin, the Mysterious Crime Boss
Park Hee Soon takes on the role of Choi Mu Jin. He is the leader of Dongcheon, the biggest drug ring in the country. Mu Jin was best friends with Ji Woo’s father. He agrees to help Ji Woo get stronger and find the killer. He trains her himself and gives her a new identity to join the police. But his real reasons stay hidden until the final episodes. Park Hee Soon is a well-known actor from movies like The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion and the drama Squid Game. His character is calm and rarely shows feelings. He speaks softly but can be very violent. This contrast made Mu Jin one of the most talked about villains in K-dramas that year. The actor shared that he practiced fight scenes for weeks to look natural as a gang boss.
Ahn Bo Hyun Stars as Jeon Pil Do, the Detective with a Code
Ahn Bo Hyun plays Jeon Pil Do, a detective in the Drug Investigations Unit. He becomes Ji Woo’s partner when she joins the police as Oh Hye Jin. Pil Do is a man of strong principles. He does not like Hye Jin at first because she messes up a big case he worked on for six months. But as they work together, he starts to trust her. Later, he gets ordered to spy on her when the police chief suspects something is wrong. Ahn Bo Hyun is famous for his roles in Itaewon Class, Yumi’s Cells, and Descendants of the Sun. He used his real experience as a boxer to perform the action scenes. Many fans said his chemistry with Han So Hee added emotional weight to the violent story. The actor said he worked closely with the stunt team for three months before filming started.
The Supporting Cast Adds Depth to the Crime World
Kim Sang Ho plays Cha Gi Ho, the head of the Drug Unit. He has sworn to take down Choi Mu Jin before he retires. Gi Ho has a personal reason for hating Mu Jin. His old partner was killed by the gang years ago. Kim Sang Ho is a veteran actor known for his supporting roles in many hit films and dramas. His character acts as a father figure to the police team, which makes the betrayals in the story hurt more.
Lee Hak Joo stars as Jung Tae Ju, Mu Jin’s most loyal follower. Tae Ju would die for his boss without thinking twice. He questions Ji Woo’s loyalty many times and tries to stop her. Lee Hak Joo is known for his work in The World of the Married and Prison Playbook. His cold eyes and quiet way of speaking made his character very scary.
Chang Ryul plays Do Kang Jae, a former member of Dongcheon. He gets thrown out of the gang after trying to hurt Ji Woo. He then starts his own drug business and wants revenge on Mu Jin and Ji Woo. Chang Ryul is a rising actor who trained as a boxer. He did all his own stunts for the show. His fight scenes with Han So Hee are some of the most talked about moments in the series.
Yoon Kyung Ho appears as Yoon Dong Hoon, Ji Woo’s father. He is also known as Song Joon Su. The mystery around his death drives the whole story. The actor appears mostly in flashbacks, but his role is very important. Yoon Kyung Ho has been in many famous works like The Outlaws and Kingdom.
Also Read:
Other Key Actors in the Series
Moon Sang Min plays Ko Gun Pyung, a young detective on the drug team. He looks up to Cha Gi Ho and helps with the investigation. Baek Joo Hee plays Kang Soo Yeon, a lawyer who works for Choi Mu Jin. She handles the legal side of the drug business. Kim Byung Chul makes a special appearance in the early episodes. He plays a detective who watched Ji Woo’s house before her father died.
Where to Watch My Name and Streaming Details
All 8 episodes of My Name are streaming now on Netflix. Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India can watch the show with English subtitles and dubbing options. The show has a TV-MA rating for strong violence, language, and adult situations. New viewers should know the show has very bloody fight scenes and emotional moments.
The series has a 100 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.8 out of 10 user rating on IMDb. French K-drama guide author Jessica Cohen called the show “Somber, violent, brutal, a revenge story in a merciless world.”
Stay connected with VvipTimes for more breakdowns of hit K-dramas and updates on your favorite Korean stars.
