Secret Forest

Synopsis:

Hwang Shi Mok had an insular cortex brain surgery when he was young to cure him of his untoward behaviour brought by a disease that makes this cortex hyperactive resulting to pain. As part of his insular cortex brain was removed that deals with emotions, he became apathetic on human emotions and became very logical. This made him excel in being a honest prosecutor but a pariah to his colleagues in the prosecution office. He was able to survive in this world as he just do his tasks base on analytical basis until his ability to feel was put into a test when he became the head of a special task force to bring down the corruption in the prosecution and police force. Together with Detective Han Yeo-Jin, Detective Jang Gun, Choi Young , Investigator Yoon Se-Won, Investigator Kim Ho-Sub and Kim Jung-Bon, they all have to put their lives and careers on the line to bring down powerful and influential companies even their very own colleagues and institution.

Characters:

Cho Seung Woo as Hwang Shi Mok
Gil Jung Woo as 10-year-old Shi Mok
Song Eui Joon as 15-year-old Shi Mok
Bae Doo Na as Han Yeo Jin
Yoo Jae Myung as Lee Chang Joon
Lee Joon Hyuk as Seo Dong Jae
Shin Hye Sun as Young Eun Soo
Lee Kyu Hyung as Yoon Se Won
Park Sung Geun as Kang Won Chul
Lee Tae Hyung as Kim Ho Sub
Kim So Ra as Choi Young
Kim Ji Hoon as Lee Moon Woo
Jun Seo Yeon as Jo Hye Sun
Han Chang Hyun as Prosecution Division 2 Chief
Park Sung Kyun as Prosecution Division Chief
Choi Byung Mo as Kim Woo Kyun
Park Jin Woo as Kim Soo Chan
Choi Jae Woong as Jang Gun
Jun Bae Soo as Police Detective Team Leader
Song Ji Ho as Park Soon Chang
Yoon Jong In as Police Detective
Lee Kyung Young as Lee Yoon Bum
Yoon Se Ah as Lee Yun Jae
Lee Ho Jae as Young Il Jae
Seo Dong Won as Kim Jung Bon
Kim Jin Sung as 15-year-old Jung Bon
Nam Ki Ae as Young Eun Soo’s Mother
Ye Soo Jung as Park Moo Sung’s Mother
Jang Sung Bum as Park Kyung Wan
Park Yoo Na as Kwon Min Ah | Kim Ga Young
Jung Dong Geun as Woo Byung Joon
Bae Hyo Won as Secretary Yang
Kim Kyung Ryong as Hwang Shi Mok’s Step Father
Chun Min Hee as Pub Owner
Kwak In Joon as Current Issue MC
Jun Yeo Jin as Kang Jin Sub’s Wife
Lee Eun Ho as Nurse
Lee Dong Yong as Taxi Driver
Seo Kwang Jae as Judge
Jung Hyun Suk as Journalist
Son Dong Hwa Doctor
Song Soo Hyun as Han Yi Ji
Lee Han Na as Junior High School Student
Yoon Ji On as Cafe Part-Timer
Byun Joo Hyun as Matsuyama
Jung Dong Kyu as Minister of National Defense
Lee Yoon Sang as Chairman Cho
Park Ki Ryung as Bae Sang Wook
Kang Min Tae as Drunk Taxi Passenger
Kim Na Kyung as Voice
Song Soo Hyun as Student
Uhm Hyo Sup as Park Moo Sung
Park Soon Chun as Hwang Shi Mok’s Mother
Yoon Kyung Ho as Kang Jin Sub
Lee Jae Yong as Kim Nam Jin
Sun Woo Jae Duk as Ahn Seung Ho
Lee Jae Won as Kim Tae Kyun
Tae In Ho as Kim Byung Hyun

My Review:

I watched this k-drama as it is one of the top-rated k-drama shows in 2017. I have finished most of the k-dramas I would like to see in the meantime and not yet in the mood for romcoms, thus, I delve in to discover why this k-drama became such a success in ratings even if personally I don’t put too much stock on highly rated shows to be automatically good or even something I would like.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) I like that the story is focused only on a specific theme which is the problem in the political and business corruption base on cases related to the murder of Park Moo-Sung. Although, Hwang Shi Mok’s condition is unique and gave the drama a bit of difference from other k-dramas who tackle the same plot, his condition is really just a part of Hwang Shi Mok’s background as prosecutor to make the audience understand who he is and why he is the way he is. His condition was truly just an added flavor but the k-drama never swayed to use it for anything else which I prefer because it made this k-drama giving a solid and no-nonsense story one can watch without so many unnecessary frills.

(2) I enjoy the chemistry of the tandem of Cho Seung Woo as Hwang Shi Mok and Bae Doo Na as Detective Han Yeo Jin. Though, there’s no tinge of romance, their scenes were never boring and quite engaging. The lead actors did an excellent job making it work even if there’s no romance involved.

(3) It is very rare that there are supporting actors in any k-drama that don’t deliver a good performance and this one is no different. The supporting cast is splendid in its delivery, however, I love the performance of Lee Kyu Hyung as Yoon Se Won especially in the last 2 episodes. I won’t divulge what I am talking about so not to destroy your viewing pleasure with a spoiler. All I can say is that in a way I can empathized with him up to a certain level.

(4) I like the realistic take of this k-drama of how the world really is such as people tend to forget breaking news later when another breaking news comes, thus, allowing the perpetrators in the end never really get their just punishment and victims get their justice as people really forget in time the true issue; that the corrupt most of the time never really always change even given a 2nd chance; that politicians when cornered either use illness, patriotism and religion as a diversion and, that real good guys require so much sacrifices to make this world a better place and rarely do they walk happily into the sunset.

(5) After so many k-dramas I’ve watched on this genre, it really shows to me that evil and corruption is not base on country, culture or race but truly because of people per se due to greed and lust. This k-drama has shown it again the fallibility of the human race.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

Honestly, the story is not a unique one. As the story progresses, I feel that this k-drama is just like any other good k-dramas of this genre. However, it is the delivery of the story that made it engaging to watch and I believe it is greatly due to the excellent work of the director, Ahn Gil-Ho. It has some of the things that irks me like the police procedures but I have forgiven the botch work and certain incidences that make me wonder if it is really the way it is in South Korea because they are truly part of the story. Having said that, this k-drama is not something that has something new to bring to the table but at the end still good to watch.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes.

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 4/5 Stars

OST:

01. Without End – Richard Parkers
02. Dust – Everlua
03. Downpour – Oohyo
04. Like a Monster – Tei
05. Smile – Sorae | Han Hee Jung
06. Forest of Secrets – Yoon Do Hyun
07. As If To Love – Yoon Do Hyun
08. Wave – YEIN
09. Goodbye – Peter Han
10. Ask – Jung Won Bo of NeighBro | Jun Sang Geun
11. Back In Time – Peter Han
12.Forest of Secrets – Various Artists
13. Secret to Disappear – Various Artists
14. Unknown Case – Various Artists
15. From Root to Tree – Various Artists
16. Crime Scene – Various Artists
17. Designed Truth – Various Artists
18. An Empty Lead – Various Artists
19. 적폐 침묵의 대가 – Various Artists
20. Regret – Various Artists
21. 법불아귀 – Various Artists
22. 황시목의 적 – Various Artists
23. Investigation Briefing – Various Artists
24. Criminal’s Trace – Various Artists
25. Intent of Crime – Various Artists
26. Interrogation – Various Artists
27. That Day, That Time – Various Artists
28. Lost Way – Various Artists
29. 스며드는 감정 – Various Artists
30. Mystery In The Dark – Various Artists
31. The Suspect – Various Artists
32. Senselessness Attention – Various Artists
33. Decompose Root – Various Artists
34. Chase – Various Artists
35. The Suspect’s Whereabouts – Various Artists
36. Hidden Evidence – Various Artists
37. Steam of Case – Various Artists
38. Internal Abandonment – Various Artists
39. Suspicious Secrets – Various Artists
40. A Shaking Mind – Various Artists
41. Trap – Various Artists
42. Hazy Emotion – Various Artists
43. Unseen Hand – Various Artists
44. 되돌릴 수만 있다면 – Various Artists
45. Nervousness – Various Artists
46. Internal Enemy – Various Artists
47. Alibi – Various Artists
48. Consideration – Various Artists
49. Childhood Wound – Various Artists

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