The success of K-dramas has drawn movie-exclusive actors to make their small-screen debuts, and the latest addition to the growing list is Sol Kyung-gu (The Boys, Kill Boksoon). Starring alongside Sol is Kim Hee-ae (Queenmaker), and I for one am excited to see these two powerhouses absolutely devour their roles in the upcoming Netflix political drama The Whirlwind.
The teaser opens on a stormy night, and the president of South Korea clutches his chest before crumpling to the floor. The camera then zooms in on Prime Minster Park Dong-ho (Sol Kyung-gu), and he says, “I assassinated the president.”
This sudden power vacuum tosses everyone into a battle against time, and for those who have already crossed the line, there exists no limits. Standing in opposition to the prime minister is the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Jung Soo-jin (Kim Hee-ae). She, of course, has her own entourage of supporters, and like all politicians vying for a seat at the top, she believes power is above morals.
With the president gone, Prime Minister Park lays out his ambitious plans: a week to gain control over the NIS, the Prosecutors’ Office, and the police; another week to dig into the president’s son; one more to catch his rival Jung Soo-jin; and finally, one last week “to toss all the garbage out of this world.” In just a month, he believes he can turn the country on its head, essentially becoming the titular “whirlwind” that will destroy everything in its path.
This momentous task won’t be easy, though, since powerful figures from conglomerates to the media will be jumping into the fray as well. The teaser also reveals quick peeks at its impressive supporting cast from Kim Mi-sook (Payback) to Park Geun-hyung (Beauty and Mr. Romantic), foreshadowing a dynamic match between one evil against another. “That day, the president’s heart stopped.” Or so the story goes, but for the protagonists of this particular tale, it’s only just the beginning.
Taking up the pen after seven years is writer Park Kyung-soo (Whisper, Punch) — doing what he does best — and in the director’s seat is PD Kim Yong-wan (If You Wish Upon Me). The Whirlwind drops on Netflix June 28 and is slated for twelve episodes.
