More of Joo Ji-hoon (Along With the Gods) can only be a good thing. I’ve been looking forward to his comeback in zombie sageuk Kingdom (premiere January 25), but it looks like we’ll get a double dose of him via fantasy legal drama Item.
Based on a popular Kakao webtoon by the same name, Item is about the quest of a man and a woman to search for the truth behind the secrets and conspiracies surrounding these mystical items that have supernatural powers. But this is a K-drama, so of course there’s mentions of tangled destinies between the two.
Joo Ji-hoon stars as a foolish prosecutor who chooses to become a one-man whistle-blowing operation against the prestigious (but oh so corrupt) national prosecutorial department. Like many fighters for justice, he falls to rock-bottom for sticking to his code of morals, but even then, he doesn’t despair. Jin Se-yeon (High-End Crush) plays a criminal profiler from the Seoul Provincial District Investigative Bureau. She’ll be on Joo Ji-hoon’s side, trying to protect the magical items and fight for justice.
In her teaser, Jin Se-yeon analyzes the profile of her case, “It is strange. They all seem like the same case.” Even after repeat analyses, she can’t seem to get a lead. All the while, memories of her dark past keep haunting her, but she doesn’t give up.
Meanwhile, Kim Kang-woo (My Husband Oh Jak-doo) is the major villain in this drama. His character is the VP of a large conglomeration, and also a sociopath who wants to take the items by whatever means necessary. In his teaser, Kim Kang-woo reveals his true sociopathic self as he mocks humanity, “Isn’t it fun? I’ve always liked watching people who have been driven into a corner start to rant and rave.”
However, Kim Kang-woo hides behind a facade of humility, and he even pretends to apologize for something to the public, kneeling before the cameras. But in actuality he regrets nothing, as he send more men to capture a powerful item that will help him achieve his selfish desires. The copy that flashes on screen says, “Why believe in God? I am God.” The teaser closes out with him asking, “Do you still see me as a monster?”
During an interview, Joo Ji-hoon said that he admired his character for his tenacity in doing whatever he started with all his heart. Additionally, he was attracted to the project because of the grand visual effects involved. Regarding the plot, Joo said the scale that it tackles is large, but the major themes are justice in society, familial love, human love—all of which are relatable to all people.
Written by Jung Ido (Rescue Me) and directed by Kim Sung-ok (Goodbye Mr. Black), Monday-Tuesday miniseries Item will premiere on MBC starting February 11.
