Money can make one do the unimaginable. Money can make one drop their rules and morals. Money can make or break a person. The greed stemming from money has no limit. Netflix Korea’s latest offering Bloodhounds tells a tale of money, greed, and power focused on South Korea after the pandemic. Starring Woo Do Hwan, Lee Sang Yi, Park Sung Woong, and Huh Joon Ho in the lead and Choi Si Won and Choi Young Joon in the supporting roles, Bloodhounds is a crime action drama released on June 9, 2023. The show offers a gripping tale of money, morals, and politics densely packed in eight episodes of just over an hour each.
Bloodhounds begins by showing the South Korean economy suffered because of the pandemic. People who ran businesses had taken out loans from the loan sharks without reading the fine print in detail and were swindled out of their hard-earned money. Most were brought down to bankruptcy after the interest on the borrowed money was much more than the principal amount they had borrowed. They went from one debt into another larger debt. The ones who could not afford to pay off the loan were brutally beaten; their businesses were ransacked and some were even killed in the process.
Woo Do Hwan stars as Gun Woo, a promising young boxer and a former Marine. His mother runs a small restaurant and hasn't been able to pay rent owing to the dwindled business. She takes out a loan to be able to afford the rent and daily expenses but lends herself in trouble when the loan sharks threaten her and trash her restaurant. Gun Woo is also brutally beaten in the process. He then resorts to seeking help from Woo Jin, who is also a boxer and a former Marine. Woo Jin used to work as a debt collector earlier but after a few nasty run-ins, he quit the gig. Gun Woo and Woo Jin contact their acquaintances and soon land a job as bodyguards.
Their employer is President Choi, a former leader of the private loan industry. In his hay days, he was well-respected and looked upon by those in the loan lending business. But he soon quit the industry and turned to making an honest living. But his underlings were not fully happy with this decision. Kim Myeong Gil, especially, decided to take the matter into his own hands. He ends up fatally injuring Joon Ho and rises to power. In the present day, he is notorious for his illegal activities in the loan lending business.
After Gun Woo and Woo Jin start working for President Choi, the two get embroiled in a much larger game at play. Kim Myeong Gil is ruthless and considers himself above the law. He has moles everywhere within the system providing smooth sailing for his illegal businesses. Hong Min Beom, a third-generation conglomerate is also in cross hair with Myeong Gil owing to a non-descript video which Myeong Gil threatens Min Beom with.
Between this cat-and-mouse chase between Myeong Gil, Choi, Min Beom and the government in general, Gun Woo and Woo Jin become pawns and are forced to fight a battle they did not initially sign up for. The journey leads them to question their own morals and values, pick right from wrong and try to rise above their current situation, which is deprived of money and takes a toll on their body and mind.
The COVID pandemic hit everyone very badly. The economy plunged to the greatest depths, people lost their livelihoods, businesses suffered and life in general went to a standstill. After the pandemic was somewhat under control, people started going out again. But due to the heavy recession, utilities and commodities of daily use were at an all-time high. The prices were riddled with heavy inflation and people were forced to take out loans to afford even the basic necessities. This recession was an opportune moment for the ruthless loan sharks to exploit the exploited and spread fear amongst the people.
Bloodhounds takes a microscopic view of the socio-economic conditions after the pandemic and at the same time provides a tale of resilience, grit, and determination of two young fellows who are ready to do what it takes to rise above the poor conditions. The story runs smoothly in a classic K-Drama fashion with ample flashbacks and cliffhangers to complete each episode. The use of classic colors like red, blue, and black to highlight the current scene enhances the gripping narrative, which takes place throughout the show. The empty streets, mask-wearing individuals, individuals not adhering to rules, and the rampant overlooking of peace and harmony ensuring laws in the society - all these highlight the after-effects of the pandemic with a stark closeness to reality.
Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi portray the characters with effortless grace. We have mostly seen them appear in romantic comedies or thriller dramas, but these roles were a welcome change in their styles. Bloodhounds went to show the caliber of these two actors. Park Sung Woong in an antagonist role is a delight to see. His character’s cold and heartless approach to job and his sheer greed for money are captivating to see on screen as he goes down a spiral of destruction. Huh Joon Ho as President Choi is an interesting character. Huh Joon Ho has often been synonymous with playing antagonist roles but his portrayal of an honest private loan lender, who seeks to truly help people is endearing to see, especially in times when loan lenders preyed on innocent people.
Overall, Bloodhounds is a fine specimen of action thriller K-dramas. If you’re looking for something nail-biting to sink your teeth in, then make sure Bloodhounds is on the list!
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