A Nation Left Only with Survival, Not Hope, Will Collapse [Slate]

Chun Sungil’s Disney+ “Raging Currents”
Reflecting on Today at the Gyeonggang Ferry of Joseon

Disney+ 'Raging Currents' Still Cut

The Gyeonggang (Hangang River) of Joseon was once a stream of hope. Ships traveled back and forth, trade flourished, and people dreamed of tomorrow. In the Disney+ drama "Raging Currents," things are different. The currents no longer carry hope, but instead transport power and greed.

In particular, the ferry docks have become corrupt due to collusion between the police bureau and local thugs. If you change the order of unloading cargo, you pay an "express fee"; if you receive a job, you pay a "selection fee"; if you light a torch at night, you pay a "torch fee." Officials accept bribes in exchange for turning a blind eye.

People, in order to survive in this irrational system, become tainted without hesitation. However, dockworker Siyul (Rowoon), merchant Choi Eun (Shin Yeeun), and upright official Jeong Cheon (Park Seoham) are different. Each walks their own path atop the raging currents.

Disney+ 'Raging Currents' Still Cut

The River Flows, But Humanity Remains Stained

When thugs steal the workers' wages, Siyul beats them up. Mutdeok (Park Ji-hwan), a gang leader, uses Siyul's weakness to blackmail him into becoming his subordinate. Against his will, Siyul becomes a thug, shaking up the existing order by raising the workers' wages and more.

Choi Eun refuses to compromise with injustice. She draws a line against the thugs' unfair actions and clashes with them. Though she is looked down upon for being a commoner and a woman, she does not easily shrink back. However, to continue her business, she must make deals with both the thugs and corrupt officials. She wavers between her principles and reality.

Jeong Cheon is appointed as an officer at the Left Police Bureau and tries to eradicate corruption, but is constantly blocked by his senior officer, Lee Dolgae (Choi Guihwa).

Writer Chun Sungil explored human freedom in the 2010 drama "Chuno." Slaves ran away in search of freedom, escaping physical bondage. In "Raging Currents," the shackle is desire and survival. Every character is trapped in a gray zone, where the line between good and evil is blurred.

Disney+ 'Raging Currents' Still Cut

A representative scene is when Mutdeok becomes the "Thumb" (the boss) of the thugs. His friend, Deokgae (Choi Youngwoo), the top thug at Mapo Ferry, wins a fight against Siyul. When Siyul is about to have his leg tendons cut, Mutdeok rushes in with a sickle and strikes Deokgae's leg. As Mutdeok trembles with guilt and fear, Deokgae tells him, "Hold on tight to the tiger's back," and leaves Mapo Ferry.

This scene is a complex mix of loyalty and betrayal, friendship and ambition. Deokgae forgives Mutdeok even after losing his leg. Mutdeok betrays his friend and becomes the Thumb. Siyul, though unwilling, is dragged to the center of power. Who is good and who is evil is no longer important. To survive, one must have the courage to get dirty. While "Chuno" raced toward ideals, "Raging Currents" stares into the abyss. The characters willingly dirty their hands just to endure.

Disney+ 'Raging Currents' Still Cut

A Nation Without Hope Will Inevitably Collapse

The final scene of "Raging Currents" is deeply symbolic. Just as all conflicts seem to be resolved, a signal fire rises in the distance. Japanese warships approach Joseon, foreshadowing the Imjin War. This is not simply a presentation of historical fact. It is the inevitable outcome for a nation that forced its people to focus only on today, offering no hope for tomorrow.

Ultimately, the Gyeonggang ferry depicted in "Raging Currents" is a microcosm of a decaying Joseon. Power has become corrupt, institutions have collapsed, and the people trample on one another just to survive each day.

Disney+ 'Turbulent Waters' Still Cut

A society with no vision for the future is destined to fall. All that remains for its members is the determination to endure. This reads as a warning for today. A society where the logic of winning at any cost overrides fairness and justice, and where people are preoccupied with surviving today rather than preparing for tomorrow. The catastrophe of Joseon shown in "Raging Currents" is by no means a distant story of the past.

Thus, the title not only points to the filth of the era, but also declares the need to acknowledge humanity's gray areas. Hope is no longer a pure light. It is the face of those who persevere and survive, even amid the raging currents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.