Korean-Style Action Hero Series 'Rugal'... How Was the Premiere?

Published 29 Mar.2020 09:44(KST)

OCN 'Lugal'/Photo by Broadcast Screen Capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Park Hee-eun] OCN's new Saturday-Sunday original series 'Rugal' premiered on the 28th.

'Rugal' is a Korean-style action hero drama that captivated viewers with its fresh worldview and action in the first broadcast. As a result, attention is now focused on the upcoming storyline.

In the first episode, the story of the birth of the artificial eye hero Kang Ki-beom unfolds. Ordinary detective Kang Ki-beom (played by Choi Jin-hyuk) experiences a downfall in his life while celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife.

Two months earlier, Kang Ki-beom and Song Mi-na (played by Jung Hye-in) were protecting a witness to prove the criminal charges against the terrorist group Argos's Go Yong-duk (played by Park Jung-hak), but just before the trial, Song Mi-na was attacked by Argos, and both the witness and the detectives fell into the hands of Hwang Deuk-gu (played by Park Sung-woong). Ultimately, all key witnesses and detectives were killed.

Kang Ki-beom confronts Chairman Go Yong-duk and even gets into a fistfight with Argos's influential figure Hwang Deuk-gu. As a result, Kang Ki-beom discovers his wife Yeo-jin (played by Lee Seo-el), who was also attacked by Argos. Having lost his wife as well, Kang Ki-beom is approached by Director Choi Geun-cheol (played by Kim Min-sang), who hands him a wireless earphone and tells him to escape from prison when the time is right.

Time passes, and under Director Choi's orders, Ki-beom escapes with the help of Tae-woong, Mi-na, and Gwang-cheol. Director Choi then offers Ki-beom the cutting-edge AI technology of artificial eyes and asks him to become his agent. Ki-beom accepts this offer and begins training with his team to be recognized in Rugal. Will his revenge succeed?

Meanwhile, Choi Jin-hyuk and Park Sung-woong received praise from the first episode for their intense visuals and outstanding acting skills, raising expectations for this Korean-style hero drama.

The broadcast recorded an average household rating of 2.6% and a peak of 3.2% on paid platforms integrating cable, IPTV, and satellite.

'Rugal' can be watched every Saturday and Sunday at 10:50 PM on OCN.