Kim Won-seok (writer)

Kim Won-seok was born September 7, 1977. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Seoul National University.^[1]

Kim Won-seok initially entered the entertainment industry as a director before transitioning to become a writer. He started as part of directing department of the film Dr. K [Ko] in 1999.^[2] Followed by assistant director for two Ryoo Seung-wan's film Die Bad and The City of Violence. In 2008, he made his debut as a writer with the script adaptation of the film Love is Beautiful [Ko].^[3]

In 2009, Kim co-wrote and co-directed Kwak Kyung-taek's drama Friend, Our Legend. It is a remake / TV adaptation of Kwak Kyung-taek's own 2001 box-office hit film Friend.^[2][3]

In 2013, Kim made his debut as a television writer with the MBC drama The Queen's Classroom, which was an adaptation of a Japanese drama with the same name. It revolves around Ma Yeo-jin (played by Go Hyun-jung), a stern teacher who becomes the homeroom teacher of an elementary school class. The drama gained attention for its distinctive storyline, which places the children in difficult situations, forcing them to confront reality. It portrays the children's journey of personal growth and self-discovery as they navigate through a harsh teaching method that involves harsh words and extreme circumstances. Even after Ma Yeo-jin's departure, the students continue to reflect on her teachings and apply them, solidifying her status as a guiding hero for the children.^[3]

Kim Won-seok collaborated with writer Kim Eun-sook on the 2016 KBS2 drama Descendants of the Sun, which was based on Kim Won-seok's award-winning work Doctors Without Borders. The drama, set in an unfamiliar and challenging environment, depicted the struggles of young soldiers and doctors. While the romantic relationships in the series were captivating, the story also emphasized the sense of duty displayed by the main characters, portraying them as genuine heroes. Descendants of the Sun became a sensation in South Korea and China, attracting a wide audience due to its compelling storyline and exploration of life's value.^[4][5]

A year later, Kim returned with his new drama Man to Man, which made history as the first South Korean television series to be simulcast on both television and Netflix.^[6] Man to Man tells the story of a mysterious agent who becomes a bodyguard for a famous Korean star and deals with secretive people around him. The drama presents the thrilling adventures of these secret agents in different exciting ways.^[3] The action scenes in the show are choreographed by Park Jung-ryul, who is well known for his work on the movie The Man from Nowhere. The project is led by director Lee Chang-min. First script reading took place on October 3, 2016.^[7] Filming began on October 17, 2016, and ended on March 6, 2017,^[8] taking place in Seoul, South Korea and Budapest, Hungary.^[9]

Notably, the first episode featured a parody of a famous scene from Descendants of the Sun', and two actors from the drama, David Lee McInnis and Song Joong-ki, made cameo appearances.^[9] Director Kwak Kyung-taek also made cameo appearance.^[2] Director Lee Chang-min, known for shows like Birth of a Beauty and Remember: War of the Son, had actors Lee Si-eon and Namkoong Min, who respectively acted in those dramas, make cameos in Man to Man as well.^[10]

Kim took a hiatus for several years before returning in 2023 with Payback, a revenge drama that revolves around the characters Eun-yong (played by Lee Sun-kyun), a skilled financial merchant, and Jun-kyung (Moon Chae-won), a legal expert. Together, they confront a formidable cartel. The drama has achieved a noteworthy viewership rating of approximately 10%.^[5]