Connection ~ A Friend’s Death Reconnects a Circle of Friends

“Connection” is a Korean drama series, released in 2023, with 16 episodes, categorized as Action, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller.

♦ In the Line of Duty a Police Captain Makes Lots of Enemies

In“Connection”, Jang Jae-Kyeong is dedicated to his mission. He breaks up drug gangs and not just the little guys. He goes after the head of the rings. His success rate is very impressive. In the line of duty, investigators make a lot of enemies. So what’s the best way to stop a successful narcotics detective from interfering with your illegal drug trade? Kidnap him, get him addicted to drugs, and then expose his addiction to get him fired from law enforcement.

Jang Jae-Kyeong has a friend from high school. At least he was a friend until they had a falling out and he cut ties with him. After celebrating his promotion with friends, he went home. Jang Jae-Kyeong received a phone message from his high school friend. They had a special code that indicated when one of them was in trouble and needed help. He saw the message on his phone but before he could react, someone covered his head and dragged him out of his apartment. There are blurred memories of what happened after that.

His fellow police had been looking for him and found him several days later unconscious. He jumped up and got to work! Not explaining what had happened to him but acting on the phone message he had received. He saw an exchange take place and believed it had something to do with drugs. He chased after the man who had the package. In the chase, the man lost the package, and in the struggle the suspect stole Jae-Kyeong’s gun.

Jae-Kyeong was ill because they had drugged him. He went to the hospital and a blood sample was taken without his consent. He destroyed the sample because he knew they would find drugs. Nevertheless, the doctor who took his blood tried to make him out to be a drug addict. Because he knew his legal rights, he nullified everything the doctor had done. That meant he could still work as a police investigator. He later found out that his high school friend was dead.

There is a new drug on the streets and that was the drug they got Jae-Kyeong. He needs to find the drug distribution channel and the head of this ring. It’s not easy because they do their business online and don’t see each other’s faces.

It was clear someone was out to destroy Captain Jang Jae-Kyeong. Before his friend died he visited him one last time. They were not on good terms and when they parted that last time they were still not on good terms. But his friend told Jae-Kyeong he was going to make things right again. The person who sent Jae-Kyeong the phone message was not his friend. But it is someone who knows a lot about their friendship and personal details about him. His high school friend’s death is written off as a suicide.

Friends and family were about to dispose of his body when Jae-Kyeong came to the funeral and demanded an autopsy. The people attending the funeral were friends from Jae-Kyeong’s teenage years. When he asked his “friends” why they were willing to accept the death as a suicide, they all pointed to “circumstances”. Jang Jae-Kyeong pointed to “facts” gleaned from the crime scene. For example, they said he jumped off a building; but there were no footprints. Did he fly to the top of the building and then jump off?

Several people are pushing to quickly get rid of his body. The will of the deceased was read at the funeral. To his shock, Jang Jae-Kyeong and another high school friend, Oh Yoon-Jin, were named as the beneficiaries of a $5 million life insurance policy. Plot twist!

“Connection” is an intense cat-and-mouse game. Jae-Kyeong is the mouse, and an unseen druglord is the cat. But there are lots of other players in this dirty game.

Main Characters:

• Jang Jae-Kyeong (played by Ji Sung, “Adamas”, “The Devil Judge”)
• Oh Yoon-Jin (played by Jeon Mi-Do)
• Park Tae-Jin (played by Kwon Yool, “Longing for You”, “Bring It On, Ghost!”
• Won Jong-Soo (played by Kim Kyung-Nam, “The King: Eternal Monarch”
• Heo Joo-Song (played by Jung Soon-Won, “My Demon”, “Through the Darkness”, “Secret Royal Inspector & Joy”)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 9 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 8 out of 10 stars
• Dramabeans: 9.8 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this series 9.6 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is the same as that of the Viki viewers.

I was already all in when I saw that the male lead was Ji Sung. But the rest of the actors and actresses cast as main characters were also pretty awesome. It is gripping and intense.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Connection starring Ji Sung and Jeon Mi Do: Know where to watch, release date, time, plot, cast, and more | PINKVILLA: Korean

Netflix’s Atypical Family slips in ratings as a new Korean crime thriller ~ Connection ~ takes the first spot | Web Series | Hindustan Times

“Bitter Sweet Hell” And “Connection” Kick Off Close Ratings Battle With Neck-And-Neck Premieres | Soompi

Connection: Cast, plot, & more on the new crime-thriller Kdrama | Entertainment | Lifestyle Asia

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

Kd talky. “Connection Kdrama Trailer 2024 ( Eng Sub) | Ji Sung | Jeon Mi-Do | Connection Kdrama.” YouTube Video. YouTube, April 27, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rHt1ddGvZk.‌