Missing ~The Other Side | Missing Bodies, Sorrowful Souls

Missing: The Other Side is a Korean drama series released in 2020, currently streaming on Netflix and Viki. It’s about the afterlife and poses an interesting question. Where do souls go when their bodies can’t be found?

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Is it a Crime to Be a Con Artist?

Kim Wook (played by Go Soo) is a con artist. Is there such a thing as a noble con artist with a strong sense of justice who can’t abide not righting a wrong?

When we meet Kim Wook, he has successfully conned some criminals who stole money from several poor honest hard-working people and returned their money to them. Needless to say that when the criminals discover they have been conned, they come after him and he has to run for his life.

While trying to flee, he witnesses a kidnapping and records it using his phone camera. When the kidnappers see him, they go after him. Now he’s being chased by two different groups of criminals: Gang #1, crooked cons, and Gang #2, murderous kidnappers. Trying to avoid both gangs, he runs into the street and gets hit by a car. The car was driven by police detective Shin Joon Ho (played by Ha Jun) who immediately takes him to the hospital for treatment.

He recovers quickly from the accident, leaves the hospital, and stays at the home of a friend. But Gang #2 finds him and he narrowly escapes. Realizing he has put his friend’s life in danger, he tells him to hide for his safety. His friend finds a place where he can stay out of sight. At least, he thinks he’s out of sight.

Where is This Place? and Why am I Here?

Gang #2 finally locates Kim Wook and he’s on the run again! He falls over a cliff and lands on a tree limb. The chase occurred at night and there was too much mist and fog, so the criminals could not find his body to confirm his death. But his body is found by Jang Pan Seok (played by Heo Joon Ho). He takes Kin Wook’s unconscious body to his home and cares for him until he regains consciousness.

When he first awakens, he is unsure about the intentions of the man who found him so he leaves quickly and tries to find his way back home. Instead, he stumbles upon a village where the people look “normal” but there is something that makes the environment “not normal”. He later realizes that he is in a “village of the dead”. It’s “The Other Side”; a place where poor souls go after they die and where they stay until their bodies are found. These souls are often reported to the police as “Missing”. Until the bodies of these missing people are found, these sorrowful souls make their home in that village.

There is also something that is “not normal” about Kim Wook. He’s alive but he can see these souls and talk to them. Jang Pan Seok is also alive and he can see them too. WHY?

Why is It Dangerous to Be an Orphan?

Police detective Shin Joon Ho was about to be married but his intended bride has gone missing. Kim Wook helped him with a previous case where a child went missing, so he seeks help from Kim Wook in trying to find his fiancée. As the investigation/search progresses, the stories of the various characters begin to be revealed. It turns out there is a common thread that links Kim Wook with them. Kim Wook was an orphan. His friend whom he thought was hidden away, but who was eventually found and murdered … was an orphan. Shin Joon Ho’s missing fiancée, the woman who Kim Wook saw being kidnapped … was an orphan. They all grew up as orphans; and for some reason, they are being hunted down and murdered. Is Kim Wook next?

Viewership and Rating

The script for Missing: The Other Side is a unique storyline that

• weaves the worlds of the supernatural and the natural together,
• untangles the sordid web of criminal activities,
• solves the mystery of missing persons,
• brings criminals to justice, and
• helps sorrowful souls cross over to their final destination.

This series keeps the viewers engaged from start to finish. No surprise to find many viewers gave high ratings of 4.9 out of 5 stars and 9.6 out of 10 stars. I totally agree.

• “Missing: The Other Side 2” Ends On A High Note With New Personal Best In Ratings | Soompi

Stream this K-drama series on Netflix or Viki.

Recommended Watch List

Goo Soo is a fantastic Korean actor. He has played so many different roles and whether he is the lead character or playing a supporting role, his performance never disappoints. If you appreciate this actor’s talent, you might also enjoy watching:

• The Royal Tailor (2014)
• The Flower in Prison (2016)
• Lucid Dream (2017)

https://youtu.be/_Jz4m0h4mTU