“The Merchant: Gaekju” is a 2015 Korean drama series, with 41 episodes, categorized as Historical Fiction, Costume and Period, and Romance. The TV series is based on “Gaekju”, a ten-volume novel serialized in the daily newspaper Seoul Shinmun from 1979 to 1983.
♦ But I Don’t Want to Be Like My Father
“The Merchant: Gaekju”, paints a picture of the 17th-century Korean business world. Instead of bulls and bears like in modern-day American business, there were snakes and shamans. When Chun Bong-Sam was growing up, he never wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sadly, at the age of 8 years old, his father was betrayed by his trusted friend and unjustly executed.
After his father’s death, Bong-Sam and his sister became separated. The young man who was supposed to marry his sister abandoned both of them and left to make his fortune. The three would cross paths again as adults. But by that time, they did not recognize each other and their meetings were not happy at all.
As an adult, Bong-Sam stepped into his father’s shoes and became a merchant too. But he wasn’t just an average everyday merchant. He excelled and could be called a god of commerce. Even when there were hardships and setbacks, his innate business sense helped him to survive. He was so good that he caught the eye of prominent and influential merchants, who mentored him. As a result, he rose through the ranks of the merchant class. His rivals were cunning and unscrupulous and did everything they could to prevent his success.
Along the way, he meets Mae-Wol, a gisaeng with a tragic past, who loyally supports his endeavors and falls in love with him. However, her love is not reciprocated. Bong-Sam falls in love with Jo So-Sa, who is trapped in a loveless marriage. They had an affair and she became pregnant. Her husband was unable to impregnate his wife, so the baby was without a doubt Bong-Sam’s child. Her husband wanted the adopt the child as his own and Bong-Sam refused. That caused some problems.
Throughout his professional life as a merchant, there was constant rivalry, betrayal, and ruthless fights with other merchants for control over particular areas of trade. But Bong-sam has exceptional business acumen and his continuous triumphs over the challenges he faces are also constant.
Chun Bong-sam rose from humble beginnings, navigated the treacherous world of commerce and power struggles in 17th-century Korea, and became a successful merchant. Had his father lived to see him grow up, he would have been so proud.
Main Characters:
- Chun Bong-Sam’s (Jang Hyuk, “Family: The Unbreakable Bond”, “Wok of Love”, “My Country: The New Age”, “Shine or Go Crazy”, “Chuno (The Slave Hunters)”, “Tree With Deep Roots”)
- Gil So-Gae (Yu Oh-Seong, “Welcome to Samdal-ri”, “Are You Human Too?”, “Gunman in Joseon”)
- Mae-Wol (played by Kim Min-Jung, “Man to Man”, “The Devil Judge”, “Mr. Sunshine”)
- Jo So-Sa (played by Han Chae-Ah, “Nothing Uncovered”, “The King’s Affection”)
Viewership and Rating:
- IMDb: 7.9 out of 10 stars
- My Drama List: 7.1 out of 10 stars
- Viki viewers rated this series 8.7 out of 10 stars
My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.
“The Merchant: Gaekju” is one of those lengthy binge-worthy historical dramas you save for a lazy day when you just want to chill. However, there are a lot of tense moments in this K-drama series that won’t let you relax. From the very beginning when the main character’s father was betrayed by a trusted friend and unjustly executed, you knew there were going to be many more horrific moments like that. It’s one of those dramas where you watch each episode just waiting for the evil people to get their just desserts. “The Merchant: Gaekju” is a hidden gem and a great pick for sageuk lovers, and it has several alternate titles:
- Master of Trade: The Inn
- Master of Trade: The Innkeeper Merchant
- The God of Commerce: Gaekju
- The God of Trade: Gaekju.
This series stars Jang Hyuk, one of my favorite South Korean actors. He played the main male lead as the god of commerce or the master of trade, and he was very convincing. But he is usually excellent when playing historical roles. Most historical period dramas are about nobles and royalty. But this Korean drama is about the dark world of commerce during the Joseon Era. WOW! If you thought that only the royal family and nobles who serve as government officials or in the king’s court could be cut-throat and corrupt, when you see the avaricious wheeling and dealing of the merchants, it will make your head spin. I mean … Whew! Isn’t it easier to just be honest in business?
LINKS OF INTEREST:
The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 – Introductory Review | I Dreamed A Drama
The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 (TV Series 2015-2016) | The Movie Database (TMDB)
Behind-the-scene photo of 【The Merchant: Gaekju 2015】 | KBS World TV
TRAILERS/TEASERS:
KBS WORLD TV. “The Merchant : Gaekju 2015 | 장사의 신 – 객주 2015 [Trailer].” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 28, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1LCe0AZnx4.
Help Support PopGeeks
PopGeeks runs on reader support. We are not backed by corporate media, driven by algorithms, or overloaded with invasive ads. We are an independently run site created by fans, for fans, and we cover what we love: movies, TV, video games, comics, and tabletop RPGs.
Support PopGeeks for just $1/month and help keep our content free and ad-light. Your support covers hosting, pays our writers, and helps sustain independent coverage of movies, games, TV, and geek culture. Every dollar makes a difference.
This is a voluntary support payment. No physical goods or exclusive digital content are provided. PopGeeks content remains freely accessible to all. Sales tax does not apply.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for helping PopGeeks stay fan-run, freely accessible, and fully independent.
3 replies
Loading new replies...
Active Member
cruel, helpful and optimistic.
Lurker
Join the full discussion at the PopGeeks.com Forum | Indie Games, Movies, TV & Comics →