The Player and The Player 2 ~ It’s OK to Swindle Thieves

“The Player” is a 2018 Korean drama series, with 14 episodes, categorized as Action, Legal Drama, Crime, and Mystery. Its sequel “The Player 2: Master of Swindlers” was released in 2024, same genre, with 12 episodes, and a few minor cast changes. Both K-dramas are streaming on Viki.

♦ The Player (2018)

SUMMARY:  “The Player” (2018) is a K-drama centered around Kang Ha-Ri, a genius who chose a life of crime for personal reasons. He leads a team to bring criminals to justice using illegal methods and steals their illict funds for good causes. Prosecutor Jang In-Kyu, tired of failing legal attempts, joins forces with Ha-Ri. They face corruption within the legal system and aim to take down the mysterious leader of the organized crime operations known only as “that man.” Each episode is packed with action scenes and every step they take brings them closer to their primary goal, i.e. taking down “that man”. Sometimes justice and personal vendettas are compatible. K-drama fans will love “The Player”.

‘The Player” is all about getting “that man” who doesn’t play fair. A whole lot of injustice is occurring and it can all be traced back to “that man”. WHO? Truly an excellent question. Who is “that man”? Nobody really knows who he is but there are a lot of corrupt people who come to him to fulfill their desires. Of course, there is a price for his services. They have to sell their souls. No. He’s not The Devil. Just a look alike. They could pass for twins.

Kang Ha-Ri is a genius who could have been anything he wanted to be: a lawyer, a politician, a successful businessman, etc. But he decided to live a life of crime. Sort of. Why? Let’s just say his reasons are personal; not business. He and his team members ~ Cha A-Ryeong (driver of the getaway vehicle), Im Byung-Min (computer wiz/hacker), and Do Jin-Woong (muscle man) ~ use illegal ways to bring criminals to justice and/or steal the money they stole from others. The illicit funds get recycled and used for a good cause or returned to the rightful owners, i.e., those who were robbed.

Jang In-Kyu is a prosecutor and he has been trying to break up a criminal organization led up by “that man” for the longest time. People he worked with were murdered and then framed for crimes they did not commit. He has tried the “legal way” to bring criminals to justice. But now he has decided to work with Kang Ha-Ri and his team. But they don’t work for free. They help him catch the criminals but they keep the money the criminals stole from others. It’s illegal but the prosecutor agrees because his legal methods have not worked.

Prosecutor Jang is desperate enough to work with Kang Ha-Ri because at least he’s trustworthy. Some people work in the prosecutor’s office, in law enforcement, and in politics who are corrupt and can’t be trusted. Instead of catching gangsters and thugs, they work WITH them. The prosecutor must be careful who he shares investigative information with. “That man” might use it to frame him for crimes, have him murdered, and make it look like a suicide. It’s been done to others many times.

Every episode of “The Player” is action-packed. Kang Ha-Ri wanted to work with Prosecutor Jang because he knew he wasn’t dirty. He and his team carefully plan and carry out their operations and each mission brings them closer and closer to “that man”. It’s a dangerous job but somebody’s got to do it. That somebody is Kang Ha-Ri. He’s not in this for the money. He’s determined to get “that man”. Why? It’s personal.

Main Characters:

• Kang Ha-Ri (played by Song Seung-Heon, “Black Knight”)
• Cha A-Ryeong (played by Jung Soo-Jung aka Krystal, “Police University”)
• Im Byung-Min (played by Lee Si-Un, “W: Two Worlds Apart”)
• Do Jin-Woong (played by Tae Won-Seock, “Bloodhounds”)
• Jang In-Kyu (played by Kim Won-Hae, “The Ghost Doctor”)

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.8 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 8.3 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated “The Player” 9.7 out of 10 stars

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

Viu Singapore. “The Player (플레이어) Trailer #1 | Watch with Subs 12h after Korea!” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 7, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4GweIicF0I.‌

♦ The Player 2: Master of Swindlers (2024)

SUMMARY: “The Player 2: Master of Swindlers” (2024) is a sequel and it continues the action-packed adventures of Kang Ha-Ri and his team. Sadly, one of the team members had to be replaced. Also, a new member was added: a mysterious woman named Jung Soo-Min. She is a worthy ally who contributes new strategies and resources, enhancing the team’s efficiency. They work together to scam the scammers and recover stolen money. Why did Jung Soo-Min join the team? Much like Kang Ha-Ri, it’s not business, it’s personal. K-drama enthusiasts will enjoy the sequel as much as they enjoyed the 2018 series, “The Player”.

How do you know if you’re a master of swindlers? When you scam the scammer, and there’s nothing they can do about it. Kang Ha-Ri and his team are on another mission. Some guy almost ruined their plan. But you can’t blame the guy. He was a soldier who had a beautiful wife and child. But his wife was scammed, lost all of their saving, and killed herself. The soldier only wanted one thing. JUSTICE. He was going to kill the scammer. But if he did that, Kang Ha-Ri and his team would not be able to recover the money. Kang Ha-Ri tells him his wife is not the only victim and convinces the soldier to work with them.

Another person also wants to work with Kang Ha-Ri. An alluring mysterious woman named Jung Soo-Min. She approaches him with a plan. Her plan is better than Kang Ha-Ri’s plan, because she has an active role. While the team is siphoning the money out of the scammer’s secret bank account, she distracts the scammer by making him think she’s on his team. Together they scammed the scammer.

After that successful mission, Jung Soo-Min convinced Kang Ha-Ri and the others to work with her, because more jobs needed to get done. She provides them with very nice accommodations to live in, along with food, clothing, and whatever else they need. They will be doing the same work they’ve always done: stealing dirty money from dirtbags. Only they will be working with her.  Deal? Deal!

Main Characters:

• Kang Ha-Ri (played by Song Seung-Heon)
• Cha A-Ryeong (played by Jung Soo-Jung aka Krystal)
• Cha Je-Yi (played by Jang Gyu-Ri)
• Im Byung-Min (played by Lee Si-Un)
• Do Jin-Woong (played by Tae Won-Seock)
• Jang In-Kyu (played by Kim Won-Hae)
• Jung Soo-Min (played by Oh Yeon-Seo, “Cafe Minamdang”, “My Sassy Girl”, “Come Back Alive”, “Shine or Go Crazy”)
• Chief Hwang In-Sik (played by Lee Joon-Hyuk, “Bossam: Steal the Fate”)

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.9 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 8 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated “The Player 2: Master of Swindlers” 9.5 out of 10 stars

LINKS OF INTEREST:

7+ New K-Dramas To Add To Your Watch List In June 2024 | Soompi (“The Player 2: Master of Swindlers” is number 1 on this list)

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

KDTeaser tv. “The Player 2: Master of Swindlers (2024) | Korean Drama | Official Trailer.” YouTube Video. YouTube, May 26, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsXM1K27fFc.‌