Launched in 2022, “Pachinko” is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Min Jin-lee, the second season of which, unpublished on Apple TV, was broadcast on August 23, 2024. The series revolves around the history of evolution of Sunja, the protagonist of the drama, played by Youn Yuh-jung and Minha Kim, following her journey through love and betrayal, as well as guiding her grandsons with unwavering passion, which introduces us to a captivating plot that commands all the attention.
Aside from the gripping narrative, this historical fiction depicts the period leading up to World War II and Japan’s influence on Korea, which sparked fans’ passion for stories set in faraway lands. It is worth noting that the Korean industry has several dramas similar to Pachinko, a few of which are presented below in no particular order.
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Snowy Road (2015)
Released in 2015, “Snowy Road” is another Korean drama based on the Japanese colonial rule in the country between 1910 and 1945 and Pachinko fanatics should definitely watch it. Snowy Road carefully weaved the Japanese military’s violence against Korean women by telling the story of two teenage girls from different classes, one from a wealthy background while the other had no the means to go to school. The destinies of these two young girls intertwine throughout the plot and they become dependent on each other while serving the Japanese army. At the film’s premiere held in Seongdong district, eastern Seoul, director Lee Na-jeong spoke to the press, saying:
« If I did not include sexual scenes, it is also because I feared that by translating the story in such a way as to make a spectacle of an unresolved problem, I would hurt the victims themselves, but above all, I thought that the depiction of the routines of the captured girls was in itself a tragedy »
Going by the testimonies and opinions of those involved, it seems that the film was made with great care, with several scenes being cut that could have hurt the victims. This historical drama, streaming on Netflix, takes place in the same timeline as the Pachinko series, but with a different narrative.
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Different Dreams (2019)
Released in 2019, “Different Dreams” is the joint production of Korea and China to celebrate the centenary of the two countries since colonization by Japan. “Bride of the Century” director Yoon Sang Ho has cast Lee Yo-won and Yoo Ji-tae in the lead roles.
The series depicts a love and espionage story set in Gyeongseong (Seoul, Korea) and Shanghai (China) featuring a spy named Lee Young Jin and a Japanese surgeon named Kim Wonbong. All pachinko enthusiasts can easily relate to this series set in the Japanese colonial era and it is available on Viki and Apple TV.
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Assassination (2015)
Unlike Pachinko which tells the fictional story of the evolution of a woman, “Assassination” mixes fiction with facts. Released in 2015 and directed by “Thieves” creator Choi Dong-hoon, this action spy film may be suitable for Pachinko fans as they can find similarities in its timeline, which dates back to the period before the Second World War.
Starring actress Jun Ji-hyun in the lead role of Ahn Ok-yun/Mitsuko, the series depicts the fighters’ plots and their determination to kill the Japanese governor general as well as a pro-Japanese businessman from name of Kang In-guk. This historical action thriller is available on Netflix and Prime Video.
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Chicago Typewriter (2017)
Those who admire the meticulous chronology depicted in Pachinko will certainly find a comparable narrative approach in “Chicago Typewriter.” Depicting three resistance fighters against the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930s who have been reincarnated in the present, the series sees Yoo Ah-in in a lead role as Han Se-joo, a writer who struggles with mental illness syndrome. lacks writing while Go Kyung-pyo plays Yoo Jin-oh, a ghost writer for Han, who is also a key character in the series. This drama marked Im Soo-jung’s return to acting after a 13-year hiatus, where she played the role of a passionate fangirl.
Among the highlights of this drama are its magnificent presentation and narration, where the director brought the story to the present time and reminders of the year 1930, during the Japanese colonial period. The series is now available on Viki.
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Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Another historical drama like Pachinko is “Mr. Sunshine”, released in 2018, which takes place in Hanseong (present-day Seoul) and focuses on the Joseon dynasty. At the time of its broadcast, Mr. Sunshine recorded the third highest viewership in the history of Korean cable channels. This series was written by Kim Eunsook, writer and director of “The Guardian: The Lonely and Gread God” under the direction of Lee Eung-bok, and it stars Lee Byunghun and Kim Tae-ri in the lead roles. Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the series is inspired by the story of activists fighting for Korean independence. It was during a press conference that director Lee Eung-bok declared:
« Although there are many dramas set in the 1930s, when the Japanese occupation of Korea was in full swing, there aren’t many dramas or historical documents about the early 1900s, when people were struggling to protect the country from an imminent invasion led by Japan ».
The k-drama Mr. Sunshine is available on Netflix.
There are several interesting options to explore for Pachinko fans, who are captivated by historical dramas set against the backdrop of important periods in Korean history, including “Snowy Road” which offers a poignant portrait of the Japanese occupation, as well as “Different Dreams” which offers a story of love and espionage taking place during the same colonial period.
It’s true that each drama presents a unique narrative, but they all share a deep connection to Korea’s rich historical palette, making them excellent choices for viewers looking for narratives rooted in history.
Which of these historical k-dramas is your favorite?