''Uncle Samsik'' () is a 2024 South Korean television series written and directed by

Shin Yeon-shick Shin Yeon-shick (born 1976) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He directed '' The Fair Love'' (2010), '' The Russian Novel'' (2013), '' Rough Play'' (2013), ''Romans 8:37'' (2017), and ''Cassiopeia'' (2022), as well as wrote the s ...

, and starring

Song Kang-ho Song Kang-ho (; born January 17, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Regarded as one of the most influential actors in Korean cinema, he has appeared in critically acclaimed films across various genres. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, i ...

Byun Yo-han Byun Yo-han (born April 29, 1986) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television series '' Misaeng: Incomplete Life'' (2014), ''Six Flying Dragons'' (2015–2016), '' Mr. Sunshine'' (2018), and '' Black Out'' (2024). ...

, Lee Kyu-hyung,

Jin Ki-joo Jin Ki-joo (; born January 26, 1989) is a South Korean actress. She made a breakthrough in 2018, landing her first lead role in a television series with '' Come and Hug Me'' after she acted in that year's acclaimed series ''Misty'' and film '' ...

, and

Seo Hyun-woo Seo Hyun-woo (born 20 November 1983) is a South Korean actor who began his career on stage and made his debut in a musical in 2010. In the same year, he won an acting award at The 9th Off Daehakro Festival. Seo faced a period of obscurity that ...

. It is Song's first drama series since his debut. It was released worldwide on

Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

and on

Hulu Hulu (, ) is an American Subscription business model, subscription streaming media service owned by Disney Streaming, a subsidiary of the Disney Entertainment segment of the Walt Disney Company. It was launched on October 29, 2007, initially as ...

in the USA from May 15, to June 19, 2024.

Synopsis

Set amid the turbulent backdrop of the 1960s, the series depicts the passionate desire and bromance between Uncle Samsik, who ate three meals a day even during the Korean War, and super-elite Kim San, who both write a story of love, trust, or doubt.

Cast and characters

Main

as Park Doo-chil / Uncle Samsik: a person with his own iron rule of not starving three meals a day even while living in a turbulent era. *

as Kim San: top elite graduate of the Korean Military Academy who dreams of making Korea an industrial country. * Lee Kyu-hyung as Kang Seong-min:

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

assemblyman who is a candidate for the next leader. *

as Joo Yeo-jin: Kim San's lover and Joo In-tae's daughter. *

as Jung Han-min: an elite soldier from the Military Academy who dreams of reforming the military. * Oh Seung-hoon as Ahn Ki-chul: Ahn Yo-seop's youngest son and director of Segang Textiles. *

Joo Jin-mo Joo Jin-mo may refer to: * Joo Jin-mo (actor, born 1958), South Korean actor * Joo Jin-mo (actor, born 1974) Joo Jin-mo (born Park Jin-tae on 26 September 1974), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films '' ...

as Ahn Yo-seop: Chairman of the Cheongwoo Federation and CEO of Segang Textiles. *

Tiffany Young Stephanie Young Hwang (born August 1, 1989), known professionally as Tiffany or Tiffany Young, is an American singer-songwriter of Korean descent. Born and raised in California, she was discovered by South Korean entertainment agency SM Entertai ...

as Rachel Jeong: younger sister of the director of the Albright Foundation. *

Yoo Jae-myung Yoo Jae-myung (; born June 3, 1973) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the series ''Reply 1988'' (2015), ''Stranger'' (2017), ''Life'' (2018), ''Itaewon Class'' (2020) and '' Voice of Silence'' (2020). He won Best Suppo ...

as Jang Doo-sik: Major General of the Military Logistics Command.

Supporting

* Kim Min-jae as Yoo Yeon-cheol: a self-made businessman and president of Daemyeon Construction. *

Jasper Cho Jasper Taekwan Cho (born February 12, 1986) is a Canadian actor and art director based in South Korea. He gained attention through his roles in television series '' Descendants of the Sun'' (2016) and '' Man Who Dies to Live'' (2017). Filmography ...

as Michael Jeong: Ahn Yo-seop's secretary, Rachel's older brother and director of the Albright Scholarship Foundation. * Kim Yool-ho as Baek Hyun-seok: Colonel of the Intelligence Department at the Army Headquarters, in charge of interrogating Kim San. *

Oh Kwang-rok Oh Kwang-rok (born August 28, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Theater References External links Oh Kwang-rokat SidusHQ iHQ Inc., doing business as SidusHQ () is one of the leading tale ...

as Joo In-tae: a politician who insists on the national prosperity and peaceful coexistence. Loosely based on

Cho Bong-am Cho Bong-am (, 25 September 1898 – 31 July 1959) was a Korean socialist independence activist and politician, who ran for president in the South Korean presidential election in 1956. He was a founding member of the Communist Party of Korea ...

. *

Roh Jae-won Roh Jae-won (; born 13 October 1993) is a South Korean actor who is best known for his performance in ''Squid Game'' (2024–2025). He previously starred in the series ''Daily Dose of Sunshine'' (2023) and ''Doubt'' (2024). Career Roh made h ...

as Han-soo: the leader of the Seodaemun faction. * Koo Seong-hwan as Gu Hae-jun: a member of the Seodaemun faction. * Moon Jong-won as Yoon Pal-bong: the leader of the

Dongdaemun Heunginjimun (), Dongdaemun (), is one of The Eight Gates of Seoul in the Seoul City Wall, a prominent landmark in central Seoul, South Korea. The Korean name "Dongdaemun" means "Great East Gate," and it was so named because it was the major ...

faction. He carries out orders for Kang Seong-min. *

Lee Ga-sub Lee Ga-sub (; born December 28, 1991) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Awards and nominations References External links * 1991 births Living people Male actors from Busan South Korean male stage a ...

as Kim Kwang-min: CEO of Sanae Corporation, Kim San's friend and Albright classmate. *

Park Hyuk-kwon Park Hyuk-kwon (; born July 11, 1971) is a South Korean actor. Park began his acting career in 1993 as a member of the theater troupe Sanulrim. He later became a well-regarded supporting actor in films such as '' Chaw'' (2009) and '' Secret Reu ...

as Choi Min-gyu: Minister of Home Affairs who collaborates with the Liberal Party. Based on . * Ryu Tae-ho as Choi Han-rim: a prestigious general who takes care of Kim San. Based on Lee Han-lim. * Ryu Joo-han as Ahn Min-chul: Ahn Yo-seop's eldest son who was a Liberal Party assemblyman in 1946. * Ji Hyun-joon as Cha Tae-min: a person who helped Kang Seong-min in the past and leader of the Sineui Alliance. * Do Jeong-hwan as Lee Soo-il: Captain of the 55th Howitzer Regiment, in charge of interrogating Han-min. * Choi Hong-il as Professor Hwang. * Ryu Sung-hyun as Hong Young-ki: Head of the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC). * Choo Sang-rok as Park Ji-wook: Liberal Party assemblyman and former police officer during the Japanese occupation. * Kim Jong-goo as Seon Woo-seok: Democratic Party member. * Lee Hyun-kyun as Oh In-woo: a reporter for Aemin Ilbo, who is Yeo-jin's senior in college. * Lee Ho-seok as Lee Ho-seok: an activist university student.

Background and production

Main historical events depicted in ''Uncle Samsik''

* The

March 1960 South Korean presidential election Presidential and vice presidential elections were held in South Korea on 15 March 1960. Shortly after winning reelection to a second term in the 1952 presidential election, Rhee had the legislature pass a constitutional amendment exempting hims ...

: Also described as the ''March 15 Election Fraud'', the election saw the re-election of President

Syngman Rhee Syngman Rhee (; 26 March 1875 – 19 July 1965), also known by his art name Unam (), was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. Rhee was also the first and last president of the Provisiona ...

, who had been in power since the establishment of the

First Republic of Korea The First Republic of Korea () was the government of South Korea from August 1948 to June 1960. The First Republic was founded on 15 August 1948, and it became the first independent republican government in Korea. Syngman Rhee was the first p ...

in 1948. The elections were heavily rigged in Rhee's favor, and widespread allegations of corruption and manipulation of the results sparked protests which spiralled into the

April Revolution The April Revolution (), also called the April 19 Revolution or April 19 Movement, were mass protests in South Korea against President Syngman Rhee and the First Republic from April 11 to 26, 1960, which led to Rhee's resignation. Protests ...

. * The

: A series of protests and demonstrations driven by students and ordinary citizens who demanded democratic reforms and Rhee's resignation. The intensity of the protests eventually forced Syngman Rhee to resign on April 26, 1960, ending his 12-year rule.

Development

A media article reported that the drama is being discussed for release on

. It was initially reported that it was scheduled to be broadcast in the second half of 2023, but it is expected that a decision will be made only after the programming is finalized.

Release

On April 1, 2024, Disney+ revealed Uncle Samsik's release date. It launched with a five-episode premiere on May 15, 2024 exclusively on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the U.S. The 16-episode series will then have two episodes per week until a three-part season finale on June 19.

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Listicles

References

External links