So Ji-sub responds to 'Mercy For None' backlash
Adapting a hit webtoon into live action has become a go-to move for drama creators, lowering risk while guaranteeing a ready-made fanbase eager to leap from digital panels to episodic storytelling.
It is no surprise that original screenplays are becoming the exception rather than the rule in today's drama landscape.
Netflix Korea's tentpole series Mercy For None rode that wave, bringing one of the most critically acclaimed webtoons to life with a star-studded ensemble cast. Fans were especially thrilled by the casting of So Ji-sub as the lead — a longtime fan-favourite pick to embody the webtoon's ruthless protagonist.
However, adapting beloved material comes with risks: Since its June 6 premiere, Mercy For None has faced backlash from loyal webtoon fans over major plot changes.
So, a seasoned actor known for past hits such as I'm Sorry, I Love You (2004) and Master's Sun (2013), acknowledged the mixed reactions during a group interview held Thursday in Seoul's Samcheong-dong.
'When adapting a webtoon into a series, it's not like the intention is to harm it or make it worse,' said So.
'In some ways, there's an effort to create an even better piece, something that surpasses the original. Of course, once it's completed, there will inevitably be mixed opinions," he added. 'That's not something that can be controlled. But at the very least, I don't think the original (webtoon) is ever purchased with the intent to damage it.'
In embodying his character, So reflected on the emotional depth he aimed to bring to Gi-jun, a cold-blooded former gangster on a path of vengeance following his brother's murder.
"I naturally tried to capture the vibe that character gives off. Of course, I couldn't imitate every look or gesture, but I tried to hold that essence in my heart. I'm not sure if I fully succeeded, but that was my mindset."
He added: "I hoped that Gi-jun's revenge for his brother, along with his desperate and pitiable sides, would come through."
Mercy For None marks So's long-awaited return to the action genre, 13 years after his turn as a corporate assassin in A Company Man .
With Korean audiences long accustomed to iconic action figures, from genre staples such as John Wick and local heroes like Detective Ma Seok-do from the hit The Outlaws franchise, he reflected on how he approached the physicality of his role in Mercy For None .
'There's more action in this series compared to others,' So said. 'To show Gi-jun's almost invincible nature, I thought it was essential to convey power and energy. If you look closely at my action style, I might get pushed back, but I never dodge by stepping away. I really tried to incorporate that.'
He also pointed to the stripped-down dialogue as a key aspect of the performance. 'There's very little dialogue. I think we filled in those gaps with the help of the camera and the director's guidance. Personally, I actually prefer roles without much dialogue.'
So's return to the noir-action space with Mercy For None marks a homecoming to a genre he holds close. 'I personally really enjoy the noir genre. It's something I want to keep doing, even as I get older. Above all, I heard that the script for Mercy For None came to me first, and I was especially grateful for that,' he said.
'When I reflect on myself, I think it's a genre I'm good at. My acting style doesn't involve dramatic emotional swings or a lot of expressive outbursts. I prefer roles that rely on physicality, subtle expressions or acting through the eyes. That's why I think noir suits me well.' – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
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The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Mercy for None: High-energy crime thriller on Netflix
Throwing as many similar sounding and confusing names at the screen as the punches and kicks, Mercy for None is the latest South Korean action-crime series to hit Netflix. Crime organisations Joowoon Group and Bongsan Group co-exist in harmony following an incident that split their original gang Beomyeongdong a decade ago. After Joowoon's leader Lee Joo-woon (Huh Joon-ho) names Nam Gi-seok (Lee Joon-hyuk) as his successor, the move sets off a cascade of events that lead to Gi-seok's brutal murder, which in turn brings his older brother Gi-jun (So Ji-sub) back to Seoul. Formerly the best fighter within Beomyeongdong, Gi-jun carves a path of revenge looking for his brother's killer, which eventually causes an all-out war between Joowoon and Bongsan, with various factions attempting to use Gi-jun's return as the fuel for their own ambition. Uninhibited testosterone Mercy for None has it all: good-looking South Korean men from the baby faces up to the gruff, more masculine variety, men in suits, spoiled Gen-Z brats as the kids of crime lords, dirty cops, foreign hitmen and of course, excellent close-quarters combat with everyone getting slashed, chopped, stabbed, shot, punched, kicked and thrown around. Choi Sung-eun's direction leaves little room for anything other than testosterone and adrenaline – to the point that none of the leads even have romantic interests, which makes Mercy for None stick out like a sore thumb from other South Korean productions. So much of the action and crime noir are thrown at the screen that Sung-eun and writer Yoo Ki-seong seemed to have forgotten a critical aspect that would have made their TV series better: there is no character development. Action over character development A lot of time is spent on Gi-jun easily punching his way through groups of people, but there are only a handful of scenes with him and his brother. They share maybe two big scenes, one at the start and the other just before the final episode ends, with one blink-or-you-will-miss-it scene somewhere in between that reveals Gi-seok wanting to retire from the gang life and be with his brother. Mercy for None fails to establish their relationship beyond surface-level exposition and in turn, makes it hard for audiences to root for him to avenge Gi-seok or even give him a personality beyond every named and unnamed character going 'Gi-jun is a badass' before promptly soiling themselves in fear whenever he shows up. This same problem extends to the other secondary main characters. The show juggles between so many characters and their myriad of personal motivations that run in tandem with Gi-jun's revenge plot to the point that Mercy for None has no time to just stay still and let the characters breathe. In a constant motion of hurtling forwards from one excellent action sequence to another, Mercy for None is a great thrill ride, possibly the best from South Korea among its ocean of generic zombie productions in the last five years, but it simply lacks the oomph factor to become as memorable as the country's older action productions such as I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life, Oldboy or The Man from Nowhere. Mercy for None is streaming on Netflix.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Action-packed thrills
Throwing as many similar sounding and confusing names at the screen as the punches and kicks, Mercy for None is the latest South Korean action-crime series to hit Netflix. Crime organisations Joowoon Group and Bongsan Group co-exist in harmony following an incident that split their original gang Beomyeongdong a decade ago. After Joowoon's leader Lee Joo-woon (Huh Joon-ho) names Nam Gi-seok (Lee Joon-hyuk) as his successor, the move sets off a cascade of events that lead to Gi-seok's brutal murder, which in turn brings his older brother Gi-jun (So Ji-sub) back to Seoul. Formerly the best fighter within Beomyeongdong, Gi-jun carves a path of revenge looking for his brother's killer, which eventually causes an all-out war between Joowoon and Bongsan, with various factions attempting to use Gi-jun's return as the fuel for their own ambition. Uninhibited testosterone Mercy for None has it all: good-looking South Korean men from the baby faces up to the gruff, more masculine variety, men in suits, spoiled Gen-Z brats as the kids of crime lords, dirty cops, foreign hitmen and of course, excellent close-quarters combat with everyone getting slashed, chopped, stabbed, shot, punched, kicked and thrown around. Choi Sung-eun's direction leaves little room for anything other than testosterone and adrenaline – to the point that none of the leads even have romantic interests, which makes Mercy for None stick out like a sore thumb from other South Korean productions. So much of the action and crime noir are thrown at the screen that Sung-eun and writer Yoo Ki-seong seemed to have forgotten a critical aspect that would have made their TV series better: there is no character development. Action over character development A lot of time is spent on Gi-jun easily punching his way through groups of people, but there are only a handful of scenes with him and his brother. They share maybe two big scenes, one at the start and the other just before the final episode ends, with one blink-or-you-will-miss-it scene somewhere in between that reveals Gi-seok wanting to retire from the gang life and be with his brother. Mercy for None fails to establish their relationship beyond surface-level exposition and in turn, makes it hard for audiences to root for him to avenge Gi-seok or even give him a personality beyond every named and unnamed character going 'Gi-jun is a badass' before promptly soiling themselves in fear whenever he shows up. This same problem extends to the other secondary main characters. The show juggles between so many characters and their myriad of personal motivations that run in tandem with Gi-jun's revenge plot to the point that Mercy for None has no time to just stay still and let the characters breathe. In a constant motion of hurtling forwards from one excellent action sequence to another, Mercy for None is a great thrill ride, possibly the best from South Korea among its ocean of generic zombie productions in the last five years, but it simply lacks the oomph factor to become as memorable as the country's older action productions such as I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life, Oldboy or The Man from Nowhere.
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