''Man from the Equator'' (; also known as ''The Equator Man'') is a 2012

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

n television series, starring

Uhm Tae-woong Uhm Tae-woong (born April 5, 1974) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in 1998, but initially struggled to emerge from under the shadow of his older sister, popular singer-actress Uhm Jung-hwa. After several years of small roles an ...

, Lee Joon-hyuk,

Lee Bo-young Lee Bo-young (; born January 12, 1979) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in the television dramas '' My Daughter Seo-young'' (2012), ''I Can Hear Your Voice'' (2013), '' Whisper'' (2017), ''Mother'' (2018), '' When My Lo ...

and

Im Jung-eun Im Jung-eun (; born March 31, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her roles in '' Unsolved'' (also known as ''Secret Investigation Record'') and '' Man from the Equator''. Television series Films * ''Rainbow Goddess'' (202 ...

. A tense, emotionally charged tale of brotherhood and betrayal, it follows two best friends with a tragic, twisted history that follows them from youth to adulthood. It aired on

KBS2 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

from March 21 to May 24, 2012 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 ( KST) for 20 episodes. After premiering in last place among its more high-profile competitors ''

The King 2 Hearts ''The King 2 Hearts'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series, starring Ha Ji-won and Lee Seung-gi in the leading roles. It is about a South Korean crown prince who falls in love with a North Korean special agent. The series aired on Munhwa ...

'' and ''

Rooftop Prince ''Rooftop Prince'' () is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romantic comedy television drama, starring Park Yoo-chun, Han Ji-min, Jeong Yu-mi, Lee Tae-sung, Lee Tae-ri, Jung Suk-won, and Choi Woo-shik. It is about a Joseon crown prince who, after ...

'', the viewership ratings for ''Man from the Equator'' steadily climbed due in large part to

's praise-worthy acting and the well-combined plot of romance, fate, revenge and success. Out of a total of 20 episodes, 16 rated number one in its timeslot.

Plot

One the driven top student and the other a happy-go-lucky troublemaker, Jang-il ( Siwan) and Sun-woo ( Lee Hyun-woo) become unlikely buddies in high school, both poor but proud in their own ways. Their fathers both have ties to a powerful businessman who orders Jang-il's father to kill Sun-woo's father. One desperate crime begets another, and the boys' friendship derails in a shocking betrayal. The attack leaves Sun-woo blind and in a coma. Thirteen years later, their fates will come to a head when they meet again as adults. Jang-il ( Lee Joon-hyuk) has become a prosecutor haunted by his past, while Sun-woo (

), the young

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

of investment trust company Royal Tree, is plotting his revenge. Their fates are intertwined with the women they love—Ji-won (

), a volunteer reader for visually impaired people who now works as a VIP party planner at a five-star hotel, and Soo-mi (

), a hyper-realism painter. As Jang-il and Sun-woo vow to destroy each other, the truth unravels in a harrowing cycle of deception and revenge as the crimes and secrets of yesteryear come to light.

Cast

as Kim Sun-woo ** Lee Hyun-woo as teenage Sun-woo :Formerly a problem child with a penchant for getting into fist fights, Sun-woo discovers his new-found passion for learning after he befriends top student Jang-il. One day, Kyung-pil, whom he looked up to as a father, dies mysteriously. While trying to discover the truth behind his death, Sun-woo gets into a fatal accident. Years later, he establishes himself as a successful businessman. His new goal now is to solve the mystery behind Kyung-pil's death while coming face to face with his former childhood best friend and nemesis, Jang-il. * Lee Joon-hyuk as Lee Jang-il **

Im Si-wan Yim Si-wan (; born on December 1, 1988), known mononymously as Siwan, is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boyband ZE:A and its sub-group ZE:A Five. As an actor, he is best known for starring in the film ''The ...

as teenage Jang-il :Jang-il is from a poor family and grew up in the countryside. From a young age, he excelled in his academic studies, dreaming of one day making it in the real world. His efforts pay off and he becomes a celebrated public prosecutor. Jang-il's greed and ambition for fame and fortune makes him betray his childhood best friend Sun-woo, and he must now live with his dark and lonely secret. *

as Han Ji-won **

Kyung Soo-jin Kyung Soo-jin (born November 5, 1987) is a South Korean actress. Career After supporting roles in '' Man from the Equator'', ''That Winter, the Wind Blows'' and ''Shark'', she played her first leading role in '' TV Novel: Eunhui''. She then pl ...

as young Ji-won *

as Choi Soo-mi **

Park Se-young Park Se-young (; born July 30, 1988) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in 2012 with supporting roles in the television dramas ''Faith'' and ''School 2013''. Park has since played leading roles in '' Sincerity Moves Heaven'' (2013) an ...

as young Soo-mi * Kim Yeong-cheol as Jin No-shik :Sun-woo's biological father *

Lee Won-jong Lee Won-jong (born January 1, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Variety shows Theater *''Blind'' (2010) *''The Masked Hut Murder Case'' (2022) - Nobuhiko Awards *2002 SBS Drama Awards: Best Supporting Act ...

as Lee Yong-bae * Lee Jae-yong as Choi Kwang-chun *

Lee Dae-yeon Lee Dae-yeon (born November 13, 1964) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Theater Awards and nominations References External links Lee Dae-yeonat JR Entertainment * * * 1964 births Living ...

as Kim Kyung-pil :Sun-woo's adoptive father, a timid but kind man. *

Cha Hwa-yeon Cha Hwa-yeon (born Cha Hak-kyung; February 12, 1961) is a South Korean actress. Career Cha made her acting debut in 1978, and became best known as the heroine Kim Mi-ja in the 1987 television drama ''Love and Ambition'', a character who became a ...

as Ma Hee-jung *

Lee Seung-hyung Lee Seung-hyung is a South Korean actor. He is best known as a supporting actor in television dramas, notably in '' Brilliant Legacy'' (2009) and ''Prosecutor Princess ''Prosecutor Princess'' () is a 2010 South Korean television series starri ...

as Department head Cha *Jeong Ho-bin as Moon Tae-joo *Kim Soo-hyun as Mr. Koon * Kang Ji-sub as Prosecutor Choi Yoon-suk *

Kim Hye-eun Kim Hye-eun ( born March 1, 1973) is a South Korean actress. Kim began working as an announcer for the MBC network in 1997, first at a local affiliate in Cheongju, then later as a weathercaster of the main news desk in Seoul. After eight years ...

as Park Yoon-joo *

Park Hyo-jun Park Hyo-jun (born June 12, 1980) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film * ''A Wintering'' (short film, 2003) * '' My Tutor Friend'' (2003) * ''Once Upon a Time in High School'' (2004) * ''Love, So Divine'' (2004) * '' The Twins'' (2005) * ...

as Geumjool *Lee Chan-ho as teenage Geumjool

Ratings

In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * {{Works by Pan Entertainment 2012 South Korean television series debuts 2012 South Korean television series endings Korean Broadcasting System television dramas Korean-language television shows South Korean melodrama television series Television series by Pan Entertainment