''Mr. Sunshine'' () is a 2018 South Korean television series written by

Kim Eun-sook Kim Eun-sook (Korean: 김은숙, born 1973) is a South Korean screenwriter. She wrote the popular television dramas ''Lovers in Paris'' (2004), '' On Air'' (2008), '' Secret Garden'' (2010), ''A Gentleman's Dignity'' (2012), ''The Heirs'' (20 ...

and directed by , starring

Lee Byung-hun Lee Byung-hun (; born July 12, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He has received critical acclaim for his work in a wide range of genres, most notably ''Joint Security Area'' (2000); ''A Bittersweet Life'' (2005); ''The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' ...

Kim Tae-ri Kim Tae-ri (born April 24, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She is known for starring in the films '' The Handmaiden'' (2016), ''Little Forest'' (2018), ''Space Sweepers'' (2020) and in the historical drama '' Mr. Sunshine'' (2018). Kim's lea ...

Yoo Yeon-seok Yoo Yeon-seok (born Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984) is a South Korean actor. After making his acting debut in 2003 with a small role in '' Oldboy'', he resumed his acting career in 2008. His notable works include the films '' Re-encounter'' (2 ...

, Kim Min-jung, and

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 dramas '' Misaeng: Incomplete Life'' (2014), ''Six Flying Dragons'' (2015–2016), and '' Mr. Sunshine'' (2018). He has also appeared in ...

. The series is set in Hanseong (present-day

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...

) in the early 1900s, and focuses on activists fighting for Korea's independence. The series aired every Saturday and Sunday on

tvN TVN may refer to: * TVN (Australian TV channel), a former horse racing channel * Televisión Nacional de Chile, a public broadcaster * TVN (Indonesia), a former television station; predecessor of Rajawali Televisi * TVN (Norway), or TVNorge, a comm ...

starting from July 7, 2018, and ended on September 30, 2018. It premiered internationally on

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...

. Upon its final broadcast, ''Mr. Sunshine'' was the third highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history, with the last episode reaching 18.129% and netting an average rating of 12.955%, the highest average rating ever recorded for cable television at the time. While it received critical acclaim for cinematography and storytelling, as well as its strong female characters and portrayal of the lower classes, the series also receive a certain amount of criticism for what was perceived as inaccurate representation of historical facts, with some accusing it of being " pro-Japanese", while others considered that it actually enforced stereotypes of the Japanese as villains and the Americans as heroes.

Synopsis

''Mr. Sunshine'' centres around Eugene Choi (

), who was born into

slavery Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

in Joseon. After escaping to the United States at the time of the 1871 Shinmiyangyo, he becomes a

Marine Corps Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refl ...

officer. When he returns to Joseon for a mission, Eugene meets and falls in love with an aristocrat's granddaughter, Go Ae-shin (

), who is part of the

Righteous Army Righteous armies, sometimes called irregular armies or militias, are informal civilian militias that have appeared several times in Korean history, when the national armies were in need of assistance. The first righteous armies emerged during th ...

. However, their love is challenged by their different classes and the presence of Kim Hui-seong (

), a nobleman who has been Ae-shin's betrothed since childhood. Eugene also encounters Gu Dong-mae (

), a ruthless

samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...

, and Kudo Hina ( Kim Min-jung), owner of the popular "Glory Hotel". At the same time, he discovers a plot by the

Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of Japan, 1947 constitu ...

to colonize

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

and soon becomes embroiled in the fight for his birth country's sovereignty.

Historical background

Unlike most

sageuk (Hangul: 사극, Hanja: 史劇; ) in Korean denotes historical dramas, including traditional drama plays, films or television series. In English language literature usually refers to historical films and television series (of South Korea). In ...

dramas dealing with the Japanese occupation of Korea, ''Mr. Sunshine'' takes place before the Japanese annexation, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has a heavy focus on the Righteous Army and depicts the lives of people who fought for Joseon's freedom. Real-life historical events such as Shinmiyangyo, the

Spanish-American War Spanish Americans ( es, españoles estadounidenses, ''hispanoestadounidenses'', or ''hispanonorteamericanos'') are Americans whose ancestry originates wholly or partly from Spain. They are the longest-established European American group in th ...

, the assassination of

Empress Myeongseong Empress Myeongseong or Empress Myungsung (명성황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895In lunar calendar, the Empress was born on 25 September 1851 and died on 20 August 1895), informally known as Empress Min, was the official wife ...

, the

Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War ( ja, 日露戦争, Nichiro sensō, Japanese-Russian War; russian: Ру́сско-япóнская войнá, Rússko-yapónskaya voyná) was fought between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire during 1904 and 1 ...

, Gojong's forced abdication, and the

Battle of Namdaemun "Battle of Namdaemun")--> The Battle of Namdaemun (남대문 전투), also known as the Battle of the South Great Gate, was an insurgency by the Korean army against Japanese forces in Korea as a reaction to the disbandment of the Korean army fo ...

are portrayed or mentioned. Historical figures such as Emperor Gojong,

Itō Hirobumi was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of Japan. He was also a leading member of the ''genrō'', a group of senior statesmen that dictated Japanese policy during the Meiji era. A London-educated samur ...

, Hayashi Gonsuke,

Hasegawa Yoshimichi Count was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and Japanese Governor General of Korea from 1916 to 1919. His Japanese decorations included Order of the Golden Kite (1st class) and Order of the Chrysanthemum. Biography Hasegawa was born ...

Horace Newton Allen Horace Newton Allen (April 23, 1858 – December 11, 1932) was a missionary, physician, and American ambassador to Korea. He was the first Protestant missionary in Korea, arriving there on September 15, 1884. After treating Min Young-ik, a r ...

and the

Five Eulsa Traitors The Five Eulsa Traitors refer to the five officials serving under Emperor Gojong who signed the Eulsa Treaty of 1905, which made Korea a protectorate of Japan. The five officials were Education Minister Yi Wan-yong, Army Minister Yi Geun-taek, ...

appear as recurring characters, with others, such as

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

, Ahn Chang-ho, Imperial Noble Consort Sunheon,

Park Seung-hwan Park Seung-hwan was a Korean major, war hero and independence activist of the Korean Empire. He was known for organizing the Battle of Namdaemun after his suicide as a response to the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 and the abdication of Emperor ...

, and Frederick Arthur MacKenzie, also making

cameo appearances A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly ei ...

Main historical events described in ''Mr. Sunshine''

Battle of Ganghwa The Battle of Ganghwa was fought during the conflict between Joseon and the United States in 1871. In May, an expedition of five Asiatic Squadron warships set sail from Japan to Korea in order to establish trade relations, ensure the safety of ...

(1871): A major battle that occurred on June 10, 1871 between the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and Joseon. On June 1, American ships came under fire when they entered the Ganghwa Straits to establish trade and ensure the safety of the shipwrecked sailors of the SS Sherman, which was destroyed by the Korean army. As a result of Joseon's refusal to apologize, on June 10, USS Palos and USS Monocacy fired their weapons against the Choji Garrison on

Ganghwa Island Ganghwa Island (Hangul ; Hanja ), also known by its native name Ganghwado, is a South Korean island in the estuary of the Han River. It is in the Yellow Sea, off Korea's west coast. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainla ...

. The incident is thoroughly portrayed in ''Mr. Sunshine'', as one of its character, Jang Seung-gu, fought in the battle as a teen and lost his father. *

Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty, Eulsa Unwilling Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 19 ...

: Signed on November 17, 1905, this treaty effectively gave the

diplomatic control over

. While ''Mr. Sunshine'' does not depict the treaty and its effects in detail, it contains a scene in which Kim Hui-seong takes pictures of the pro-Japanese Korean officials. *

: Fought between the Korean and Japanese armies on August 1, 1907, the battle took place at the

Namdaemun Gate Namdaemun (, ), officially known as the Sungnyemun (, ), is one of the Eight Gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea, which surrounded the city in the Joseon dynasty. It is located in Jung-gu between Seoul Station and Seoul Plaza, ...

, in Hanseong. It was caused by a revolt of the Korean army after an order of disbandment was issued through the

Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1907. Negotiations were concluded on July 24, 1907.Korean Mission to the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, Washington, D.C., 1921-1922. (1922 ...

. In ''Mr. Sunshine'', the battle scenes are extensively illustrated.

Cast

Main

as Eugene Choi / Choi Yu-jin **

Kim Kang-hoon Kim Kang-hoon (Korean: 김강훈; born 2009) is a South Korean child actor. He is known for his roles in the television series '' Pride and Prejudice'' (2014), ''Criminal Minds'' (2017), '' Mr. Sunshine'' (2018), '' When the Camellia Blooms'' (2 ...

as child Eugene Choi / Choi Yu-jin ** as young Eugene Choi / Choi Yu-jin : Captain of the United States Marine Corps and former Joseon

slave Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

. After witnessing his parents' deaths at the hands of their owner, Eugene manages to escape to the United States, where he joins the army and fights in the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

in order to overcome racial discrimination. He later returns to

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

on a diplomatic mission and falls in love with Go Ae-shin. Eugene has to choose between helping Ae-shin in her fight for independence or maintaining his neutral position as an US military officer. *

as Go Ae-shin **

Heo Jung-eun Heo Jung-eun (; born September 14, 2007) is a South Korean actress. She first drew public attention with her performances in hit dramas, '' My Lawyer, Mr. Jo'' (2016) and ''Love in the Moonlight'' (2016). At age nine, she took on her first leadin ...

as child Go Ae-shin : An orphaned Joseon

noblewoman Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the realm with many e ...

and member of the

. Her parents were independence fighters who died in Japan due to their colleague's betrayal. Ae-shin is raised by her paternal grandfather, Go Sa-hong, who helps her train as a

sniper A sniper is a military/paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities. Snipers generally have specialized training and are equipped with high-precision r ...

under Jang Seung-gu. *

as Gu Dong-mae / Ishida Shō **

Choi Min-young Choi Min-young (; born 9 October 2002) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in 2014, since then, he has appeared in number of television series. He is known for his role as child actor in 2016 revenge series '' The Promise'' and 20 ...

as young Gu Dong-mae : The son of a

butcher A butcher is a person who may Animal slaughter, slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat, or participate within any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat and poultry for sale in retail or wholesal ...

who flees to

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

upon his parents' death and becomes a samurai and member of the Musin Society, which is part of

Yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ...

. Dong-mae believes that it is the unjust Korean social hierarchy that killed his parents and returns to Joseon with a mission of helping the Japanese overtake the country. * Kim Min-jung as Kudo Hina / Yi Yang-hwa : An influential widow who runs a hotel in Joseon. Her father, Yi Wan-ik, forced her to marry an old, rich Japanese man. Upon her husband's mysterious death, she inherited the "Glory Hotel" and successfully operates it on her own. In order to atone for her father's shameful misdeeds and to also find her mother, Hina helps Yi Jung-mun in the fight against the Japanese government and the pro-Japanese officials. *

as Kim Hui-seong : A Joseon nobleman who is considered to be the richest after the emperor in terms of land ownership. Hui-seong is emotionally tormented by his grandfather's past and lives for over a decade in Japan to avoid marrying the woman his family chose for him.

Recurring

Joseon royal court and government

* Lee Seung-joon as

Emperor Gojong Gojong (; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919) was the monarch of Korea from 1864 to 1907. He reigned as the last King of Joseon from 1864 to 1897, and as the first Emperor of Korea from 1897 until his forced abdication in 1907. He is known ...

Kang Yi-seok Kang Yi-seok (born November 11, 1998) is a South Korean actor. Kang began his career as a child actor, and has starred in television series such as ''Mr. Goodbye'' (2006), ''First Wives' Club'' (2007), '' Five Fingers'' (2012) and ''Ugly Alert'' ...

as young Gojong : The ruler of Korea who desperately fights for the country's sovereignty. *

Kang Shin-il Kang Shin-il (born November 26, 1960) is a South Korean actor. Kang graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in electronic engineering, but he soon put aside his studies and spent most of his time in Daehangno, Seoul's theater district, ...

as Yi Jung-mun : An anti-Japanese minister loyal to the emperor. He secretly commands the Righteous Army. *

Kim Eui-sung Kim Eui-sung (; born December 17, 1965) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his roles in films ''The Day a Pig Fell into the Well'' (1996), ''Office'' (2015), '' The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo'' (2015) and ''Train to Busan'' (2016); ...

as Yi Wan-ik / Rinoie Hiroaki : A selfish and cruel pro-Japanese official who killed Go Ae-shin's parents. The father of Kudo Hina, he soon becomes Joseon's Minister of Foreign Affairs. * as Yi Deok-mun : A pro-Japanese nobleman. Yi Wan-ik's assistant and the abusive husband of Go Ae-sun. * Choi Jin-ho as Yi Se-hun : The arrogant and corrupt Minister of Foreign Affairs whose actions indirectly led to the deaths of Eugene Choi's family. *

Jung Hee-tae Jung Hee-tae (Korean: 정희태, Jeonghuitae, born 5 July 1974) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his roles in ''My Mind's Flower Rain'' (2016), ''My Father Is Strange'' (2017) and 2018 drama series '' Radio Romance''. He has appeared i ...

as Police Commissioner Jung *Shin Mun-sung as Postmaster Yoon * as Doctor Matsuyama : A Japanese doctor secretly working for Yi Wan-ik. * as Ye Wan-yong : An infamous pro-Japanese minister and part of the

Righteous Army

Kim Kap-soo Kim Kap-soo (born April 7, 1957) is a South Korean actor. Since his acting debut in 1977, Kim has had a long career on the stage, in television dramas and film. In addition to acting full-time, he also has his own master class acting studio. F ...

as Hwang Eun-san : A skilled potter who helped a young Choi Yu-jin flee to the United States. The leader of the

. *Lee Si-hoon as Yoshino Kō : A Japanese man working as an assistant for Hwang Eun-san. *

Choi Moo-sung Choi Myung-soo (born January 12, 1968), better known by his stage name Choi Moo-sung, is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Awards and nominations References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Moo-su ...

as Jang Seung-gu **

Sung Yoo-bin Sung Yoo-bin (born 25 July 2000) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Web series Awards and nominations References External links * * * 2000 births Living people South Korean male televis ...

as young Jang Seung-gu : A gunman who trains Go Ae-shin to become a sniper. Due to a misunderstanding he initially despises the emperor, but eventually becomes the head of the palace guards to protect him. *

Seo Yoo-jung Seo Yoo-jung is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as '' Forbidden Love'', '' Steal Heart'', '' Family's Honor'', '' Mr. Sunshine'', ''Royal Family'', ''If Tomorrow Comes'' and ''Bloody Heart ''Bloody Heart'' ( ...

as Hong-pa : A skilled archer and rower. Jang Seung-gu's wife. *

Jang Dong-yoon Jang Dong-yoon (born July 12, 1992) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the popular television series ''School 2017'' (2017), ''The Tale of Nokdu'' (2019), and ''Search'' (2020). Early life After finishing high ...

as Jun-young : A young nobleman eager to fight for Korea's sovereignty. *

Oh Ah-yeon Oh Ah-yeon is a South Korean actress and model. She is known for roles in dramas, '' Search: WWW'', '' Mr. Sunshine'' and she also appeared in movies such as '' Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum'' and '' Heart Blackened''. Filmography Television series ...

as So-ah : A Korean-born

geisha {{Culture of Japan, Traditions, Geisha {{nihongo, Geisha, 芸者 ({{IPAc-en, ˈ, ɡ, eɪ, ʃ, ə; {{IPA-ja, ɡeːɕa, lang), also known as {{nihongo, , 芸子, geiko (in Kyoto and Kanazawa) or {{nihongo, , 芸妓, geigi, are a class of female ...

who is part of the Righteous Army. * as Jeon Seung-jae : A Righteous Army member and one of Ae-shin's parents close friends. * Ji Seung-hyun as Song Yeong : A cousin of Go Ae-shin's mother. Served as a minister at the time of the Shinmiyangyo incident and now lives in Japan supporting the Righteous Army. * as Yi Sang-mok : A

jige A ''jige'' ( ko, 지게) is a traditional Korean farming tool used by farmers to carry large quantities of heavy materials. The tool is used in agricultural communities to facilitate the transportation of large quantities of materials such as compo ...

carrier and a Righteous Army member who was briefly captured by Gu Dong-mae. *

Lee Soon-won Yi Sunwon (; born 1957) is a modern South Korean writer who writes about diverse topics. Life Yi Sunwon was born in Gangneung on the coast of the Sea of Japan in 1957. While in high school, Yi decided to become a farmer. In a dramatic display ...

as Park Mu-geol : The bell keeper, who is secretly a member of the Righteous Army. *Lee Dong-hee as baker : A Righteous Army member and the owner of a French bakery/candy store. *Park Sung-hoon as blacksmith : A friend of Jang Seung-gu who is skilled in fixing machinery.

Japanese government and army

* as

: The first

Resident-General A resident minister, or resident for short, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indi ...

of Korea for the

. * as Hayashi Gonsuke : Minister and de facto leader of the Japanese

legation A legation was a diplomatic representative office of lower rank than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, minister. Ambassadors diplomatic rank, out ...

. *

Kim Nam-hee Kim Nam-hee is a South Korean actor and model. He is known for his roles in dramas ''Mr. Sunshine'', '' Spring Turns to Spring,'' and ''Sweet Home''. Personal life He got married on September 29, 2018 to his long-term girlfriend whom he has d ...

as Mori Takashi : A Japanese colonel of noble blood. Sadistic and cruel, he has a heavy dislike for Joseon. Eugene was his neighbour in New York. *Gong Dae-yu as Sasaki Soyu : An arrogant Japanese major serving under Mori. *Yoon Dae-yul as

: The Japanese

Governor-General of Korea Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

under Itō Hirobumi. *Lee Jung-hyun as Second Sergeant Tsuda : A fanatically loyal Japanese NCO officer who will lash out at anyone near him. * as Second Sergeant Yamada : A Japanese NCO officer. * as Hyung-ki : A Korean man who works as a translator in the Japanese legation. *Jeong Tae-ya as Suzuki : A man working at the Japanese legation who develops an enmity with Gu Dong-mae.

Go family's household

* as Go Sa-hong : Go Ae-shin's paternal grandfather. He was a great scholar and the emperor's teacher. A firm believer in the sovereignty of Joseon, he very reluctantly allows Ae-shin to join the Righteous Army. * Lee Jung-eun as Ms. Ham-an : Go Ae-shin's loyal maid. *

Shin Jung-geun Shin Jung-geun (born September 26, 1966) is a South Korean actor. He is most active as a supporting actor in films such as ''Running Turtle'' (2009), '' In Love and War'' (2011), ''The Grand Heist'' (2012), and '' The Five'' (2013), as well as t ...

as Mr. Haeng-rang : Go Ae-Shin's man-servant. *

Kim Na-woon Kim Na-woon (born May 11, 1970) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1987, and is most active as a supporting actress in television dramas. Filmography Television series Film Variety/radio show Music video ...

as Madame Cho : Go Ae-shin's paternal aunt and maternal figure. *

Park Ah-in Park Ah-in (born 12 February 1985) is a South Korean actress. She is an alumna of Chung-Ang University, Department of Theater and Film, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Theater Studies. She made her acting debut in 2006 in the horror fil ...

as Go Ae-sun : Go Ae-shin's cousin and the first wife of Yi Deok-mun. Unable to bear a son, she is regularly abused by her husband.

American legation

David Lee McInnis David Lee McInnis (born December 12, 1973) is an American actor based in Seoul. He has worked in South Korea since 1999. Early life McInnis is the only child of an American father of German and Irish descent and Korean mother who is a native of ...

as Kyle Moore : A major in the United States Marine Corps who is both the direct supervisor and friend of Eugene Choi. * Jo Woo-jin as Im Gwan-su : An English interpreter working at the American legation in Joseon. He later becomes an English translator for the emperor. * as Son Do-mi ** Kim Min-jae as adult Son Do-mi : A young boy who works at the American legation, where he teaches

hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The let ...

to Eugene Choi. Su-mi's younger brother. *Lorne Edward Oliver as

: The corrupt American minister who considers Eugene Choi more Korean than American.

Kim Hui-seong's family

Kim Eung-soo Kim Eung-soo (; born February 12, 1961) is a South Korean actor. Kim lived in Japan for seven years, where he studied filmmaking at the Japan Institute of the Moving Image The , formerly known as the Yokohama Broadcasting Technical School, is a ...

as Kim Pan-seo : A cruel and extremely wealthy nobleman responsible for the deaths of Eugene Choi's parents. Hui-seong's grandfather. * as Kim An-pyeong **

Lee Hak-joo Lee Hak-joo (born January 9, 1989) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television series ''The World of the Married ''The World of the Married'' () is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Par ...

as young Kim An-pyeong :Hui-seong's cowardly father. *

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 Yun Ho-sun ** as young Yun Ho-sun : Hui-seong's mother. *

Jung Min-ah Jung Min-ah (born March 3, 1994) is a South Korean actress. She began her career as a child actress, starring in television dramas such as '' Damo'' (2003), '' Fashion 70's'' (2005) and ''Time Between Dog and Wolf ''Time Between Dog and Wol ...

as Yeon-ju : Jun-young's sister and Hui-seong's wife.

People around Dong-mae

* as Yuzo :Gu Dong-mae's loyal subordinate in the Musin Society. * Kim Yong-ji as Hotaru : A mute Japanese fortune-teller living with Gu Dong-mae. * Hakuryu as leader of the Musin Society

Glory Hotel employees

Shin Soo-yeon Shin Soo-yeon is a South Korean actress and model. She is known for her roles in dramas such as ''Hi Bye, Mama!'', ''Graceful Family'' and ''The World of the Married ''The World of the Married'' () is a 2020 South Korean television series st ...

as Son Su-mi : Do-mi's older sister who secretly holds a valuable object. *Kim Si-eun as Gwi-dan : A maid at the Glory Hotel secretly working for Gu Dong-mae.

Others

* as Kim Yong-ju : A former friend of Ae-shin's parents who betrayed them to Yi Wan-ik. * Kim Byung-chul as Il-sik : A slave hunter who diverted and became the co-owner of a shop that takes care of any need. * as Chun-sik : A slave hunter who diverted and became the co-owner of a shop that takes care of any need. *Jason Nelson as Joseph W. Stenson : An American missionary. He helps Eugene escape to America and is a paternal figure to him. *Ariane Desgagnés-Leclerc as Stella : An American missionary working as an English teacher in Joseon. * as Yun Nam-jong : A student at Stella's English School who later becomes Hui-seong's assistant.

Special appearances

Lee Si-a Lee Si-a (born Lee Ji-a on July 10, 1990) is a South Korean actress and singer. She made her entertainment debut in 2011 as a member of the K-pop girl group . When Chi Chi disbanded in 2013, Lee turned to acting, and has appeared in television ...

as Choi Yu-jin's mother * as Choi Yu-jin's father * Choi Jong-won as Grand Internal Prince Heungseon : Emperor Gojong's father. *

Yoon Kyung-ho Yoon Kyung-ho (, born 5 July 1980) is a South Korean theatre, film and television actor. He debuted in 2002 in SBS's documentary drama ''Savage Age''. He came into prominence in KBS's 2017 legal drama ''Witch at Court'' and tvN's 2019 TV series ...

as Jang Seung-gu's father : A gunner killed during the Shinmiyangyo incident. *

Im Se-mi Im Se-mi (born May 29, 1987) is a South Korean actress. Career In January 2019, Im signed with new agency YNK Entertainment. On February 3, 2022, Im signed an exclusive contract with Noon Company, after her contract with YNK Entertainment has ...

as Gu Dong-mae's mother *

Oh Min-ae Oh Min-ae is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as '' Mr. Sunshine'', ''My Liberation Notes ''My Liberation Notes'' () is a South Korean television series starring Lee Min-ki, Kim Ji-won, Son Suk-ku, and Lee E ...

as Mr. Im's wife *

Shim Wan-joon Shim Wan-joon (born 1980) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his roles in ''Hi Bye, Mama!'', ''Queen of Mystery'' and ''Tomorrow, With You''. Filmography Television series Film Awards and nominations * 11th Daehangno Festival Best Mal ...

as Gu Dong-mae's father * Kim Hyun as apothecary *

Yoon Ji-on Yoon Ji-on is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in television series such as ''Be Melodramatic'' (2019), ''Memorist'' (2020), ''You Are My Spring'' (2021) and '' Tomorrow'' (2022). Biography and career In 2016 he made his de ...

as military school student *

Jin Goo Jin Goo (born July 20, 1980) is a South Korean actor. He won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards for his role in Bong Joon-ho's 2009 noir thriller ''Mother''. He is also known for his role in the critically ...

as Go Sang-wan : Go Ae-sin's father. Killed while plotting to assassinate Yi Wan-ik. * Kim Ji-won as Kim Hui-jin : Go Ae-shin's mother who is killed by Yi Wan-ik. *

Kim Joo-ryoung Kim Joo-ryoung (; born September 10, 1976) is a South Korean actress. She is mainly known for portraying Han Mi-nyeo or Player No. 212 in the Netflix original web series ''Squid Game''. For her performance, she was nominated for Best Actress in ...

as Imperial Noble Consort Sunheon : Emperor Gojong's concubine and a close friend of Hina. * Park Jeong-min as Ahn Chang-ho : A Korean independence activist living in America.

Production

*Netflix has invested ₩30 billion in the series. *The series is the third collaboration between writer

and director , after '' Descendants of the Sun'' (2016) and '' Guardian: The Lonely and Great God'' (2016). *The drama marks film actress Kim Tae-ri's small-screen debut. *The drama was first pitched by

Studio Dragon Studio Dragon Corporation () is a South Korean drama production, marketing and distribution company under CJ ENM's E&M division. It was established on May 3, 2016, as a spin-off from E&M Media Content. The company joined the KOSDAQ index of Ko ...

to SBS, but the latter passed on the project due to financial and advertising constraints. * Kim Sa-rang was originally cast in the series, but backed out in February 2018 due to scheduling conflicts. She was replaced by Kim Min-jung. *Filming began in September 2017 and took place in various parts of Korea including

Busan Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...

Daegu Daegu (, , literally 'large hill', 대구광역시), formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea. It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; it is ...

Gokseong County Gokseong County (''Gokseong-gun'') is a county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Climate Attractions * Taeansa TempleCin Woo Le"Simply stunning: 33 incredible Korean temples" ''CNN Go''. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-12 * Neungpa Towe ...

Gyeongju Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...

and

Hapcheon County Hapcheon County (''Hapcheon-gun'') is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Located in northwestern Gyeongsangnam-do, the county is surrounded by Changnyeong as well as Euiryeong to the Southe ...

. Several sets solely devoted to the early 1900s setting of Korea were built on a 20,000 m² site in

Nonsan Nonsan () is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at . The origin of Nonsan's geographical names is said to have come from the small garden " Nolmoe, " which rises in the middle of farming fields, where rice paddies ...

South Chungcheong Province South Chungcheong Province ( ko, 충청남도, ''Chungcheongnam-do''), also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 (2014) and has a geographic area of 8,204 km2 (3,168 sq mi) located in ...

, and another indoor set was built on a 6,600 m² site in

Daejeon Daejeon () is South Korea's fifth-largest metropolis, with a population of 1.5 million as of 2019. Located in the central-west region of South Korea alongside forested hills and the Geum River, the city is known both for its technology and ...

. 1000 extras were hired for a battle scene. *It was originally planned in 2009 to be a sports-themed period drama set in the 1920s and 1930s, also featuring an American lead character. Shin Woo-chul, Kim Eun-sook's collaborator for the "Lovers" trilogy, was attached to be the director at the time.

Episodes

Original soundtrack

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Reception

Critics praised the drama "The series was very well-received, though some criticized ''Mr. Sunshine'' for historical inaccuracies, which continues to be a very sensitive area of dramas in the eye of Korean society." for its "deep storytelling" and its ability to raise viewers' awareness of history. ''

The Korea Times ''The Korea Times'' is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea. It is a sister paper of the ''Hankook Ilbo'', a major Korean language daily; both are owned by Dongwha Enterprise, a wood-based manufacturer ...

'' applauded the drama for shedding light on those deemed peripheral in society, such as women and the lower classes, and for successfully laying out contradictions and hope in the fast-evolving late

Joseon period Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

; it also praised the show's strong female characters. ''Time'''s Kat Moon chose the show as one of the 10 "Best Korean Dramas to Watch on Netflix" and argued, "Besides serving up stunning cinematography, the show introduces two of the most dynamic female leads from the K-drama world".

Collider A collider is a type of particle accelerator which brings two opposing particle beams together such that the particles collide. Colliders may either be ring accelerators or linear accelerators. Colliders are used as a research tool in particle ...

's Devon Forward listed it as one of the 28 "Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now".

Criticism

''Mr. Sunshine'' has been criticized by some for what was perceived as inaccurate portrayal of Joseon's culture. In particular, the character Gu Dong-mae, who is portrayed as a member of the

Black Dragon Society The , or the Amur River Society, was a prominent paramilitary, ultranationalist group in Japan. History The ''Kokuryūkai'' was founded in 1901 by martial artist Uchida Ryohei as a successor to his mentor Mitsuru Tōyama's ''Gen'yōsha''. It ...

, a pro-Japanese organization, was criticized, with many feeling that the series tried to justify his actions against Joseon. However, the series has also been criticized for the exact opposite: enforcing stereotypes of the Japanese as villains and the Americans as heroes. The production house responded to the criticisms by stating that the organizations and characters portrayed in the series are fictional and that they will modify the character description of Gu Dong-mae accordingly. The Black Dragon Society was changed to a fictional organization, the Musin Society.

Viewership

At the time, ''Mr. Sunshine'' recorded the third highest ratings for cable television with its final episode reaching 18.129% and netting an average rating of 12.955%, which was the highest average rating ever recorded for cable television until the release of ''

The World of the Married ''The World of the Married'' () is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon, and Han So-hee. Based on BBC One's drama series '' Doctor Foster'' written by Mike Bartlett, it tells a story of a married couple whose ...

'', in 2020. An 8.9% viewership rating was recorded nationwide for the series' first episode. It became the highest premiere rating in the

network Network, networking and networked may refer to: Science and technology * Network theory, the study of graphs as a representation of relations between discrete objects * Network science, an academic field that studies complex networks Mathematics ...

's history and remained in this position for the next three years, until it was surpassed by ''

Hospital Playlist 2 ''Hospital Playlist'' () is a South Korean television series written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho. It is the second installment of the ''Wise Life'' series, following ''Prison Playbook'' (2017–18). It stars Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Ye ...

''. The drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters ( KBS, SBS, MBC and

EBS EBS may refer to: Broadcasting * EBS TV (Ethiopia) * Educational Broadband Service, US TV service * Educational Broadcasting System, South Korea ** EBS 1, a South Korean television channel * Emergency Broadcast System, former US Warning system ...

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * {{Kim Eun-sook 2018 South Korean television series debuts TVN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas Television shows written by Kim Eun-sook South Korean historical television series Television series by Studio Dragon Television series by Hwa&Dam Pictures Television series set in the Joseon dynasty Television series set in the 1900s 2018 South Korean television series endings Television series set in Korea under Japanese rule Television series set in the Korean Empire Korean-language Netflix exclusive international distribution programming