Dramas on 'fake news' steal viewers' attention

Actor Namkoong Min, right, seen from SBS legal thriller "Falsify" / Courtesy of SBS

By Park Jin-hai

While “fake news” destabilizes world politics, two dramas telling the story of journalists are receiving much attention from TV viewers.

“Falsify,” SBS’ new legal thriller starring Namkoong Min, tells the story of journalists struggling to uncover social corruption. Namkoong, who shot to fame with his previous flamboyant ordinary citizen hero role in “Good Manager,” takes the role of tabloid reporter Han Moo-young, one of the so-called “giraegi,” a combination of the words “gija” (journalist) and “sseo-rae-gi” (garbage).

Han believes drawing people’s attention through sensational media exposure can bolster social justice. He teams up with a true journalist Lee Seok-min, played by Yoo Jun-sang, and a tenacious prosecutor, played by actress Uhm Ji-won, to take a hard look into the media that no longer does its job as a social watchdog but has become a power cartel.

From its premiere, the drama has succeeded in gaining attention from viewers by revealing cases which remind viewers of the infamous “Sung Wan-jong List,” one of the biggest political corruption scandals during the former Park Geun-hye administration, and swimmer Park Tae-hwan’s doping test scandal. The show clinched first place among drama series aired Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m., with 12.1 percent viewership as of Tuesday, according to Nielsen Korea.

Cable network tvN will premiere the eight-part drama “Argon” in September. The story revolves around an investigative reporting team struggling to separate “fact” from “fake news.”

Kim Baek-Jin, played by Kim Joo-Hyuck, is an anchorman, reporter and leader of the investigative news program team, who relies only on facts. Actress Chun Woo-hee takes on the role of a contract reporter who joins the team three months before her contract is to end. She receives strict training and grows as a true reporter.

“I’ve drawn into my character, because the role of a journalist has become more important than ever now,” actress Kim said to a local media outlet.