Writer Lee Myung-hee's second revenge drama is coming.
SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Treasure Island’ (written by Lee Myung-hee, directed by Jin Chang-kyu) will premiere on the 21st. Starring Park Hyung-sik (as Seo Dong-joo) and Heo Jun-ho (as Yeom Jang-seon), ‘Treasure Island’ is expected to captivate viewers with its raw and stormy portrayal of the intertwined desires of various characters surrounding the massive treasure island known as the Daesan Group.
‘Treasure Island’ is written by Lee Myung-hee, who created a syndrome of ‘money and desire’ in the home theater with her 2017 drama ‘Money Flower’. The fact that ‘Treasure Island’ returns to themes of money, desire, and revenge—areas where Lee Myung-hee excels—has already generated high expectations. We had the opportunity to hear directly from writer Lee Myung-hee about the captivating storytelling of ‘Treasure Island’. What kind of drama is ‘Treasure Island’, and what story does she want to tell through it?
First, Lee Myung-hee described ‘Treasure Island’ dramatically: “It depicts the world of chaebols and politics bound by the concrete of money. The protagonist, who becomes the top servant, falls into the illusion that they are worthy of standing beside the masters, leading to the violation of their life. It is only then that the protagonist realizes the harsh reality that ‘there is no master who allows a servant to bask in the warmth’. They plan a revenge to dismantle the world of wealth and power that those villains intend to pass down. The protagonist, who is making what seems like an impossible revenge possible, faces hellish truths to the point of regretting their extended life after being shot, but they confront it head-on and complete their revenge.”
‘Treasure Island’ features various characters trapped in their own desires for money, power, love, and revenge. They rush toward those desires like moths to a flame, even if it means their own destruction. Why did Lee Myung-hee choose the theme of ‘human desire and revenge’ again, following her previous work ‘Money Flower’?
Lee Myung-hee explained her motivation for writing ‘Treasure Island’: “The motivation is always the same and singular: to write an ‘interesting drama’. I find enjoyment in revenge dramas, which is why I planned a ‘revenge trilogy’, and this is the second revenge drama.”
Lee Myung-hee stated, “Most dramas (stories) depict the process of human desire's conflict, confrontation, and resolution. Among various desires, I am particularly interested in the desire for money and material wealth. In the modern capitalist era, the desire for material wealth has become as primal as the desires for food, sex, and sleep, making it a fascinating subject with significant amplification of conflict, confrontation, and resolution.”
She continued, “There is a saying that ‘revenge is wild justice’. The wild world, which is beyond order and law, has limitless expansion and is thus more attractive. The protagonist's implementation of justice through revenge in this captivating wild world becomes a very intense fantasy. In reality, very few people actually achieve revenge. Through ‘Treasure Island’, I hope viewers can feel the burning heart and emotions of the protagonist moving toward revenge and enjoy the fantasy of revenge.”
We already know how interestingly Lee Myung-hee unfolds stories about money, power, and revenge. ‘Treasure Island’ combines the captivating storytelling of Lee Myung-hee with the sensuous and immersive directing of Jin Chang-kyu, along with the powerful performances of actors like Park Hyung-sik and Heo Jun-ho. The new SBS Friday-Saturday drama ‘Treasure Island’, which is bound to capture the eyes, ears, and hearts of viewers, will premiere on February 21 at 10 PM.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
