Korea | Mr. Sunshine | Television | Asia Society Skip to main content
  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Asia Briefing LIVE
    • Executive Briefings
    • Arts, Culture and Diversity
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Asia Taskforce
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Viet Nam Report
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Gen A
    • Asia Society at the Movies
    • Culture Club
  • Disruptive Asia
  • News and Analysis
    • Latest News and Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • Looking Ahead
    • Webcasts and Videos
    • Asia Briefing UNWIRED
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
  • Partners
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us
Australia
Search
asiasociety.org
Australia
Search
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Asia Briefing LIVE
    • Executive Briefings
    • Arts, Culture and Diversity
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Asia Taskforce
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Viet Nam Report
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Gen A
    • Asia Society at the Movies
    • Culture Club
  • Disruptive Asia
  • News and Analysis
    • Latest News and Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • Looking Ahead
    • Webcasts and Videos
    • Asia Briefing UNWIRED
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
  • Partners
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us

Korea | Mr. Sunshine | Television

Mr Sunshine
July 9th, 2020

Yvonne Yoon-Hee Kim, Executive Director, Asia Society Korea Centre

Many foreigners may find it difficult to get ‘hooked’ on sageuk or sidaeguek, i.e., Korean historical dramas, without having some background knowledge of the country’s history or culture from that time period. There have been several K-dramas that are more modern and appealing to the international audiences, therefore, a typical Korean historical drama would be unlikely to garner popularity overseas. However, lately Netflix has been featuring some interesting Korean historical dramas including the sensational K-zombie series, Kingdom, and the early 20th century love story, Mr. Sunshine.

Mr. Sunshine is a 2018 Korean television series set in the end of the Joseon dynasty and features Asia Society Korea’s 2014 Cultural Diplomacy Award winner Byung-hun Lee as its main character. The series is a fictional story of two star-crossed lovers – Eugene Choi, a former Joseon slave who returns to Joseon as a United States Marine Corps officer, and Ae-shin Go, an aristocrat’s daughter played by Tae-ri Kim. The two join a band of freedom fighters known as the Righteous Army to fight for Joseon’s sovereignty.

Although Mr. Sunshine has been criticized for inaccurately portraying historical facts and for stereotyping the Japanese as villains, it is the sixth-highest rated K-drama in the history of Korean cable television and has received critical acclaim for its exceptional cinematography, deep storytelling, and strong female characters.

The drama succeeded in capturing the attention of international audiences and has subsequently exposed its viewers to the rapidly changing late-Joseon era of Korea’s history. Mr. Sunshine’s epic portrayal of Korea’s pre-industrialized period has undoubtedly paved a way for K-drama series and fans to further explore the nation’s rich culture and history.

Details

Category: Television
Year: 2018 (One season)
Rating: MA15+

Full season available on Netflix


Yvonne Kim

Yvonne Yoon-Hee Kim, Executive Director, Asia Society Korea Centre

Yvonne is a professional event planner, non-profit program developer and media communications expert. From 1998-2007, Ms. Kim held varying roles at Columbia University's financial management and administrative departments, including managing special events for the President's Office.

Prior to joining the Korea Centre in July 2008, she was an Executive Associate for the Senior Vice President of Operations at Asia Society's New York headquarters. Ms. Kim has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in East Asian Studies. She is fluent in Korean.

∨ Show More

The Asia Society Culture Club is your weekly dose of distraction. Bringing you the best recommendations of new and classic literature, films, tv, podcasts and more, from and on Asia. 

Drawing from a different country each week, the club is an opportunity to step outside your usual newsfeed and discover new and classic stories from across the region. Each week features a guest programmer, selected from our network of members, experts, staff and stakeholders.

Culture Club

  • VNWar Memorial sunshine crop
    series

    Vietnam | Remembering our Fallen Heroes | Book

    Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen shares a profoundly personal book exploring the moving stories of Australian soldiers and Vietnamese refugees.
  • Mr Sunshine
    series

    Korea | Mr. Sunshine | Television

    Yvonne Yoon-Hee Kim, Executive Director of Asia Society Korea Centre, shares an absorbing, award-winning historical romantic drama.
  • SOKOLA RIMBA film still
    series

    Indonesia | Sokola Rimba, Aruna & Her Palate, and Cahaya Dari Timur: Beta Maluku | Film

    Founder of the Makassar International Writers Festival Lily Yulianti Farid shares her favourite Indonesian cinema.
  • Kino 1
    series

    Russia | Kino | Music

    Asia Society Australia CEO Philipp Ivanov shares the moving tale of an era-defining Russian new wave band
  • The Lunchbox screenshot
    series

    India | The Lunchbox | Film

    Asia Society India Centre recommends a heartwarming romance starring a beloved icon of Indian cinema
  • Little Door Gods
    series

    China | Little Door Gods | Film

    Australian writer and China expert Linda Jaivin recommends a wild animated social satire of gods and men and monsters
  • Detective Hawksworth trilogy
    series

    Malaysia | The Detective Hawksworth trilogy | Novel

    Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Daniel Moss recommends this Malaysian noir-fiction series
  • Spirited Away still
    series

    Japan | Spirited Away | Film

    Dean Prenc of Madman Anime Group explains why, 20 years on, Studio Ghibli's cult classic Spirited Away is still worth a watch
We Know Asia,
Get to Know Us

Visit Us

  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas

Global Network

  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC

Resources

  • Arts
  • Asia Blog
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video

Shop

  • AsiaStore

Initiatives

  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Learning Beyond School
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • Int'l Studies Schools Network
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit

About Asia Society

  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement

Connect

  • Email Signup
  • For the Media

©2021 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC