TV CHOSUN weekend miniseries "Confidence Man KR" announced the start of a global craze by soaring to No. 9 worldwide in the Amazon Prime TV shows category after episodes 1 and 2 were released.
The TV CHOSUN weekend miniseries "Confidence Man KR" (written by Hong Seung-hyun and Kim Da-hye, directed by Nam Ki-hoon), which premiered on Sep. 6, began proving its explosive global popularity from the start by ranking No. 9 worldwide in the Amazon Prime TV shows category and No. 1 in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, according to FlixPatrol (an OTT ranking aggregation site) on Sep. 8.
In particular, "Confidence Man KR" is the first caper comedy that Park Min-young, undisputed queen of romantic comedy with strong domestic and international fan support, has attempted since her debut, and it has raised expectations for its upward trend by drawing major attention for Park Hee-soon and Joo Jong-hyuk, who have solidified their global standing with strong acting skills, for their transformations.
In this regard, we summarized three reasons why "Confidence Man KR" is bound to attract popularity domestically after its overseas success.
[Reason 1 driving popularity] Park Min-young, Park Hee-soon and Joo Jong-hyuk: trusted actors risking it all in passionate performances
Park Min-young, Park Hee-soon and Joo Jong-hyuk, who have built substantial careers across numerous works, delivered wholehearted, self-sacrificing performances in "Confidence Man KR," where a mix of distinctive characters stands out, injecting energy into the drama and prompting admiration that "trusted actors are different!" Park Min-young proved she is an unlimited acting queen by delivering bold comic performance as Yoon I-rang, who devises meticulous plans with an exceptional mind but has a bubbly, unpredictable and eccentric personality. Park Hee-soon revealed the comic potential hidden behind his previously serious image through his role as James, showcasing smooth humor and delicate sense with impressive range. Finally, Joo Jong-hyuk transformed into Myeong Gu-ho, the youngest member of Team Confidence Man who combines righteousness with clumsy charm, expressing ever-emerging appeal through powerful character immersion. Attention is on the increasingly tight teamwork among the three.
[Reason 2 driving popularity] transcends nationality! a story that resonates worldwide
Another reason "Confidence Man KR" inevitably continues to attract attention is its nationality-transcending, globally resonant, refreshing narrative recognized even by the original work. The motto of Team Confidence Man—"we only con the bad guys"—cuts across nationality, generation and era. The episodes featuring the con woman shaman Baekhwa (Song Ji-hyo) and the legendary loan shark Jeon Tae-soo (Jung Woong-in), who posed as the chairman of a public interest foundation in episodes 1 and 2, elicited strong empathy and anger as stories of villains exploiting the desperation of ordinary citizens. The outlandish cons staged by Team Confidence Man—Yoon I-rang (Park Min-young), James (Park Hee-soon) and Myeong Gu-ho (Joo Jong-hyuk)—deliver ever-more twists and unpredictable developments that create thrilling suspense, and the satisfying payoff of watching villains reduced to pennilessness provides a cathartic, blockbuster-level refreshment. Curiosity is rising for the "catharsis fest" that will unfold each episode.
[Reason 3 driving popularity] differentiated behind-the-scenes backstories
Finally, the "behind-the-scenes backstories" are a point of differentiation from the original and one of the reasons the series will inevitably keep drawing attention. "Confidence Man KR" steadily reveals the trio's pasts and behind-the-scenes details bit by bit, provoking constant interest in the characters' relationships. In particular, the past kidnapping of young Yoon I-rang revealed in episode 2, the photo of Myeong Gu-ho occupying a place on Yoon I-rang's secret case board, and the scenes depicting the three's first meeting sparked continuous speculation among viewers. These backstories continually pull viewers into the rapidly unfolding episodes and amplify curiosity.
The production team said, "We are grateful for the domestic and international viewers' interest in episodes 1 and 2," and added, "The fresh, thrilling and satisfying narrative unique to 'Confidence Man KR' will continue to deliver blockbuster catharsis. Please look forward to it."
Meanwhile, "Confidence Man KR" is released simultaneously on TV CHOSUN and Coupang Play every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m., and globally it is available in 240 countries and regions excluding Korea via Amazon Prime Video.
[Photo] Provided by TV CHOSUN
[OSEN]