In an era where money equals power, a "my money, my power" hero who spends his own money to save people has appeared. It's Lee Jun-ho, who scored another hit with Cashero.
The new Netflix series Cashero, released on the 26th (written by Lee Jae-in and Jeon Chan-ho, directed by Lee Chang-min), follows salaried worker Sang-woong (played by Lee Jun-ho), who is struggling with wedding funds and housing costs, as he gains the ability to become as strong as the money he holds, making it a slice-of-life, "my money, my power" hero story caught between living expenses and superpowers. Lee Jun-ho, a member of idol group 2PM and an actor, stars in the title role of Sang-woong.
Sang-woong is a careful, upright young man who saves every penny to marry his girlfriend Min-sook (Kim Hye Jun) and dream about a housing subscription. Believing his family had nothing to pass down after the IMF crisis except an incapable head of household, his father unexpectedly left him an inheritance: a superpower. But there was one crucial condition. He can use his superpower only to the extent of the cash he holds, and when he uses the power, the money disappears.
What this generationally inherited power can be used for is helping people around him in trouble. But for Sang-woong, who even sells household items secondhand, spending his lifeblood "my money" to help others is never easy. He thought he had inherited nothing, only to be handed down "poverty." The despair over poverty wraps Sang-woong more tightly than the sudden hope brought by the superpower.
In a capitalist society where even breathing costs money, money takes precedence over almost any individual ability. Economic status becomes social status, and financial power becomes political power. Sang-woong's refusal of the superpower and his struggle to escape poverty seem to reflect the emotional state of ordinary early-career adults and Korea's youth, who are inevitably distant from wealth and assets.
But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility: Sang-woong cannot ignore the dangers that appear before him. Though he once avoided helping colleagues even with simple acts like holding doors, when decisive accidents or others' lives are at stake, he steps in. The same happened the day his mother gave him the 30 million won she had saved from years of working odd jobs at a restaurant. As long as there is a spirit of sacrifice that can spend a fortune that would have been Min-sook's eagerly hoped-for housing deposit for someone else's life, Sang-woong is a clear hero regardless of his poverty.
His poverty but kind neighborly heroism evokes Marvel Comics' Spider-Man. In fact, before the blockbuster Avengers films were planned, Spider-Man was the most popular hero in the United States. A young man next door who helps ordinary citizens while carrying the realistic burden of poverty—Lee Jun-ho appears to embody that presence in Korea in Cashero.
Lee Jun-ho, who has been praised for his recent roles in The Red Sleeve, King the Land and Typhoon Family, proves his value once again in Cashero. His action using the superpower and his acting as someone torn between poverty and ability are both steady. What has been newly rediscovered in Cashero is Lee Jun-ho's voice. In the narration that conveys Sang-woong's feelings every episode, Lee Jun-ho's mid-to-low tones convincingly convey the character's emotions and struggles.
Also, Kim Hye Jun, who plays Min-sook, is so lovable that you might wonder if she is the same cruel queen from the Kingdom series, and fellow superpowered actors such as Kim Byung-chul and Kim Hyang-gi support Sang-woong as strongly with their acting as with their presence. Large-scale action scenes set in real-world spaces also do not feel awkward. It is different from heroes who are only boisterous and brash. When Sang-woong's reality of fighting poverty feels stifling, the "cathartic" beats and the relatable, realistic charms of the heroes deliver emotional impact.
A total of eight episodes, suitable for viewers 15 and older.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix.
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