Pachinko (Drama)

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Drama: Pachinko
Revised romanization: Pachinko
Hangul: 파친코
Japanese: パチンコ
Director: Kogonada, Justin Chon
Writer: Lee Min-Jin (novel), Soo Hugh
Network: Apple TV+
Episodes: 8
Release Date: March 25 - April 29, 2022
Runtime: Friday
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Kim Sun-Ja (Kim Min-Ha) was born and raised in Busan, Korea in the early 20th century, while Korea was under Japanese rule. She falls in love with a man named Koh Han-Su (Lee Min-Ho). She can see that he is a powerful person and from a different social class from her, but she is unaware of his complete background. Meanwhile, a church priest named Baek Isak (Noh Sang-Hyun) comes to stay at the lodge run by Kim Sun-Ja's mother. When he learns of Kim Sun-Ja's situation, he tries to give her advice, but, when he experiences her unwavering conviction, he offers to marry her. Kim Sun-Ja soon moves to Japan and faces difficult times as a Korean immigrant living in a unfamiliar land.

In New York in 1989, Baek Solomon (Jin Ha) is determined to succeed in the corporate world. A company wants to build a new hotel in Tokyo, but a Korean woman refuses to sell her land where the hotel is to be built. Baek Solomon offers to his bosses to travel to Tokyo and persuade the woman to sell her land to the hotel group. He also goes to see his family there.

Notes

Based on novel "Pachinko" by Lee Min-Jin (published February 7, 2017 by Grand Central Publishing).

Cast



Kim Min-Ha	Lee Min-Ho	Youn Yuh-Jung	Jin Ha
Kim Sun-Ja	Koh Han-Su	Kim Sun-Ja	Baek Solomon

1989



Soji Arai	Kaho Minami	Mari Yamamoto	Felice Choi
Baek Mozasu	Etsuko Nagatomi	Hana	Choi Kyung-Hee



Jimmi Simpson	Anna Sawai	Park Hye-Jin	Louis Ozawa	Hiro Kanagawa
Tom Andrews	Naomi	Han Geum-Ja	Mamoru Yoshii	Mr. Goto (ep.1)



Yoshio Maki	Martin Martinez	Kim Young-Ok	Hiromitsu Takeda	Bae Ki-Bum
Katsu Abe (ep.2,4)	Angelo (ep.2-3)	Shin Bok-Hee (ep.5)	Mr. Haruki (ep.5)	Satoru (ep.5)

1975



Yoon Kyung-Ho	Jung Ye-Bin
Baek Solomon (teen)	Hana (teen)

1915-1938



Jeong In-Ji	Lee Dae-Ho	Yu-Na	Noh Sang-Hyun	Jung Eun-Chae
Yang Jin	Hoon	Kim Sun-Ja (child)	Baek Isak	Choi Kyung-Hee



Han Joon-Woo	Jung Woong-In	Park Jae-Joon
Baek Yoseb	Koh Jong-Yul (ep.7)	Baek Noa (ep.8)



Yeon Ye-Ji	Jo A-In	Kim Lee-Woo	Lee Kang-Wook	Jung So-Ri
Bok-Hee	child assistant (ep.1)	Japanese officer (ep.1)	Japanese officer (ep.1)	Ji-Yun (ep.2-3)



Ri Min	Lee Seo-Hwan	Son Seon-Geun	Jung Jin-Gak	Lee Ji-Hye
pharmacist (ep.3)	Tailor Kinoshita (ep.4)	Pastor Shin (ep.4)	rice merchant (ep.4)	Korean singer (ep.4)



Park Yong	Kwon Ju-Young	Takashi Yamaguchi	Kerry Knuppe	Woo Sang-Jeon
pawnbroker (ep.5)	moneylender (ep.5)	Ryochi (ep.7)	Ms. Holmes (ep.7)	Pastor Yoo (ep.8)



Choi Joon-Young	Kang Jung-Im	Kim In-Woo	Kim Seung-Hwa	Lee Seung-Chul
Sexton Hu (ep.8)	prisoner's wife (ep.8)	Mr. Hasegawa (ep.8)	Kimi Hasegawa (ep.8)	street vendor (ep.8)

Trailers

Comments

Naz Dec 31 2022 11:16 am Just finished it... Good story... Nice dramatical historique series, i liked the historical side more. The cast was perfect, everybody did his role in good way but let's speak about the best one Lee Min Ho . He really did an incroyable work. He represented the most composite character in the drama with a huge talent, a huge creativity and in an incroyable way. He made us hate Han-su and love him in the same time. He represented a different character of his characters that he played and he did very very very good showing us the evil and the good of Han-su with an exceptional way. Bravo bravo bravo

Nay Oct 05 2022 11:21 pm Read the book when it first came out. When I completed the book, I thought to myself that the story would be great to watch on screen. Was extremely happy to see that it was made into a series. They did a great job. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Renwa Sep 04 2022 11:26 am Just binge watched Pachinko…WOW! So much to say about this really terrific epic drama that takes you on a sweeping historical journey. It, as well, takes a deep dive into the interwoven stories of many. It’s a personal story told about a brutal time in Korean history. K drama & J drama has taken a turn spreading its wings to new streaming services challenging the viewers to come aboard. It challenges our pocketbook and gives us pause to determine what we’re getting for our money. I’m a devoted fan of Lee Min-ho who is noted for picking and starring in projects of substance. This project is one of them! His works me here. The cast of seasoned & new talent is superb! Youn Yuh-Jung & Lee Min-ho bring to life, as always, characters who are memorable and sustain the drama. (I selfishly would have liked a larger role for Lee Min-Ho) Kim Min-Ha is just plain magnificent as is Jin-Ha. BRAVO to the casting folks! Thank you for our dear Kim Min-ok…wonderful isn’t she? Each of the supporting cast were enlightened choices. The cinematographic presentation of the scenes constantly shifting back & forth amongst characters and over time ….worked very well and just showed what such movie making courage, skill and art look like…very effective & genius editing. Borrowing some K drama sensibility & film making where dramas are longer (12-16/20) episodes felt like a misstep here. The last few episodes felt rushed, unfinished leaving the viewer wanting but not in a good way. If Pachinko is a project to lure us to Apple TV as yet another streaming service know your potentially HUGE audience. We know the quality of K Drama in all its aspects. Perhaps a few more episodes would be worth your time & money. This comment is unrelated to a second season which we eagerly await. Just saying. All that said, THANK YOU for such a worthy enjoyable drama.

Nikki Jul 02 2022 7:22 am Pachinko was a quick and a nice drama to watch. I was more invested in the 1915 period as I found the storyline more interesting. The 1989 period with Solomon as the main character did not interest me at all and I found it boring to watch. The ending was decent, there are still many questions that have not been answered but apparently there will be a season 2. Perhaps this drama should have been made into 16 episodes from the beginning, however the 1989 period with Solomon was really boring for me to watch and for some reason I could not bring myself to liking the character. Hansu’s and Sunja’s story was very well delivered and was interesting and the overall storyline and acting was top notch.

Michael Black May 29 2022 1:43 pm This is of the highest quality from a writing and acting aspect of any Korean drama ive seen, it's not the most enjoyable one but it's the best made.A lot of real life sorrows and hatred from three different countries and very truthful Im glad they told it how it was without going into a Japanese American bash fest the series had good balance

KST May 07 2022 11:32 pm I finishing watching this series the day before yesterday. Anyhow I watched this sseries because of Lee min ho.Anyhow though LMH is not the main lead here I like this series. The story has many loopholes because the plot is not crystal clear. It is not clear from A-Z .The story is little complicated. It is ddifficult to understand even. Anyway acting was good.Specially Kim min ha and Jin ha's acting was really impressive. This was my first time watching a drama of them. The story needs a season 2. I hope there will be a season 2 for this show as the story ends all of a sudden. I hope if there would be a season 2 it will be more meaningful and nice!!!

west May 06 2022 11:27 am @Juliana SPOILER WARNING !!!

Noa is Sunja and Hansu's son. Adult Noa is not seen in the late 90s timeline because he is dead. That's why he was missing. Solomon is Mozasu's son.

Juliana May 04 2022 10:17 am Can someone explain to me: Who was Noah, where was Noah the adult? Whose child was Solomon exactly? Where was Noah missing? In my mind, I think the most important in this series should have been: Sun-Ja, Han-Su and Noah, then the rest of the characters and the rest of the events. But Solomon, you say he was the main character in this movie. I don't know, I feel like this in my head: "I stayed in the tree, and the tree is in the air"! Could it be because of the Covid Pandemic?

Esther Apr 30 2022 3:54 pm I think episode 7 was beautifully written and acted, looking forward to season 2

ran Apr 30 2022 7:05 am yeah apple+ confirmed there is a 2nd season but the release date is not known yet

Desi Apr 29 2022 10:59 pm I don't care about history.. is it just the end? Is there any 2nd season? How about Noa? The story still has not complete..so dissapointing

Taliah Apr 29 2022 1:54 pm Absolutely fabulous series, everyone plays fantastic, and the end of the first season brought tears to my eyes, to see the real survivors of that era.

Isak Apr 28 2022 9:38 pm what is the Song Name of the song played in episode 8?? plsss what is the title of that

chamomile Apr 23 2022 8:49 am @Michael Karlin Chill for sec maybe? The series is going to have 4 seasons so calm tf down. And the main point of episode 7 is not to give Hansu a backstory but to throw light on the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Kanto Massacre where thousands of Koreans were mass-murdered by racist Japanese. This event is currently subjected to erasure and denialism by the Japanese and the makers of this show, who are Korean btw, took the opportunity to let people know of the oppression faced by their people. Soo Hugh, creator of Pachinko, wanted to depict the Kanto Massacre so badly and the only character that seemed to be suited for that was Hansu. Please read the interviews before yapping.

Michael Karlin Apr 22 2022 11:14 pm Just watched a disastrous Episode 7. It would have been OK in a 20 episode series. But there is only one episode left, with a lot of storylines to complete and instead we had an episode entirely about a flashback to explain Lee Min-ho’s backstory set during the 1923 Kanto earthquake (cue the CGI), i.e., 8 years before the main 1931 story, with the 1989 story forgotten. No Sunja (young or old), no Kyung-hee, no Baek Mozasu, no Solomon. Result, the main storylines came to a screeching halt and we are guaranteed a rushed ending in episode 8. Awful choice by the writer and director.

Jana Apr 16 2022 8:50 pm I wish there were more hansu and sunja scenes because damn the sexual tension between lmh and kmh is unbelievable. But isak is such a good boy?

Serenity Apr 15 2022 9:14 pm I love this show just finished episode 7 and can't wait for episode 8 after watching this drama I have to read the book I know the book contains gems because the drama usually show the highlights

Kim Apr 12 2022 8:20 pm Get out of here with censorship! Vulgarity? So what. Welcome to the real world. Don’t like, keep your head in the sand and turn it off. You’re probably only watching bc Lee Min Ho is in it and he’s not even a lead. Which tells me you’re not aware this series is based in a book so if you have issues with F bombs or other swear words take it up with the author. Leave it to snowflakes to ruin a series.

This series has lots of historical attributes (that I’m sure snowflakes will complain need erasing from history) so if you’re not familiar with Korean history this is a good starting point. It also explains why there is a heavy Japanese influence within South Korea as well. The flashbacks within the timeline can be confusing but overall the series is easy to follow.

Flora Fung Apr 12 2022 9:07 am This is a Masterpiece!!! I enjoy it tremendously!!!!! ?

Aiat Apr 08 2022 4:05 pm I was expecting more with her return to korea. And l don't like it that she only cares about her father! Like what about her mother?

Lolju Apr 08 2022 8:47 am @Michele haha I wish for no vulgarities too. But I suppose it has to do with the network it's airing on, no censorship

Aiat Apr 05 2022 5:15 am I was amazed to know that a lot of the actors haven't acted before. I really hope that Sun Ja have a photo with her mother too, as they showed us that she has one with her father.

Ose Apr 02 2022 8:31 am Watched it cus of lee minho even tho it wasn't really my type of genre of drama but it was surprisingly so good. The acting was incredible. Would love to see more drama in the future of the new faces in this film especially the female lead and her husband. They are both good looking and incredibly talented. Lee minho of course, did not disappoint.(his acting was so good that I low-key despised him lol

Palak Patial Apr 01 2022 11:49 pm Ok I just finished 4th episode and it was good I even croke into tears. When that grandson said no to sign it was so good. Sunja in the end went to her home country.

Michele Mar 31 2022 6:23 pm Watching Episode 2. Very unhappy with all the "F" bombs. Can't they make a drama without vulgar language?

wildroot Mar 31 2022 5:41 pm Moved me to tears omg. The actors are amazing! Special mention Kim Minha, Lee Minho and Jeon Yuna.

k Mar 31 2022 4:58 am Everytime there is a scene between Lee Minho and Kim Minha, the screen explodes with their oozing chemistry. I get now why the producers casted them when they said about strong connection between them.

tru Mar 31 2022 4:15 am the chemistry between minho and minha is fireee wtf

nahatsu Mar 27 2022 8:29 pm I hardly expected to become as one with a new series so quickly as I did today! Forget the present; forget where I live - the surrounds disappeared, as the realities of what was on the screen came to life! I connected deeply with the very first episode, and I knew right away that the impact of Pachinko would never leave me. I felt as if I were there too. A unique, and brilliantly portrayed story, I adored all the actors, the screenplay, and costumes. Nothing out of place. Thrilling - I can't wait to see the entire series. Best wishes and congratulations to the entire cast and crew. Love from nahatsu

Rot Mar 27 2022 6:47 am Min-Ha's screen presence is dominating, even outshining the good looking LMH. I hope this drama continue its good streak. The lady Kims of Korea are good, there's Tae ri, Go eun and now Min Ha.

Vodafone Mar 26 2022 7:31 pm Wow, I love the female lead actress, Kim min-ha, I can't believe this is the first time she is acting as a lead. She is acting her part perfectly, and she is so pretty and cute at same time?,

Vodafone Mar 26 2022 7:30 pm Wow, I love the female lead actress, Kim min-ha, I can't believe this is the first time she is acting as a lead. She is acting her part perfectly, and she is so pretty and cute at same time?, She is being noticed

Phewww! Mar 25 2022 9:29 pm 1st 3 episodes were great and everyone acted well but i really find female lead as miscasting ,shes the weakest link here, her childhood character actress was so perfect but the teenager sunja cant act, i am still surprised for such a big budget extremely well made drama with so much such hype why they chose to hir someone who could barely perform. I always thought a lesser known name is in lead so she will be someone phenomenal but it turned out opposite. Lee min jo has lil screentime but he also does his part well. The best performance i found was sunjas mom and the young priest.

Tulipaa Mar 25 2022 7:27 pm Saw the 3 first episodes how do Apple except us to follow the series by watching one episode per week like seriously????

Both LMH and Noh sanghyun looks very handsome, I like the FL acting but something is bothering me I've read the book entirely and I always imagined Sunja as a thin 16 years old young lady (I'm definitely not saying the FL is fat) as she overworks, help her mom, goes to the market with a very strong korean facial features she is no close to any of these features so It's kinda harder for me to connect with the FL.

Nayra Mar 25 2022 1:20 pm I can't wait to see it's been so long that lee min ho made something

Ella Mar 25 2022 5:02 am Finally the movie is out I feel so emotional ?

stellar Mar 22 2022 4:12 am All top hollywood critics praising lee minho's performance!! can't wait to watch!!!

Ahn Jaemin Mar 19 2022 9:07 pm I can't wait to watch this drama. I saw the trailer about a month ago and loved it. I really like the time period it is based in. I haven't seen any Korean-Japanese dramas so it'll be interesting. I watched many historical K-dramas but no Japanese historical dramas, so it'll be very interesting to see a combination of them and Japan in this drama.

tea Mar 19 2022 12:23 pm I just know this is a Masterpiece

ramone Mar 06 2022 11:59 am Tried watching my first lmh kdrama, tkem, only to find out that the female lead is the one who played the whiny nasal-voice "kid" in goblin. The entire cast of Pachinko looks promising, especially the female lead who looks and acts so refreshing as the 16-year-old sunja. Hopefully, this will make up for the stuff missing in tkem.

Iamdumb Mar 06 2022 12:49 am Sounds interesting.It would be interesting to see Lee Min Ho playing villain role.

Lee Seohwa Feb 28 2022 6:31 am Lee Minho is in 20th century historical again like Gangnam Blue, hell yes!

Kuuku Feb 25 2022 5:12 am I'm so rooting for LMH on this one, and the female lead looks really promising.

Suetan Feb 24 2022 8:48 am Lee Minho nailed the role of Hansu perfectly. In the trailer, his gaze was so intense, and powerful. Can't wait to see Pachinko. I personally enjoy seeing Lee Minho using his soul rather than his body during acting, and how he portrays a good bad man.

Yo Feb 04 2022 2:32 pm They say this series will have 4 seasons, and of course they will expand more things and explore more characters, so probably this wont be 100% as the book I looking forward to this and i wish them good luck

stella Jan 31 2022 8:57 pm lmh ? sooo gonna watch this

Shairli Jan 27 2022 6:28 pm Looking forward but LMH? seriously? hope he can pull if off...

Majuli Jan 27 2022 1:07 pm Eagerly waiting to see the unearthed history

Alice Jan 27 2022 2:22 am I'm gonna watch this one so hard!!

noe Jan 27 2022 2:21 am first comment, i'm honored thanks

noe Jan 27 2022 2:21 am Omg!!! LMH is back! Def another anticipated drama.

Pachinko (Drama)

Contents

User Rating

Profile

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Notes

Cast

1989

1975

1915-1938

Trailers

Comments

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