Punch (Korean Drama)

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Drama: Punch
Revised romanization: Punchi
Hangul: 펀치
Director: Lee Myung-Woo
Writer: Park Kyung-Soo
Network: SBS
Episodes: 19
Release Date: December 15, 2014 - February 17, 2015
Runtime: Monday & Tuesday 21:55
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Park Jung-Hwan (Kim Rae-Won) is the chief of the anticorruption investigation team for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. To get to his position, he has made compromises on achieving justice. Park Jung-Hwan then learns that he has a malignant brain tumor and does not have much time to left. To end his life without regrets, he points a gun at corrupt Public Prosecutor General Lee Tae-Joon (Cho Jae-Hyun). Park Jung-Hwan’s ex-wife Shin Ha-Gyung (Kim A-Joong), who is also a prosecutor, knows about Park Jung-Hwan’s situation and helps him.

Notes

"Punch" takes over the SBS Monday & Tuesday 21:55 time slot previously occupied by "Secret Door" and will be replaced by "Heard It Through the Grapevine" on February 23, 2015.
First script reading took place on October 31, 2014 at SBS Production Center in Ilsan, South Korea.

Cast



Kim Rae-Won	Kim A-Joong	Cho Jae-Hyun	Seo Ji-Hye	On Joo-Wan
Park Jung-Hwan	Shin Ha-Gyung	Lee Tae-Joon	Choi Yeon-Jin	Lee Ho-Sung



Choi Myoung-Gil	Park Hyuk-Kwon	Kim Ji-Young	Kim Eung-Soo	Lee Ki-Young
Yoon Ji-Sook	Jo Gang-Jae	Park Ye-Rin	Jung Gook-Hyun	Lee Tae-Sub



Jeong Dong-Hwan	Lee Joong-Moon
Kim Sang-Min	Lee Sang-Young

Additional Cast Members:

Lee Han-Wi - Detective Oh Dong-Choon
Jang Hyun-Sung - Jang Min-Seok
Song Ok-Suk - Jung-Hwan's mother
Lee Young-Eun - Park Hyun-Sun (Jung-Hwan's younger sister)
Park Jung-Woo - Kim Sung-Chan
Kim Ik-Tae - Lee Won-Seok
Min Sung-Wook - police officer
Yang Joo-Ho - Jung-Hwan's friend
Lim Hyun-Sung - Seo Dong-Hoon
Jeon Hun-Tae - Choi Seung-Seok
Lee Chae-Yun - prosecutor's daughter
Lee Yang-Hee - Chief Prosecutor
Kim Jin-Ho - Chairman of the National Assembly
Kim Hye-Yoon - Jo Gang-Jae's daughter
Oh Jin-Ha - daycare teacher
Jang Joon-Ho - pilot
Ryu Seung-Soo - Yang Sang-Ho (cameo)
Kang Ha-Neul - prosecutor (cameo)
Baek Kyung-Min

Trailers

Image Gallery

Array

Episode Ratings

Date	Episode	TNmS		AGB
Date	Episode	Nationwide	Seoul	Nationwide	Seoul
2014-12-15	1	NR	NR	NR	8.6% (19th)
2014-12-16	2	NR	NR	NR	NR
2014-12-22	3	NR	NR	NR	NR
2014-12-23	4	7.7% (18th)	9.2% (17th)	NR	8.5% (17th)
2014-12-29	5	NR	9.2% (14th)	8.7% (18th)	9.3% (14th)
2015-01-05	6	9.3% (18th)	11.6% (11th)	9.6% (16th)	10.1% (13th)
2015-01-06	7	9.8% (15th)	12.7% (7th)	10.1% (15th)	10.7% (12th)
2015-01-12	8	9.8% (15th)	11.3% (10th)	9.1% (17th)	9.6% (15th)
2015-01-13	9	10.0% (14th)	12.3% (8th)	9.6% (16th)	9.6% (17th)
2015-01-19	10	10.8% (13th)	12.7% (8th)	10.4% (11th)	10.8% (9th)
2015-01-20	11	11.5% (9th)	14.4% (5th)	12.3% (8th)	13.3% (5th)
2015-01-26	12	11.1% (11th)	13.7% (8th)	11.4% (8th)	12.2% (7th)
2015-01-27	13	11.9% (10th)	15.3% (4th)	12.2% (8th)	13.5% (6th)
2015-02-02	14	11.2% (13th)	13.5% (6th)	12.5% (8th)	13.8% (6th)
2015-02-03	15	12.4% (10th)	15.2% (6th)	12.8% (6th)	14.0% (5th)
2015-02-09	16	12.1% (12h)	14.4% (6h)	12.7% (16h)	14.2% (5th)
2015-02-10	17	11.9% (11h)	14.8% (6h)	11.9% (8th)	13.1% (5th)
2015-02-16	18	12.7% (8th)	15.1% (5th)	14.0% (5th)	14.7% (5th)
2015-02-17	19	14.8% (5th)	17.2% (4th)	14.8% (4th)	14.9% (4th)

Source: TNS Media Korea & AGB Nielson

NR denotes not ranked within the Top 20 TV programs (including news, sports, variety, etc.) for that day according to TNS Media Korea and AGB Nielson.

Awards

2015 (51st) BaekSang Arts Awards - May 26, 2015
- Best Screenplay (Park Kyung-Soo)
2015 (4th) APAN Star Awards - November 28, 2015
- Best Screenplay (Park Kyung-Soo)
2015 SBS Drama Awards - December 31, 2015
- Best Actor (medium-length drama) (Cho Jae-Hyun)
- Best Actress (medium-length drama) (Choi Myoung-Gil)
- Ten Star Award (Cho Jae-Hyun)
- Best Couple Award (Kim Rae-Won/Kim A-Joong)
- Best Actor or Actress Selected by Directors (Kim Rae-Won)

Comments

Jung Ah Jung May 11 2024 8:13 am There are some negative comments here. You really have to decide for yourself. I've watched shows that even the critics said were bad and I personally liked them. This drsma had me on the first episode. The only thing I will say about it is that you will keep changing who you hate the most. They keep out doing each other.

Suzy Jan 15 2023 11:50 am The most intense political Korean drama I ever watched!! Congrats to all actors, writers, director and everyone who played their role in the making of this drama! Kim Rae Won, you're indeed one of the best Korean actors!!

Jil Jul 21 2022 1:35 pm Ep 1 - worst characters

Ep 2- still worst characters

Nothing to love here. The trash husband? Nah. He is trash, if not for that tumor he will never change.

The wife? Just because her husband was sick forget her duty as protector of law. Weak.

Nothing to love in first two eps.

Tex Jan 01 2021 12:52 pm so sorry for Kim A-Joong , but this drama is really weak...

Indi Dec 10 2017 12:52 am This is one hell of a great drama! I didn’t feel bored at all, it kept me on my seat, couldn’t wait for the next episode and wondered what will happen next. Great cast, and plot. Only i wish there would be more love scene between Park Jung-Hwan and Shin Ha Kyeong. And the father-daughter scene always made me cry... huhuhu... ?

sun1412 Dec 09 2017 9:44 pm KRW, JJH, KAJ, and SJH acting is so good. Park Junghwan and Choi Yeonjin chemistry explode. Love all the scenes between these two. I hope KRW will return in this kind of drama in future instead of romance.

BibyD Oct 14 2017 9:02 am I never went beyond the first episode. I tried to find something interesting or some chemistry among the leads but it became tedious to watch.

a male viewer Oct 21 2016 8:04 am Pretty sub-par. I somehow managed to get to the end, but i regreted doing so. Not one part of this plot was believable. Whenever somebody is getting too troublesome, conveniently, we discover that they have dirt on them! Every time. It's very clear that the korean people don't believe you can be rich/successful without being a scumbag along the way, as literally every single person in this show has skeletons in the closet.

Watching this show is like watching a chess end-game, where both sides have like 2 pieces left and just take an hour to chase each other around. You feel like you're going in circles, there's no forward movement in the plot. The characters are also not behaving rationally what so ever, there are plenty of occasions where a well-placed backstab would've quickly ended the whole thing, but hey, we had to milk it for 20 episodes. Not believable at all.

And this dialog. Good lord, this dialog. Nobody talks like this. Every character drops like 10 epic "clever" one-liner or metaphors every episode; it is so forced that you just have to roll your eyes.

This show tries to be like house of cards, but it's really, really far from succeeding. It's not awful, and not too boring, but it's not good. NO humor either.

smileyme Sep 06 2016 2:22 am Great acting from Kim Rae Won and Cho Jae Hyun, excellent musics score, gripping story. Very recommended

Ayu Jul 09 2016 3:48 am Every single episode make me cry. A must watch drama!!!

whynot May 28 2016 12:08 am very good drama. excellent relationship between the two male leads. Kim Rae Won is so classy!

redwatchestv @ wordpress Apr 02 2016 7:39 am A very solid drama with excellent music choices. The dialogues are rich. It's full of dirty tricks and cover ups. It's almost suffocating because there's no good people in this drama and the characters change their boat so easily. It's a very recommended drama for those who highly enjoy brilliant plot.

Afffff Jan 02 2016 2:08 am The best dramaaaa

Othmane Fida Nov 01 2015 3:50 pm there is almost no love scenes in this drama in-spite the fact that i wished to see such scenes Rae Won and A Joong are so cute together, a very nice couple, for the drama, i loved it, very powerful, smart, tough, it's like wow! i really adored the whole conflicts and dirty games between the actors, great scrip and great writer but it could've been even better if they added a few more love scenes, i mean love never hurts and looking forward to see this drama's' couple reunited again in other dramas

john paul park Oct 02 2015 11:49 am do Kim Rae-Won and Kim Ah Joong kiss in this drama? please tell me!.. thank you.

Bernadette ummings Jun 18 2015 8:03 pm Very smart script. Live watching the best boxing match every. Love this show.

M3rry May 31 2015 8:49 am Love this drama soo much. kim rae woo and cho jae hyun they are rock!! Daebak.

Aj May 13 2015 2:36 am Everyone works their hearts out, and there are some excellent scenes; however, like most of these corporate evil themes, the series becomes repetitive, predictable, and creaky. After watching several eps, fast forwarding through the rest left nothing out, and the ending was no surprise.

farhana Amira Norazaman May 02 2015 8:23 am Kim Rae Won is the best. He should win at least one award for this drama. The charismatic Park Jung Hwan!

rana Apr 03 2015 11:25 pm Jo Jae Hyeon should win daesang for his role in this drama, Kim Rae Won for top excellent actor, and Seo Ji Hye for top excellent actress. Actually, almost all the casts here is amazing!

gasenadi Mar 12 2015 7:50 am Had not realized who the screenwriter was for this drama, so at first it went under the radar. Once someone pointed out it was the formidable Park Kyung-Soo of The Chaser and Empire of Gold, I was IN! And, as always, an emotionally and intellectually challenging feast. The twists and turns, alignments and re-alignments, the back and forth - isn't that what happens in REAL life? Strange bedfellows indeed, the ends justifying the means for the vast majority of us imperfect human beings. Just a gem. Stay well, writer-nim!

edierog Mar 10 2015 7:19 pm To me the best actor jn this drama is Chief Prosecutor Lee. He was amazing.

qwertisme Mar 09 2015 9:13 am This drama is driving me crazy! what i love about this drama is the relstionship between the frienemy :D It was fun to watch the character fighting each other trying to make each other broke down but the funny part is they are still meeting like drinking buddies and talking like an old friend! But it's not about backstabbing after all!

ursdelacuadra Mar 08 2015 9:32 pm though life is what we make it...still everyone deserves a second change.Kim Rae Won congrats to you and all the cast...mr.director Lee Myung-Woo and mr.writer Park Kyung-Soo thanks to both of you..this tv drama is really worth-while watching.infact it takes me two days straight watching,yeeaah.again thanks everyone.

tytyn Mar 01 2015 6:40 am from indonesia...i love punch..the best actor kim rae won..

ivettemv Feb 23 2015 11:50 am Awesome drama. Great from the beginning thru the end. The actors were the best and the little girl make me cry a lot. Kim Rae Won you are one of the best I think that I have seen almost all your work. God Bless you guys. Congratulations from Puerto Rico.

eeeeila Feb 23 2015 12:35 am Awesome drama !!! This drama is completely different from typical Korean dramas...not many lovey dovey scenes....and the plot from beginning to the end is totally amazing even though its a bit sad when Jung Hwan leave !!! Good job script writers !!!

Shosh Feb 21 2015 10:59 pm Wow, amazing writing!

kisu Feb 19 2015 9:36 am Everything about this drama is so great. Well deserved high rating in Korea. Such a memorable drama in 2015

Tuncils Feb 19 2015 1:16 am Great one, and coming from me who never like political drama in all kinds, it should be good. though, i really hate when they played on each other's card, in the end it "has" good ending. good job writer, director, casts and crews.

funny, at the same time my own country's political situation recently picturing Punch. so i said to my self, whenever i see the local news, it's like watching Punch in reality, just we don't know what the ending would be like. and, there's no good looking smart prosecutor to be cheered on too. hehehe

Gigi Feb 19 2015 12:31 am First few episodes were great but became boring. Scenes were repetitive and goes in circle. Lots of unnecessary parts. Great acting on Jung Hwan's daughter though.

Val Feb 18 2015 10:55 pm Love, love kim Rae Won. Waited such a long time

HoSung is a b**** Feb 18 2015 10:26 pm omigod i'm watching ther final episode/ about halfway through and i am still in shock omg WHAT TYPE OF SUBSTANCE IS HOSUNG MADE OUT OF?! fk

Nin Feb 18 2015 6:07 pm One of the best kdrama I ever watched. I expected higher rates in Korea, but probably it had and will have a greater success abroad (I am "abroad"). Anyway, I love the actors' play, the plot, music, costumes, even the make-up:) I wish you all many prizes and recognition!

laka Feb 18 2015 6:20 am This is not the kind of drama to be seen at a stretch rather 1-2 episodes at once..because the middle episodes are extremely repetitive with no story development and same plot going on and on..i think the drama could have been easily over in 11-12 episodes..and the content of the middle 8-9 episodes is like..Yoon ji sook,Park jun hwan,Jo kang jae, Lee tae Joon,Jung Gook Hyun,the Blue House officer all have children with some fraud enlistment,bribed admission or involved with other problems and in these 9-10 episodes each take turns at blackmailing the other for his/her children and this happens for more than once for each of them..i mean there is no new plot or way of winning than blackmailing each other..it was as if the writer wanted to drag this for the time frame of 19 episodes and then get over with it..Having commented on the writing and story, I have to say some aspects of the drama are good..the acting of Kim rae won and Cho jae hyun,the humane aspects of the villain Lee tae Joon and his care for his underlings which is generally not seen in any other drama, character of Yoon ji sook ..how it potrays its so easy to act righteous when born with a silver spoon but the real test begind only when challenges come,also her famous dialogue i.e. Law is one for all..and the ending of the drama is really complete and satisfactory..i think overall I will rate it 6 on 10

CoolBeans Feb 10 2015 6:31 pm The drama has gotten better as the end is in sight. The bad guys are squirming and the lead is closing in on making a crime stick to them. The last episodes seem to pick up the intrigue and suspense of the early episodes. The middle episodes are repetitive like dogs taking turns biting each other with no one winning the fight!

M Feb 10 2015 7:01 am One of the BEST dramas Ever!!! I fell inlove with Kim Rae Won oppa in this drama... wow! truely one of the best korean actors :)

radiantglow Feb 08 2015 12:49 pm I just only watched ep 1 and it's sooo good. Im totally hooked up. I think i get it why Punch's rating is sooo much better and much well-received in korea than the other overhype drama. Will definitely check this out :)

ohsehuna89 Feb 04 2015 7:17 am I don't know its not really 2thumbs up but its not a so so series. The main characters keep on shifting sides on who can save them in the end. All of them are all traitors maybe except Jung hwan's wife who keeps insisting on working by legality and not surpass the law. Even ho sung switches sides in the end when his minister took a plunge downward. And Jung hwan's assistant who stayed loyal still but I don't know whats in this drama that I keep on looking out for its new episode each week. I can't wait on how everything will end. Jung hwan will surely die. But tae joon, yoon ji sook and that right hand guy of take joon will all of them end in prison or their will be a twist at the end? Mmmmm

And lastly Jung hwan's daughter daebak acting!!!!!!! She shows more facial expressions compared to her mother lol

Sarah Feb 03 2015 8:16 am The Best Kdrama! Ever!!! Amazing Performances! Kim Rae-Won, a man apart!

From Europe with love <3

lastkiss Feb 03 2015 7:43 am Love the drama! Hero n heroin are superb! The plot is good .., and ye rin ... a very good little star ..

marga Feb 03 2015 2:41 am i really do not understand the low rating... THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DRAMA WRITTEN... its true this happens..KIM RAE WON deserves the best actor even the entire cast JOB WELL DONE

haydee Feb 03 2015 12:35 am The best korean drama i have watched so far. Kodus to the writers and actors. Kim Rae Won is really good and the other actors too. Dirty politics that makes you vomits and family love that binds together. Thank you! I can't wait for the finale.

ala Feb 01 2015 11:26 am its a good drama..the best thing about it is the acting of all its casts is just perfect..other than jung hwan sister whose acting seems very unnatural..the whole drama is full of corrupt individuals ready to go to limits for their ambition other than the lead actress and the very redundant thing about all of them is they fall traps before their conspirators due to weakness towards their children..also the character potrayed as main and shown to fight against all his former corrupt colleagues does this only because his time is short and he cant continue on his past wrong doings..and he doesnot even repent for all his sins..but still inspite of these negatives I feel the suspense element and the acting of the cast would keep one going

Violet Jan 28 2015 10:42 pm Good drama, professional actor and actress. But the one I like is Kim Rae Won, the best forever.

semi Jan 25 2015 7:40 pm good job, writer. Punch is far better than your previously Empire of Gold. Keep it up, I believe TV viewers will choose intellegent drama like Punch than a sadistic drama like Empire of Gold.

hyehyedesu Jan 22 2015 7:02 pm This is a brilliant drama. Jung-Hwan's character is brilliant. Every move he makes, every decision he takes holds you captive. Kim ah joong has always been a beauty but I haven't been all too impressed with her roles since 200 pounds beauty. This one's really out there though. Her struggle between her determination to see justice served and her dying husband. I love the relationship JH and HG share. They're still so much in love with each other.

hhio Jan 22 2015 10:56 am This drama is Daebak! And i am glad Kim Ah Joong is thr heroin. She's way better than other actress. Plus she can be considered as A- list actress in koreà and has won prestigious award for her film 200 pound beauty.

For Kim Rae Won, he' really one of a kind. Forever my favorite actor.

Punch fighting and let's go for 20% rating!

Davia Jan 20 2015 11:54 pm Jung Hwan fighting!!! Hopefully love and his will to live will bring about a miracle.

kimmi Jan 20 2015 5:08 pm simply great fantabulous what a great return to kdrama KRW!!!

its just perfect the way its proceeding its definitely worth a watch

Injungim Jan 20 2015 10:33 am I unpurposedly watched this drama on a cable tv. At the first episode, I think this drama will be another jisung's secret. Melodrama that will drain viewer's emotions (and some tears since park Jung hwan only has few months to live) but no, this drama is a truly masterpiece. I've watched 4 episodes and so many complicated yet interesting decisions jung hwan has made never disappoint me. The story, the cast, everything is good. Kim Rae won pulls his role to his best, as for Kim ah Joong... She needs to improve. I sincerely think hwang Jung eum is my favorite melodrama actress, so she's the one whom I think suit this role the best (well, I'm biased i told ya) Hopefully the end of this drama will not gonna be too makjang since the plot itself is already genius

Rrhian Blade Jan 13 2015 9:56 pm How the HECK does this have lower ratings than that crappy drama The Heirs???!!! Oh, I get it... it doesn't have a famous romance drama lead like Lee Min Ho... *rolls eyes*

Anonim Jan 10 2015 2:21 pm Again Kim AhJoong plays in a drama whithout any romance tag >< Give me some freaking romance in AJ's dramas I beg of you directors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well..time to check it out :d

bluegl Jan 09 2015 9:57 pm The only reason I am watching this show is because of Kim Rae Won. His acting is amazing here and he looks very handsome,,! The show has a great story, but don't like the lead actress's acting, she shows no emotions and no facial expression most of the time. Kim Rae Won should have been paired with a better female lead,,, just my opinion.

blossom Jan 09 2015 6:16 pm I found the ex-wife's character to be annoying, and the actress that plays her is not a good actress too, no expression in her face 90% of the time,,! The only good acting here is Kim Rae-Won and he's the only reason that I am still watching this drama. He deserves and should have been paired with a better lead actress,,,!

qish Jan 09 2015 4:23 am This drama is so damn great! KRW rocks as PJH...

BJChris Jan 08 2015 5:25 am Congratulations to all involved in this brilliant series; writing, direction, acting (from great and small) all contribute to the creation of a riveting ride. I wholeheartedly agree with previous contributors, this is the best drama out of Korea for quite some time.

Sue Jan 08 2015 4:57 am Omo .. Kim Rae Won with new look... much slimmer ... I like ...

LILI Jan 04 2015 4:55 pm I loooooooooooove it <3

Davia Jan 01 2015 4:24 pm One of the best written dramas I have seen coming from Korea. Very exciting. Kim Rae Won is just brilliant in this. Kim Ji Young is just amazing!

aini Dec 30 2014 1:37 am hot & strong kdrama, gonna love it...fell for Kim Ah Joong & Kim Rae Won. the producer choice is the best good

May goya Dec 27 2014 8:05 pm Good drama! Not as lame as some of the romance dramas! I like it

Yoo Dec 15 2014 11:41 pm He is back!!!!!!!!!!!!! KIM RAE WON <3

gusto84 Dec 13 2014 7:53 am wow Kim Rae-Won is back , i lowed the way he played in ...ing and my little bride , guess this one will be worth to watch at least to see if he still got the thing to keep you glued to the screen till the end by his professional acting like he did in the above listed films ...

Adi Nov 26 2014 9:45 pm Kim Rae Won i just finished A THOUSAND DAYS PROMISE and i loved his roll on that story PURE AND BEATIFUL TRUE LOVE niceee to see you again!!!

Anonim Nov 21 2014 2:18 pm OMG!!!!! Kim A Joong is back!!!!!!! Can't wait!! ><

Firdaus Nov 16 2014 10:56 pm It's been a really long time since i last watchedcr Kim Rae Won onseen... I love his A Thousand Days drama way back 2011.. i'm looking forward to watching him in this drama playing the lead role alongside Kim A Joong.. I heard she's really good

External Links

Official Website

Punch (Korean Drama)

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User Rating

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Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Notes

Cast

Trailers

Image Gallery

Episode Ratings

Awards

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