Set in 1970s Korea, Low Life follows Oh Heedong and Oh Gwanseok, a nephew and uncle who’ve spent the best part of their lives chasing ways to get-rich-quick. When word begins to spread that an ancient Chinese treasure ship has been discovered off the coast of Korea, the two will race against time and other opportunists to recover the sunken treasure and claim the lives they’ve always dreamt of. But with competition around every corner, will the duo be able salvage their fortune in time?
Streaming exclusively on Disney+, Low Life star Ryu Seungryong (Moving, Chicken Nugget) as Oh Gwanseok, Yang Sejong (Doona!, Temperature of Love) as Oh Heedong, and Lim Soojung (Melancholia, Single in Seoul) as Yang Jungsook, Low Life is written and directed by Kang Yunsung (Big Bet, The Outlaws).
Learn more about the new K-Drama Low Life in this exclusive Q&A with Director Kang Yunsung!
| Q: You’ve often been dubbed a master of the crime genre. Low Life is a crime drama that unfolds at sea. What sets this series apart from the previous projects you directed? |
| Low Life is my first period drama and it’s also my first story with so many morally ambivalent characters. As with the original webtoons, the villains aren’t evil per se. They do unlawful things, but they’re just trying to make a living. If you look at them objectively, you’d describe them as hard working, as most of the characters are just trying to build a better life for themselves. It may be because the story is set in the past, but compared to my previous projects, the characters in this series felt more human – even though they steal things, they also worry about others and become friends with others, which reminds us of people around us. |
| Q: Low Life is set in Seoul and Mokpo during the 1970s. Were there any focuses or eforts you made in the process of scouting flming locations? |
| I stayed faithful to the portrayal of the regions in the original webtoon. Usually, when producing a film, even if it’s set in a location like Busan, we don’t film every single scene in Busan. With Low Life, however, it just so happened that we filmed scenes set in Busan, in Busan and those set in Sinan in Sinan. I believe the series reflects the flavors of different regions, revealing the unique characteristics of those areas. |
| Q: What would you say are the highlights of Low Life that viewers should look out for? |
| Try and follow each character’s story carefully. Every episode introduces many new characters, and each of their choices significantly shifts the direction of the plot. I’d also say the underwater scenes are a highlight as they’re very rare in Korean series. |
Get ready to plunge into the most unhinged treasure hunt you’ve ever seen – catch Low Life exclusively on Disney+, now!
