Director Kim Han-min’s trilogy depicting the life of Admiral Yi Sun-sin concludes with the release of its final chapter, “Noryang: Deadly Sea.” The series commenced with “The Admiral: Roaring Currents” in 2014, which became a monumental success by attracting 17.6 million viewers, securing its place as the highest-grossing Korean film of all time. Following its success, the sequel “Hansan: Rising Dragon” premiered in 2022, drawing in 7.26 million viewers.
On December 20, 2023, “Noryang: Deadly Sea” debuted with an opening day attendance of 216,000. In comparison to its predecessors, “Noryang: Deadly Sea” faces a daunting challenge in surpassing their opening day records. “The Admiral: Roaring Currents” debuted with 680,000 viewers, while “The Fortress” amassed 380,000 viewers on its premiere day. Thus, it remains to be seen whether “Noryang: Deadly Sea” can replicate the box office success of its predecessors.
official trailer of “Noryang: Deadly Sea”
synopsis of “Noryang: Deadly Sea”
With the passing of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the end of the seven-year Imjin War becomes imminent. In the wake of their leader’s demise, the Japanese forces are driven to broker a deal with Ming Dynasty. However, Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Joseon remains steadfast in his resolve, refusing to allow any of the invaders to evade accountability as he prepares for the final battle.
casting of “Noryang: Deadly Sea”
Kim Yun-seok Portrays Yi Sun-sin
A brilliant naval commander of Joseon burdened with the fate of his homeland amidst the tumultuous Imjin War. Fighting both the invading Japanese forces and the inept government from within, the end of the seven-year conflict looms. However, knowing that it will return if left unchecked, he refuses to let a single enemy escape unpunished.
One of the notable aspects of director Kim Han-min’s “Admiral Yi Sun-sin” trilogy is the portrayal of the lead character Yi Sun-sin by different actors in each film. In “The Admiral: Roaring Currents,” it was played by Park Hae-il, in “Battle of Hansan: The Awakening,” by Choi Min-sik, and in the latest installment “The Admiral: Noryang: Deadly Sea,” by Kim Yun-seok.
Baek Yoon-sik Portrays Shimazu Yoshihiro
A Japanese veteran renowned for nearly annihilating Joseon’s naval forces at the Battle of Chilcheonlyang. His remaining mission is to safely retreat his troops back to Japan, surpassing Yi Sun-sin.
Jeong Jae-young Portrays Jinrin
A Ming Dynasty naval commander. Considering the advantageous offer from the Japanese, eager to swiftly conclude the seemingly endless war.
Heo Joon-ho Portrays Deok Ja-ryong
A Ming Dynasty naval vice-admiral. Despite being a Ming general, he showed great favor to Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
Kim Sung-kyu Portrays Junsa
Originally a soldier in the Japanese army, he defected to the Joseon forces after becoming a prisoner during battle, inspired by Yi Sun-sin. He later served as a spy infiltrating enemy lines, proficient even in the Korean language.
In “The Admiral: Roaring Currents,” the role of Junsa was portrayed by Japanese actor Otani Ryohei. Kim Sung-kyu took over the role from “Hansan: Rising Dragon” onwards.
production crew of “Noryang: Deadly Sea”
The direction of the series was helmed by director Kim Hyun-min, while the screenplay was a collaborative effort between Kim Hyun-min, Yoon Hong-gi, and Lee Na-ra. Yoon Hong-gi, known for his work on scripts like “Secretly, Greatly,” “The Admiral: Roaring Currents,” and “Hansan: Rising Dragon,” contributed to the writing process.
Director Kim Han-min earned the distinction of being the highest-grossing film director in Korean history with “The Admiral: Roaring Currents.” However, despite his success, criticisms have been leveled against him. A notable concern haunting Kim’s filmography is the persistent accusation of plagiarism. From his debut film “Paradise Murdered” to “Handphone” and “War of the Arrows,” each of his works preceding the Admiral Yi Sun-sin series has been entangled in controversies over alleged plagiarism. “War of the Arrows” particularly drew ire for blatantly copying scenes from Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto.”
While the Admiral Yi Sun-sin trilogy may have avoided plagiarism issues, Kim Han-min will still need to prove himself in future projects.
Nevertheless, the fact remains that investing over a decade in crafting the Admiral Yi Sun-sin trilogy to such a high standard merits acknowledgment and praise.
behind the scene of “Noryang: Deadly Sea”
- Since there’s mention of a post-credits scene, it’s advisable for viewers to remain seated until the very end, even after the movie concludes.
- Despite depicting numerous deaths in war scenes, including scenes of severed heads placed in coffins, the film received a 12+ age rating. Interestingly, the recently released Coupang Play drama “Boyhood” received a rating of not suitable for youth due to high school students fighting, drinking, and smoking.
- “Noryang: Deadly Sea” opted to release alongside films like “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” avoiding direct competition with “12.12: The Day.”
- The film features many special appearances, including Ahn Sung-ki, Bae Han-sung, Park Yong-woo, Lee Je-hoon, Ye Jin-gu, and Gong Myung.
- With a production budget totaling 346 billion won, including marketing expenses, the breakeven point for the film is estimated to be between 7.2 to 7.5 million viewers.
- Unlike its predecessor “Hansan: Rising Dragon,” which premiered on the OTT platform Coupang Play just a month after its theatrical release, there are currently no rumors of an early OTT release for “Noryang: Deadly Sea.”
- Lead actors Kim Yoon-seok and Baek Yoon-sik are well-known for their roles as Agwi and Pyung Gyung-jang in director Choi Dong-hoon’s film “The War of Flowers.” They have also appeared together in films like “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Jeon Woochi,” and “Like a Virgin.”
- Some audience have expressed discomfort with the darkness of the battle scenes, a sentiment echoed in recent films and dramas where darkness affects clarity and dialogue delivery. It’s crucial for directors and producers to address such feedback. In reality, the Battle of Noryang was fought at night.
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