Narco-Saints (Korean: 수리남; lit. 'Suriname') is a 2022 South Korean television series directed and co-written by Yoon Jong-bin, and starring Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hae-soo, Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Chang Chen. Inspired by true story, the series depicts an ordinary entrepreneur who has no choice but to risk his life in joining the secret mission of government agents to capture a South Korean drug lord operating in Suriname. It was released on Netflix on September 9, 2022, alongside an English language dub renamed Narco-Saints, in order to draw similarities to Netflix's previous similarly premised series Narcos (2015–2017) and Narcos: Mexico (2018–2021), the "play next" of the latter series linking to Narco-Saints.
Contents
Synopsis
The life-threatening journey of Kang In-gu (Ha Jung-woo), a civilian businessman who has no choice but to cooperate with the secret operation of the National Intelligence Service to catch Jeon Yo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), a South Korean drug lord who has taken control of Suriname.
Cast
Main
Ha Jung-woo as Kang In-gu
A businessman who arrived in Suriname for skate business, only to be forcefully pulled in by the National Intelligence Service for a secret operation to catch Yo-hwan.
Hwang Jung-min as Jeon Yo-hwan
A Korean drug lord currently based in Suriname, acting as a pastor.
Park Hae-soo as Choi Chang-ho
The team leader of the National Intelligence Service's Branch in the Americas.
Jo Woo-jin as Byeon Ki-tae
The right-hand man of Yo-hwan; he was formerly under the Chinese organisation before betraying to work for Yo-hwan.
Yoo Yeon-seok as David Julio Park
The consultant lawyer for Yo-hwan.He also assist Yo Hwan in Drug Dealing Business.
Chang Chen as Chen Zhen
A Chinese gang leader based in Chinatown, Paramaribo.
Supporting
Choo Ja-hyun as Park Hye-jin
In-gu's wife.
Jordan Preston as President Delano Alvarez
The President of Suriname who came to power after conducting a military coup with the help of Yo-hwan.
Bryan Larkin as DEA Chief
He works closely with Chang-ho to arrest Yo-hwan.
Lee Bong-ryun as Deaconess Jung
Yo-hwan's church figure, she is cruel like him.
Kim Min-gwi as Lee Sang-jun
A deacon and close aide of Yo-hwan.
Go Geon-han as Dong-woo
Member of the National Intelligence Service and Chang-ho's assistant.
Hyun Bong-sik as Park Eung-soo
In-gu's high school friend and a sailor, he suggested that In-gu goes to Suriname for skate business.
Kim Ye-won as Jeon Yo-hwan's wife
In 1993, at an investment briefing headed by Yo-hwan, she disclosed false information regarding Yo-hwan having connections to the president to millionaires.
Kim Si-hyeon as Si-hyeon
Chang-ho's assistant.
Chidi Ajufo as Gallas
Production
Casting
On March 23, 2021, the cast of K-drama Suriname, inspired by Netflix's Narcos, was announced to include Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, Park Hae-soo, and Choo Ja-hyun, in addition to Ha Jung-woo and Hwang Jung-min, who had already been confirmed as the lead roles. The first script reading of the cast was held on March 22, 2021, at a location in Seoul.
Filming
Production of Suriname planned to be filmed at Dominican Republic from April last year, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the production was postponed indefinitely. Later, production started filming on a set in South Korea from last April and decided to shoot in Dominican Republic, not in Suriname, for about two months starting in November.
On November 9, 2021, it was reported that actors and staffs of Suriname departed to Dominican Republic from the end of October and plans return to Korea in mid-December. Yoo Yeon-seok recently returned to Korea in the end of October, Hwang Jung-min and Ha Jung-woo departed to Dominican Republic in late October and early November. Jo Woo-jin is scheduled to leave the country soon. This story background location will not resemble the Surinamese country.
The series was produced with an estimated cost of ₩35 billion.
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 7 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10.
Controversy
Suriname's government has taken legal action against the production company for allegedly damaging Suriname's image by featuring drugs in the series. Suriname's government, which takes legal action with just one drama, also said it would lodge a protest with the South Korean government. Specifically, the series showed a corrupt president, as well as a drug scene. However, as national issues made a choice.
On September 13, 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname expressed his displeasure about the Netflix original series, saying, "Suriname has been portrayed as a drug-transfer country for many years. We are working to improve the image. But we are at a disadvantage again with Netflix's 'Suriname' isn't just foreshadowing legal action against producers." He also announced that he would send an anti-job protest letter to the US ambassador in Suriname. A senior government official in Suriname went public about the job and expressed his discomfort. The interest in Netflix's response was consolidated. Later, Ahn Eun-joo, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced "If there is a misunderstanding, try to resolve it". In the end, it even showed signs of turning into a diplomatic issue. The Embassy of South Korea in Venezuela asserted that it was concerned about the safety of local residents in Suriname.
