Save Me (South Korean TV series) explained

Native Name:
Hangul:구해줘
Alt Name:Rescue Me
Developer:Studio Dragon
Director:Kim Sung-soo
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Episodes:16
Executive Producer:Lee Jae-moon
Camera:Single camera
Runtime:60 minutes
Company:Hidden Sequence
Network:OCN

Save Me[1] is a 2017 South Korean television series starring Ok Taec-yeon, Seo Yea-ji, Jo Sung-ha, and Woo Do-hwan. Serving as the first television series from the acclaimed series, Signal producer Lee Jae-moon's company Hidden Sequence, it aired on OCN from August 5 to September 24, 2017 for 16 episodes. This drama series is based on the popular Daum webcomic Out of the World (세상 밖으로) by Jo Geum-san.[2]

Synopsis

Im Sang-mi and her family move from Seoul to the suburb of Muji County, after her father's business fails.

The religious cult Goseonwon has most of the county in its grasp, with a large number of followers. The cult disguises itself as a peaceful church but dark secrets, torture, violence and murder lurk underneath; with even mischievously darker intentions that deceive their most devoted followers.

Sang-mi's twin brother Sang-jin, who has had a limp since birth, is mercilessly bullied and assaulted at school. Because he can take such abuse no longer, he commits suicide by jumping off the school building. This tears Sang-mi's family apart.Sang Mi's mother soon loses her sanity, causing Sang Mi's hatred for the religious cult who she blames for her mother's poor condition.

Taking advantage of their fragile state, the cult's leader lures her parents into Goseonwon. Despite Sang-Mi's repeated objections to something wrong with the cult, her father is fully brainwashed. With him in the clutches of the cult and her mother mentally unstable, Sang-mi is trapped and unable to escape.

Three years later, her classmate Han Sang-hwan, the son of the county chief who is now a law student, and his two friends Jung-hoon and Man-hee have a chance encounter with Sang-mi. She whispers to them, "Save me." Sang-hwan, determined to right the wrongs of his past, grows determined to save her and expose the cult to the county. He is joined by his third friend and convicted murderer Dong-chul, and both Jung-hoon and Man-hee in his mission, unaware that the cult is just the tip of the iceberg. Using their abilities, the characters try to outwit each other in the tug of war over Sang-mi.

Cast

Main

The only son of a corrupt politician, who tries to save Sang-mi from the cult. Having power and wealth, he uses it to break into the cult but finds a darker secret lurking inside it.

A new girl whose family moved from Seoul to Daegu after her father's business went bankrupt. Her twin brother Sang-jin committed suicide, and the incident causes her mother to go crazy. Her father started to get deeply involved in a cult as he was obscured by the vision of getting his family on the Boat of Salvation to reunite with his deceased son. She desperately tried to escape the hell for three years, until she met again with Han Sang-hwan and his gang, silently pleading for him to save her.

The charismatic leader of the cult, whose kind demeanor and caring attitude is shadowed by violent and manipulative behavior. He is called the Spiritual Father.

The friend of Sang-hwan, who has the most fighting skills out of the whole group. He was incarcerated for three years after Sang-hwan refused to testify for an accident he was involved in, and their relationship had become strained since ever. However, after his release from jail, he decided to mend their relationship and started to work together to save Sang-mi. He breaks into the cult to save Sang-mi, disguised as a son of a rich businessman.

Supporting

Hillbilly Quartet

The best friend of Sang-hwan and Dong-chul, who's in debt and becomes a streamer.

The smart friend of Sang-hwan and Dong-chul, who is soft and caring. He helps them out multiple times using his deductive abilities and selfless nature.

Sang-mi's family

Sang-mi's father. After the demise of his son, he joined the cult as he strongly believed that his family will be reunited on the Ship of Salvation.

Sang-mi's mother. She became mentally unstable after Sang-jin's death, and was locked in a sanitarium owned by the cult. She was used as a tool to threaten Sang-mi to give up on her attempt to escape.

Sang-mi's twin brother who had been limping since his birth. He suffered from depression and anxiety as a result of getting bullied by his friends due to his disability. He eventually decided to commit suicide by jumping off the roof of their school.

People at Goosunwon

A member of Goosunwon, who stays loyal to Jung-ki, but secretly vies to take control of Goonsunwon.

The second in command at Goosunwon, who is extremely loyal to Jung-ki and takes advantage of the rich.

The burly bodyguard of Jung-ki and Wan-tae's brother, whose obese stature gives him immense strength.

People in Muji

The father of Sang-hwan and the governor of Muji. He's corrupt and uses the cult as an advantage point to stay in power.

Mother of Sang-hwan.

A gang member and former cop.

A cop who has ties with the cult, and later joins it.

A thug without a gang, who gets involved in the cult and later rises to the ranks of "Holy Gatekeeper", alongside Dong-chul.

The aide of Han Yong-min, with whom she has an affair.

Secretary of Jang-ki.

Woo Choon-kil's cop partner, who wants to save people but is unable to do so.

An undercover journalist in Guweonson, later becoming the right-hand of Sang-mi.

Son of a cult member, member of a gang and co-worker of Dong-chul.

Extended

Special appearances

Second season

OCN confirmed that Save Me would return for a second season,[4] this time based on the 2013 animated film The Fake. Save Me 2 premiered on May 8, 2019.

Original soundtrack

Save Me
OST Album
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Various artists
Released:2017
Genre:Soundtrack
Language:Korean
Label:Studio Curiosity, Vlending Co., Ltd.

Part 3

Ratings

Original broadcast dateAverage audience share
AGB Nielsen[5] TNmS
width=80 Nationwide !width=80 Seoul !width=80 Nationwide
1August 5, 20171.8%
2August 6, 20171.741%1.4%
3August 12, 20171.284%1.2%
4August 13, 20171.689%1.805%1.8%
5August 19, 20171.779%1.904%
6August 20, 20172.275%2.525%1.7%
7August 26, 20172.251%2.802%1.6%
8August 27, 20172.960%3.286%2.4%
9September 2, 20172.433%2.730%1.4%
10September 3, 20173.028%3.192%1.7%
11September 9, 20172.646%2.966%2.2%
12September 10, 20172.879%2.940%2.9%
13September 16, 20172.549%2.897%2.0%
14September 17, 20173.001%2.825%2.8%
15September 23, 20173.244%3.846%2.5%
16September 24, 2017
Average

Notes and References

  1. SAVE ME 본격 사이비 스릴러 구해줘 1화 예고 대공개 '뜨거운 촌놈들, 사이비 세상을 구원하다' 170805 EP.1. OCN via YouTube. 2017-08-01. 2017-08-02.
  2. Web site: 세상 밖으로 (Out of the World). Daum Webtoon. ko. Kakao Corporation. 2017-08-15. Jo Geum-san. August 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170815104739/http://webtoon.daum.net/webtoon/view/outsider. live.
  3. News: Seo Ye-ji Takes a Step Further as Actress with Cult Drama. September 21, 2017. Chosun Media. September 20, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920050058/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/09/20/2017092000650.html. live.
  4. Web site: OCN 2019 상반기 라인업 공개, 이서진·성동일 '트랩'→'구해줘2' 확정(공식). n.news.naver.com. December 5, 2020. May 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230521132913/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/now/article/609/0000054521. live.
  5. Web site: Nielsen Korea. AGB Nielsen Media Research. ko. August 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601140426/http://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=3_1&area=00. June 1, 2016. dead.
  6. Web site: 제54회 백상예술대상, TV·영화 각 부문별 수상 후보자 공개. April 6, 2018. JTBC. ko. April 6, 2018. April 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180409071253/http://news.jtbc.joins.com/html/136/NB11615136.html. live.