President (2010 South Korean TV Series)
President (Korean: 프레지던트; RR: Peurejidenteu) is a South Korean political drama series that aired on KBS2 from December 15, 2010, to February 24, 2011. The series consists of 20 episodes and was broadcast in the Wednesday and Thursday 21:55 time slot.
Background and Development
The series is based on the Japanese manga Eagle by Kaiji Kawaguchi. While the original manga follows the political journey of an Asian-American senator running for the presidency of the United States, the television adaptation centers on the fictional South Korean politician Jang Il-joon.
Plot
The narrative follows the life and career of Jang Il-joon, portrayed by Choi Soo-jong. Born into a family of educators, Jang becomes a law student at a prestigious university. During a period of military leadership in South Korea, he emerges as a student activist and becomes involved in a significant legal case. Throughout his career, he serves as a three-term lawmaker and a human rights lawyer. The series tracks his campaign for the 18th presidential office, focusing on his efforts to navigate complex ideological, regional, and class-based conflicts.
Cast
The series features a large ensemble cast, including:
- Choi Soo-jong as Jang Il-joon
- Ha Hee-ra as Jo So-hee
- Jay as Yoo Min-ki
- Wang Ji-hye as Jang In-young
- Kang Shin-il as Lee Chi-soo
Broadcast Information
The series replaced Fugitive in its time slot and was succeeded by The Thorn Birds on March 2, 2011.