The King of Pigs (2022 South Korean TV Series)
The King of Pigs is a South Korean thriller drama series that premiered on the streaming platform TVING in 2022. Directed by Kim Dae-Jin and written by Tak Jae-Young, the 12-episode series serves as a live-action adaptation of the 2011 animated film of the same name.
Plot
The narrative centers on the long-term psychological trauma caused by school violence. Hwang Kyung-Min (played by Kim Dong-Wook) appears to lead a stable, happy life with his wife, but he remains deeply scarred by bullying he endured 20 years earlier. When an unexpected event triggers these repressed memories, his life takes a dark turn.
Simultaneously, Detective Jung Jong-Suk (Kim Sung-Kyu) begins receiving mysterious messages from a friend he knew during his middle school years. These messages force him to confront the same history of school violence that haunts Hwang. With the assistance of Detective Kang Jin-A (Chae Jung-An), Jung attempts to track the source of the messages and prevent a series of impending murders.
Production
The series was released on TVING from March 18 to April 22, 2022, with episodes airing on Fridays. It is a live-action reimagining of the 2011 animated film The King of Pigs, which was noted for its stark exploration of social hierarchy and bullying in South Korean schools.
Cast
The series features an ensemble cast portraying characters in both the present day and their younger selves during their time at Sin Seok Middle School.
- Kim Dong-Wook as Hwang Kyung-Min
- Kim Sung-Kyu as Jung Jong-Suk
- Chae Jung-An as Kang Jin-A
- Choi Hyun-Jin as Kim Cheol
- Lee Chan-Yoo as young Hwang Kyung-Min
- Shim Hyun-Seo as young Jung Jong-Suk
