The Whirlwind (South Korean TV Series)

The Whirlwind (Korean: 돌풍; RR: Dolpoong) is a South Korean political thriller television series that premiered on Netflix on June 28, 2024. The series, directed by Kim Yong-Wan and written by Park Kyung-Soo, explores the intense power dynamics and corruption within the South Korean political landscape. It marks the first television drama appearance for veteran film actor Sul Kyung-Gu.

Promotional poster for The Whirlwind — Promotional poster for the series.

Plot

The narrative centers on Park Dong-Ho (played by Sul Kyung-Gu), the Prime Minister of South Korea. Driven by a desire to dismantle systemic corruption, Park seeks to hold the President accountable for colluding with powerful family-owned conglomerates, known as chaebols. His radical approach involves an assassination attempt against the President. This action triggers a fierce political confrontation with the Deputy Prime Minister, Jeong Su-Jin (played by Kim Hee-Ae), leading to a high-stakes struggle for power.

Cast

The series features a large ensemble cast representing various sectors of South Korean society and government.

Sul Kyung-Gu as Park Dong-Ho, the Prime Minister.
Kim Hee-Ae as Jeong Su-Jin, the Deputy Prime Minister.
Kim Hong-Fa as President Jang Il-Jun.
Kim Mi-Sook as Choi Yeon-Sook.
Park Geun-Hyung as Chairman Kang Yeong-Ik of the Daejin Group.
Kim Young-Min as Kang Sang-Un.

Production

The series consists of 12 episodes and was produced for release on the streaming platform Netflix. It is notable for being the first television series project in the career of lead actor Sul Kyung-Gu, who has primarily worked in cinema.