The K2
His duty was to protect her from a world of bullets and lies, yet his heart decided to love her.
4,4
His duty was to protect her from a world of bullets and lies, yet his heart decided to love her.
4,4
Kim Je-Ha is a former Iranian elite soldier who, after being falsely accused of a crime, becomes a fugitive persecuted by the high authorities of his country. Fleeing persecution, he takes refuge in Barcelona, where he starts a new life under a false identity. There he meets An-na, the illegitimate daughter of one of the main candidates for the South Korean presidency.
Six months later Je-Ha returns to Korea. Upon his arrival, he is drawn into a web of political intrigue when he is recruited by Cho Yoo-Jin, An-na’s ambitious and manipulative stepmother. Yoo-Jin has only one goal: to ensure that her husband, Anna’s father, is elected president. An-na, however, becomes a dangerous obstacle because she knows the truth about her family.
Cho Yoo-Jin tasks Je-Ha with keeping Anna hidden from the outside world, ensuring that she does not interfere with her father’s plans. As Je-Ha’s feelings for Anna grow, the dark family and political secrets that put them in danger are revealed.
The K2 is one of those series that grabs you before you even realise it. From episode one, Ji Chang-wook shines as a former soldier turned bodyguard who doesn’t just fight like a pro – he’s also haunted by a dark past that makes him all the more compelling.
The story kicks off with Kim Je-ha, a military man formerly stationed in Iraq, who’s falsely accused of murdering his fiancée. Forced to go on the run, he ends up in Barcelona, where he briefly crosses paths with An-na (played by Yoona). Their lives won’t truly intertwine until they meet again back in South Korea – and that’s when the real story begins.
This drama blends fast-paced action, political tension and betrayal from every angle. At the heart of it is a power struggle between two presidential candidates, with plenty of corruption thrown in. Caught in the middle is Je-ha, who becomes the bodyguard of An-na, the illegitimate daughter of one of the candidates. From that moment on, protecting her becomes his mission.
The best part? The action scenes. They’re absolutely stunning – and it’s no wonder. The series uses the famous Bullet Time technique (yes, the one made famous by The Matrix), along with fight styles like Jiu-jitsu, Taekwondo, Aikido and Systema. Every fight scene is flawlessly choreographed, and Chang-wook absolutely nails it.
Another major highlight is the antagonist, played by Song Yoon-ah. Cold, powerful, calculating… she’s the perfect counterbalance to our hero, and the tension between them keeps things gripping throughout.
If we had to pick a weak spot, it’d probably be the female lead. She does come off a bit too weepy and delicate at times – but that might actually be intentional, as it makes Ji Chang-wook’s character shine even more as her relentless protector.
All of this is wrapped in a beautifully crafted original soundtrack that complements every scene perfectly. It’s no surprise the series was a massive hit when it first aired and is still considered one of those must-watch K-drama gems.
If you haven’t seen The K2 yet, what are you waiting for? It’s not just about the action – it’s Ji Chang-wook at his absolute best.
Ji Chang-wook, when he finished the Healer series, turned down action roles because he didn’t want to be typecast. But when he read the role, he couldn’t turn it down and gave it his all. He did most of the action scenes without stuntmen. He trained intensively in martial arts such as jiu-jitsu, taekwondo and krav maga to prepare for his role as a lethal bodyguard.
During one of the fight scenes, he injured his wrist and suffered bruises, but continued filming. Despite the pain, he did not want the drama’s schedule to be stopped, it was more than good for him, as the shooting of the last scenes was much more realistic.
Her performance earned her a nomination for ‘Best Villain’ at the 5th DramaFever Awards. For us, she is the true female lead of the series: her performance alongside Ji Chang-wook is simply overwhelming. The tension she manages to convey in each episode, and that complex relationship between hatred and trust, is truly impressive.
We especially loved the chase scene in episode 2, which culminates in explosions and a rescue in extremis. Simply spectacular. It has nothing to envy to the big Hollywood productions.
YoonA plays a traumatised and isolated young woman in what is probably her darkest role to date. It’s a muted character, very different from the much brighter performances we’ve seen from her recently, such as in the Netflix series King the Land, where she completely won us over and gave us a great time.
In The K2, however, we felt that she lacked sparkle, something that would make her really stand out. In addition, the chemistry with the main character is not entirely believable. Ji Chang Wook shines strongly in his role, and perhaps that difference in intensity on screen has accentuated the imbalance between the two characters.
If you like action, political dramas and protagonists who risk everything to protect the one they love, The K2 will have you hooked from the first minute. And if you’re also a fan of Ji Chang-wook… get ready to enjoy it.
It is a carefully crafted soundtrack that fits perfectly with each scene. Some songs are sung by Yoona (the main protagonist)
Ji Chang-wook in his best role and Song Yoon-ah dazzling. For them alone the series is worth watching.
100% recommended. A little-talked-about jewel of the Asian world. Great level.
Tension until the last minute. We loved it Great!
4,4
