Trailer for Korean Fantasy-Tinged Rom-Com RADIO DAYS Impresses

Korea’s Radio Days - a romantic comedy with political and fantasy overtones - is one that has slipped through the cracks here a little bit, but no more!  I have just taken a look at the first trailer and I am besotted.  This is an unusual picture on a couple of levels.  First, it is a comedy set very explicitly during the Japanese occupation of Korea, which is still a very touchy subject and one very unlikely to be plumbed for comedic depth.  Second, while I wouldn’t want to swear that this is Ryu Seung Beum’s first time playing in a period piece - every inch of him a thoroughly contemporary media darling - it is certainly the first time I’ve seen him do so and if his performance in the trailer is any indication I suspect he’ll be getting a lot of calls offering similar parts in the future:  it fits him, shockingly, to a t.  Anyway, the synopsis:

In April 1933, Korea’s Japanese occupiers launched the country’s first radio station, JODK. It broadcasts propoganda so as to better brainwash the Korean people into becoming loyal Japanese citizens. In need of a Korean producer for a radio drama about the greatness of Japan’s Asian Empire, they appoint Lloyd Park (Ryu Seung-bum), a young man who has only joined the radio station through his father’s connections.

Lloyd, who is more interested in womanizing than working, has no intention to produce the propaganda program until he is introduced to beautiful jazz singer Mary (Kim Sa-rang). Because she wants a boyfriend with a respectable job, Lloyd signs up. They are joined by alcoholic announcer Man-chul, gisaeng (traditional Korean singing and dancing girl) Myung-wol (Hwang Bo-ra), errand boy Soon-duk and a vulgar novelist No Bong-al (Kim Rwi-ha).

As expected, their drama “The Flame of Love” is a mess from the very beginning. Believing that the drama needs realistic sounds effects, Lloyd hires K (Jong-hyuk LEE) who in his spare time works for the resistance. Thanks to K’s outstanding contribution, the drama becomes popular among the growing number of radio owners. As the drama comes to its much anticipated conclusion, the Japanese occupiers want to intervene to give it the appropriate ending…

A comedy set in the midst of a very sensitive political time, never mind one with some light fantasy touches, seems like a bit of a stretch but Welcome To Dongmakgol proved that Korea can pull off exactly this blend of influences and ideas and this looks as though it may well live up to that very impressive film.  You’ll find the trailer embedded below the break in the Twitch Video Player.