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A negotiation for human value turns into a survival battle
South Korean streaming drama Bargain follows a group of people trapped inside a building after a massive earthquake cuts them off from the outside world. The Tving original series, released on Oct. 28, 2022, expands on director Lee Chung-hyun’s 2015 short film of the same name, turning the original story into a six-episode drama blending crime and thriller elements.
The story begins in a building where people have been negotiating prices for their own reasons, only for the situation to change completely when the earthquake strikes. With communication and escape routes cut off, the characters must struggle to survive in an isolated environment.
Characters caught in a dangerous bargain
The series centers on three figures drawn into the underground world of bargaining. Jin Sun-kyu plays Noh Hyung-soo, a character who faces a crisis after becoming involved in a body-price negotiation while working as a detective in the violent crimes division of Gangwon Chuncheon Jungbu Police Station.
Jeon Jong-seo portrays Park Joo-young, a character known for negotiating with anyone regardless of their background. Jang Ryul plays Ko Geuk-ryul, who enters the bargaining scene because of urgent personal circumstances.
The supporting cast includes Park Hyung-soo as a vice president of an organ trafficking company, Jung In-gyeom as the company’s president, and Kang Gil-woo as Min, an intimidating alcoholic character. Additional roles include appearances by Park Jin, Jung Hae-rin, Shin Jae-hwi, Oh Min-ae, Yang Jo-ah and Lee Joo-young. The series also features special appearances by Jang Yoon-ju and Hyun Bong-sik in a post-credits scene.
A reunion of Korean actors
Bargain brought several actors together soon after their previous television projects. Jin Sun-kyu returned to the screen seven months after the end of KBS 2TV’s Love All Play, while Jeon Jong-seo joined the production five months after Netflix’s Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area. Jang Ryul also reunited with the cast two months after MBC’s The Golden Spoon.
For Jang Yoon-ju, the special appearance marked a return to acting three years after KBS 2TV’s Perfume. Before the series’ release, Tving revealed its first still images through its 2022 lineup video.
Reception after release
According to ratings collected by TMDb, Bargain received a score of 7.035 out of 10 from 85 participants. The series remains part of Tving’s original programming lineup, reflecting the growth of South Korea’s domestic streaming productions.
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