Hyunnies Pexers Write-Ups 08.04.14

Post-Mortem Analysis Inspiring Generation : Gangsterland
The airing of Inspiring Generation in SK is over, though there might be re-airing and replays. In Japan it will be aired very soon as other countries will also follow. As Viki announced, IG is on the top list of dramas viewed in their site.

IG has already joined its peers in the gangster genre, quite a popular theme in movies and drama. In other countries, they have made biographical movies of the notorious and infamous, legendary exploits of real men and women. IG on the other hand is a fiction drama based on a comics story. Although there were mentions of Kim Do Han or Sirasoni true to life stories depicted as Shin Jung Tae, the god of battles. It is not the first time this has been done but in IG’s there were other characters demonized as well as romanticised to produce a storyline substantive enough to attract faithful viewers.

Just the same IG as gangsterland whether in Korea or China in the 1930′s has reflected a time when the rule of law is weak and the market is inefficient. Smuggling of opium,women,children and other commodities become rampant. It was quite profitable to get into the business as competing mobsters rule whether it is a local group or an international group allied with bigger broader interests.

The Dobi and Bool Gom, Mo ill Hwa as well as Jae Hwa’s gang were the local gangs who were into smuggling and basically to protect its business and its territorial extent.The members and the leaders more or less relate to each other on an informal basis. We remember their emotional attachments to each other in periods of crises.

Contrast that with Ill Gook Hwae and Hwangbang which have international clout and network with interests not only economics but also military. The organizational structure of the two were well oiled, formal and hierarchical. You can say more cruel and killing is no big deal and de rigueur.

Gangsters were supposed to thrive where officers of the law were easily intimidated, coerced and bribed if not involved in the activities. Gangs took the law into their own hands whether defensively or offensively.

But somehow towards the end of the drama the rule of law and its officers found its balls. The members of the community,on the other hand, who for so long accepted what they think was their fate being refugees no longer tolerated the excesses of the big time gangsters caught up to punish their tormentors. But not without the leadership of Shin Jung Tae who rose above his personal needs to revenge.

Though Shin Jung Tae in his younger years had needs to survive he is not your average stereotypical gangster. In Shanghai, he found his moorings and mission, to right the wrong, to punish the wrongdoers and help empower the people in the community.

What lies ahead for our avenger, now reunited with a long lost sister, a loveless existence for now but surrounded by people who hailed him as their hero?