‘Song of the Bandits’ Teases Riotous Thrill and Kim Nam-gil’s Untamed Spirit

In a bid to secure the safety of the vicinity and its inhabitants, ex-Japanese soldier Lee Yoon (Kim Nam-gil) settles in Gando (a historic frontier region on the north bank of the Tumen River in Jilin Province, Northeast China), assuming the role of a looter.

An action-packed Song of the Bandits—its potent, high-octane teaser lays out guns, fires, a breakneck pace, a ton of carnage, and an outrageously wild display. Kim promptly steals the moment; he has always been a sight to behold, so it stands to reason that his Lee Yoon will be a roaring bell ringer.

The setting for the epic action K-drama from director Hwang Jun-hyeok is the chaotic 1920s under Japanese control. Following the eviction of the people of Joseon from their native land and their deportation to Japan, outlaws of varying backgrounds travel to Gando, where they band together in defense of the Korean homeland.

Headlining the narrative, the cast of actors alongside Kim includes:

Seohyun (Girls’ Generation) portrays Nam Hee-shin, head of the rail division for the Japanese Government-General of Korea, disguising her true self.

Yoo Jae-myung has Choi Chung-soo, a pro-independence activist, owning a Korean hamlet in Gando.

Lee Hyun-wook is Lee Kwang-il, an astute Japanese military leader who gets wrapped up terribly with Lee Yoon.

Lee Ho-jung takes on Eon Nyeon-i, a hired gun with a mission to kill Lee Yoon.

On September 22, Netflix will release the eagerly awaited Song of the Bandits, and the teaser video has only fueled the anticipation for its arrival. For me, Kim’s domineering presence and the riotous thrill the drama promises have since sealed its main claim to fame. I feel Kim’s character emerges roughly along the lines of the storied valiant rebel Robin Hood, striving for survival over adversity together with his allies, but he is unmistakably the hero and a rebel with a cause whose untamed spirit and disobedience appeal far above anything else.