New Disney+ Korean drama The Murky Stream takes a detailed look at merchants and bandits operating in a corrupt system in the Joseon era
Lead cast: Rowoon, Shin Ye-eun, Park Seo-ham, Park Ji-hwan
The iniquities of power and hierarchy are laid bare in the sweeping period drama The Murky Stream, a tale of merchants and bandits eking out meagre lives on the banks of Korea’s Han River during the Joseon era (1392-1897).
Rowoon, Shin Ye-eun and Park Seo-ham lead this Disney+ series as characters from different rungs of society who recognise how broken the system is. At the story’s outset, they look on despondently, but eventually they can no longer sit on the sidelines.
The tiny scoops of rice the labourers receive are barely enough to feed themselves. Take out the tax and eventually a desperate worker summons up the courage to protest, and is beaten to set an example to the others.
