Telemad

Political power play in K-dramas

Netflix's two new series tackle the political intrigues of South Korea with varying degrees of success

Lee Jung-jae (above left) is a wily chief of staff to Kim Kap-soo (above right), a floor leader of a fictional political party in Chief Of Staff. Actor Ji Jin-hee (right) stars as a mid-ranking politician who is suddenly made president of South Korea
Actor Ji Jin-hee (above) stars as a mid-ranking politician who is suddenly made president of South Korea in Designated Survivor: 60 Days. PHOTOS: NETFLIX
Lee Jung-jae (above left) is a wily chief of staff to Kim Kap-soo (above right), a floor leader of a fictional political party in Chief Of Staff. Actor Ji Jin-hee (right) stars as a mid-ranking politician who is suddenly made president of South Korea
Lee Jung-jae (above left) is a wily chief of staff to Kim Kap-soo (above right), a floor leader of a fictional political party in Chief Of Staff. PHOTOS: NETFLIX
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Netflix debuted two new South Korean series recently, with new episodes being released weekly, and both dramas delve into the country's complex and often tense politics.

But this is where similarities between the two end, because while Designated Survivor: 60 Days deals with international affairs, Chief Of Staff is all about goings-on on the domestic front.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 18, 2019, with the headline Political power play in K-dramas . Subscribe