Save Me (South Korean TV series)

Save Me^[2] (Korean: 구해줘; RR: Guhaejwo) is a 2017 South Korean television series starring Ok Taec-yeon, Seo Yea-ji, Jo Sung-ha, and Woo Do-hwan. Serving as the first television series from the acclaimed series, Signal producer Lee Jae-moon's company Hidden Sequence, it aired on OCN from August 5 to September 24, 2017 for 16 episodes. This drama series is based on the popular Daum webcomic Out of the World (세상 밖으로) by Jo Geum-san.^[3]

Save Me
Promotional poster
Also known as	Rescue Me
Hangul	구해줘
Genre	Thriller Mystery
Based on	"Out of the world" (세상 밖으로) by Jo Geum-san
Developed by	Studio Dragon
Written by	Jung Shin-kyoo[a]
Directed by	Kim Sung-soo
Starring	Ok Taec-yeon Seo Yea-ji Jo Sung-ha Woo Do-hwan
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	16
Production
Executive producer	Lee Jae-moon
Camera setup	Single camera
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	Hidden Sequence
Original release
Network	OCN
Release	August 5 (2017-08-05) – September 24, 2017 (2017-09-24)

Synopsis

Im Sang-mi and her family move from Seoul to the suburb of Muji County, after her father's business fails.

The religious cult Goseonwon has most of the county in its grasp, with a large number of followers. The cult disguises itself as a peaceful church but dark secrets, torture, violence and murder lurk underneath; with even mischievously darker intentions that deceive their most devoted followers.

Sang-mi's twin brother Sang-jin, who has had a limp since birth, is mercilessly bullied and assaulted at school. Because he can take such abuse no longer, he commits suicide by jumping off the school building. This tears Sang-mi's family apart. Sang Mi's mother soon loses her sanity, causing Sang Mi's hatred for the religious cult who she blames for her mother's poor condition.

Taking advantage of their fragile state, the cult's leader lures her parents into Goseonwon. Despite Sang-Mi's repeated objections to something wrong with the cult, her father is fully brainwashed. With him in the clutches of the cult and her mother mentally unstable, Sang-mi is trapped and unable to escape.

Three years later, her classmate Han Sang-hwan, the son of the county chief who is now a law student, and his two friends Jung-hoon and Man-hee have a chance encounter with Sang-mi. She whispers to them, "Save me." Sang-hwan, determined to right the wrongs of his past, grows determined to save her and expose the cult to the county. He is joined by his third friend and convicted murderer Dong-chul, and both Jung-hoon and Man-hee in his mission, unaware that the cult is just the tip of the iceberg. Using their abilities, the characters try to outwit each other in the tug of war over Sang-mi.

Cast

Main

• Ok Taec-yeon as Han Sang-hwan^[4]

The only son of a corrupt politician, who tries to save Sang-mi from the cult. Having power and wealth, he uses it to break into the cult but finds a darker secret lurking inside it.

• Seo Yea-ji as Im Sang-mi^[4][5]

A new girl whose family moved from Seoul to Daegu after her father's business went bankrupt. Her twin brother Sang-jin committed suicide, and the incident causes her mother to go crazy. Her father started to get deeply involved in a cult as he was obscured by the vision of getting his family on the Boat of Salvation to reunite with his deceased son. She desperately tried to escape the hell for three years, until she met again with Han Sang-hwan and his gang, silently pleading for him to save her.

• Jo Sung-ha as Baek Jung-ki^[6]

The charismatic leader of the cult, whose kind demeanor and caring attitude is shadowed by violent and manipulative behavior. He is called the Spiritual Father.

• Woo Do-hwan as Suk Dong-chul^[4]

The friend of Sang-hwan, who has the most fighting skills out of the whole group. He was incarcerated for three years after Sang-hwan refused to testify for an accident he was involved in, and their relationship had become strained since ever. However, after his release from jail, he decided to mend their relationship and started to work together to save Sang-mi. He breaks into the cult to save Sang-mi, disguised as a son of a rich businessman.

Supporting

Hillbilly Quartet

• Lee David as Woo Jung-hoon

The best friend of Sang-hwan and Dong-chul, who's in debt and becomes a streamer.

• Ha Hwa-jung [ko] as Choi Man-hee

The smart friend of Sang-hwan and Dong-chul, who is soft and caring. He helps them out multiple times using his deductive abilities and selfless nature.

Sang-mi's family

• Jung Hae-Gyoon [ko] as Im Joo-ho

Sang-mi's father. After the demise of his son, he joined the cult as he strongly believed that his family will be reunited on the Ship of Salvation.

• Yoon Yoo-sun as Kim Bo-eun,

Sang-mi's mother. She became mentally unstable after Sang-jin's death, and was locked in a sanitarium owned by the cult. She was used as a tool to threaten Sang-mi to give up on her attempt to escape.

• Jang Yoo-sang as Im Sang-jin

Sang-mi's twin brother who had been limping since his birth. He suffered from depression and anxiety as a result of getting bullied by his friends due to his disability. He eventually decided to commit suicide by jumping off the roof of their school.

People at Goosunwon

• Park Ji-young as Kang Eun-shil

A member of Goosunwon, who stays loyal to Jung-ki, but secretly vies to take control of Goonsunwon.

• Jo Jae-yoon as Jo Wan-tae

The second in command at Goosunwon, who is extremely loyal to Jung-ki and takes advantage of the rich.

• Son Sang-kyung [ko] as Jo Wan-deok

The burly bodyguard of Jung-ki and Wan-tae's brother, whose obese stature gives him immense strength.

People in Muji

• Son Byung-ho as Han Yong-min

The father of Sang-hwan and the governor of Muji. He's corrupt and uses the cult as an advantage point to stay in power.

• Choi Moon-soo [ko] as Chae Min-hwa

Mother of Sang-hwan.

• Jang Hyuk-jin as Lee Kang-soo

A gang member and former cop.

• Kim Kwang-kyu as Woo Choon-kil

A cop who has ties with the cult, and later joins it.

• Go Jun as Cha Joon-goo

A thug without a gang, who gets involved in the cult and later rises to the ranks of "Holy Gatekeeper", alongside Dong-chul.

• Kang Kyung-hun as Lee Ji-hee

The aide of Han Yong-min, with whom she has an affair.

• Choi Hyuk-joo [ko] as Madame Tudari

Secretary of Jang-ki.

• Park Soo-yeon [ko] as Choi Kyung-hye

Woo Choon-kil's cop partner, who wants to save people but is unable to do so.

• Jeon Yeo-been as Hong So-rin

An undercover journalist in Guweonson, later becoming the right-hand of Sang-mi.

• Lee Jae-joon as Dae-shik

Son of a cult member, member of a gang and co-worker of Dong-chul.

• Yoon Jong-suk [ko] as Lee Byung-suk

Extended

• Lee Joon-gyu as Chil-goo
• Jung Jae-kwang as Lee Eun-sung
• Lee In-cheol [ko] as Elderly Man
• Hong Sung-deok [ko] as Dong-chul's father
• Son Young-soon [ko] as Dong-chul's grandmother
• Jung Joon-won as Jung-goo
• Kim Jung-pal [ko] as Lee Byung-seok's father
• Min Kyung-ok as Jung-goo's grandmother
• Ahn Min-young as Devotee
• Noh Eun-jung as Devotee
• Jong Seok as Iljin 1
• Lee Seung-hyub as Iljin 2
• Jang Won as Iljin 3
• Nam Hyun-jung as Iljin 4
• Jung Kang-hee as Gochujang
• Son Byung-wook as Pil-soo
• Yoo Yeon as Homeroom teacher
• Kim Ha-yeon as Devotee
• Kim Jin-hee as Devotee
• Im Ho-joon as Devotee
• Jwa Chae-won as Devotee
• Kim Doo-eun as Devotee
• Lee Seol-goo [ko] as Shaman
• Lee Tae-hyung as Lee Jin-seok
• Jung Jae-kwang as Eun-sung
• Cha Joon as Bu-jjang
• Lee Jung-heon [ko] as Police Chief
• Kim Seo-hwi as Yu-ra, Eun-shil's daughter
• Park Jung-min as Section Chief Park
• Jung Ki-seob [ko] as Senior Reporter
• Jang Se-ah as Hospital Nurse
• Kim Se-on [ko] as Hwa-ran
• Han Tae-il [ko]
• Kook Ji-yong [ko]
• Ahn Se-ho [ko]
• Kwon Oh-jin [ko]
• Jung Myung-joon [ko]

Special appearances

• Jung Hee-tae as homeless man
• Son Jong-hak [ko] as Cheon Jae-soon

Second season

OCN confirmed that Save Me would return for a second season,^[7] this time based on the 2013 animated film The Fake. Save Me 2 premiered on May 8, 2019.

Original soundtrack

Save Me OST Album
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	2017
Genre	Soundtrack
Language	Korean
Label	Studio Curiosity, Vlending Co., Ltd.

Part 1

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"I Am (잉키)"	Seo Dong-sung	Park Sung-il (Copykumo)	Inkii	03:58
2.	"I Am (잉키)" (Inst.)		Park Sung-il (Copykumo)		03:58
Total length:					07:56

Part 2

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Hallucination (환각)"	Lee Chi-hoon	Kim Jong-ik	The Vane	04:06
2.	"Hallucination (환각)" (Inst.)		Kim Jong-ik		04:06
Total length:					08:12

Part 3

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Dust Wind (모래바람)"	Jung Cha-sik	Jung Cha-sik	Jung Cha-sik	05:09
2.	"Dust Wind (모래바람)" (Inst.)		Jung Cha-sik		05:09
Total length:					10:18

Ratings

• In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
• N/A denotes that the rating is not known.

Ep.	Original broadcast date	Average audience share
		AGB Nielsen[8]		TNmS
		Nationwide	Seoul	Nationwide
1	August 5, 2017	1.059%	—	1.8%
2	August 6, 2017	1.741%	1.690%	1.4%
3	August 12, 2017	1.284%	—	1.2%
4	August 13, 2017	1.689%	1.805%	1.8%
5	August 19, 2017	1.779%	1.904%	1.1%
6	August 20, 2017	2.275%	2.525%	1.7%
7	August 26, 2017	2.251%	2.802%	1.6%
8	August 27, 2017	2.960%	3.286%	2.4%
9	September 2, 2017	2.433%	2.730%	1.4%
10	September 3, 2017	3.028%	3.192%	1.7%
11	September 9, 2017	2.646%	2.966%	2.2%
12	September 10, 2017	2.879%	2.940%	2.9%
13	September 16, 2017	2.549%	2.897%	2.0%
14	September 17, 2017	3.001%	2.825%	2.8%
15	September 23, 2017	3.244%	3.846%	2.5%
16	September 24, 2017	4.797%	4.639%	4.5%
Average		2.476%	2.861%	2.1%

• This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2018	54th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actor	Woo Do-hwan	Nominated	[9]

Notes

1. In 2019, starting with the MBC TV drama Item, he started to use the pen name "Jung Yi-do".^[1]

References

1. '구해줘' 정이도 작가 "사이비 종교, 현실이 더 끔찍"(인터뷰①). Edaily [ko] (in Korean). September 23, 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
2. SAVE ME 본격 사이비 스릴러 구해줘 1화 예고 대공개 '뜨거운 촌놈들, 사이비 세상을 구원하다' 170805 EP.1. OCN via YouTube. August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
3. Jo Geum-san. 세상 밖으로 (Out of the World). Daum Webtoon (in Korean). Kakao Corporation. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
4. Save Me (TV Series 2017–2019) - IMDb, archived from the original on September 5, 2023, retrieved September 5, 2023
5. "Seo Ye-ji Takes a Step Further as Actress with Cult Drama". ChosunMedia. September 20, 2017. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
6. Save Me (TV Series 2017–2019) - IMDb, retrieved September 5, 2023
7. "OCN 2019 상반기 라인업 공개, 이서진·성동일 '트랩'→'구해줘2' 확정(공식)". Naver News. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
8. "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
9. 제54회 백상예술대상, TV·영화 각 부문별 수상 후보자 공개. JTBC (in Korean). April 6, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

External links

• Official website (in Korean)
• Save Me at IMDb
• Save Me at Studio Dragon (in Korean)
• Save Me at Hidden Sequence (in Korean)