Bridal Mask

Summary

Bridal Mask (Korean각시탈) is a 2012 KBS2 period drama based on the popular Korean manhwa by Huh Young-man. Set in Seoul, Korea, during the 1930s Japanese colonial era, the story follows a man named Lee Kang-to, a Korean police officer commissioned by the Japanese Police to betray his own country and aid the Japanese in the annihilation of the Korean rebellion. It stars Joo Won, Jin Se-yeon and Shin Hyun-joon.

Bridal Mask
Promotional poster
Hangul
각시탈
Revised RomanizationGaksital
McCune–ReischauerKaksit'al
GenreRomance
Action
Period drama
Based onGaksital
by Huh Young-man
Written byYoo Hyun-mi
Directed byYoon Sung-sik
StarringJoo Won
Jin Se-yeon
Park Ki-woong
Han Chae-ah
ComposerGaemi
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes28
Production
Executive producerLee Gun-joon
Production locationSouth Korea
Production companiesBridal Mask SPC
Pan Entertainment
KBS N
Original release
NetworkKBS2
Release30 May (2012-05-30) –
6 September 2012 (2012-09-06)

Synopsis edit

In the 1930s, Lee Kang-to lives in Korea, which is oppressed under Imperial Japanese rule. Despite being Korean, he works with the Japanese police in order to capture "Bridal Mask," a mysterious rebel who fights for Korean independence. Later, he secretly dons the Bridal Mask and fights the unjust Japanese regime. He struggles to balance his personal facade as a Japanese police officer and his private life as Bridal Mask.

Kimura Shunji is a gentle Japanese schoolteacher. He is best friends with Kang-to and falls in love with the fiercely patriotic Mok-dan. His hatred for Bridal Mask and unrequited love for Mok-dan twists him into a darker person.

Cast edit

Main edit

  • Joo Won as Lee Kang-to/Sato Hiroshi/Lee Young (childhood name)
A pro-Japanese Korean police officer. He is despised by his fellow countrymen for being a traitor to his homeland. Later, he secretly becomes the masked vigilante known as Gaksital (Bridal Mask) and fights for Korea's independence using his skills in Martial arts (Taekkyon).[1][2] He actually is the second Gaksital as his brother was the original one.
  • Jin Se-yeon as Oh Mok-dan/Esther/Boon-yi (childhood name)
A fiercely patriotic Korean woman. Her father is Damsari, an important general of the Independence army. She loves Gaksital and hates Kang-to, unaware that they are the same person.
Although he is born into a prominent Samurai family, Shunji defies his father and becomes a music teacher for Korean children. After his brother Kenji's death, he becomes the head of the Japanese Police Force and vows to kill Gaksital, unaware that it is his best friend Kang-to. He has an unrequited love for Mok-dan.
A Korean woman whose aristocratic family was murdered by the Independence army. Orphaned, she voluntarily becomes a "gisaeng" but was adopted by a prominent Japanese man. She returns to Korea on a mission to kill Gaksital, but she inadvertently falls in love with Lee Kang-to.
Kang-to's older brother. He is tortured by the Japanese police for joining the Independence movement and is rendered mentally ill. Considered as a disgrace and burden to a family by Lee Kang-to, Kang-to takes little interest in his brother. It is later revealed that he is the original Gaksital and he has been pretending to be mentally ill the whole time. Kang-to accidentally kills him not knowing he is his brother. His death causes Kang-to to succeed his brother as Gaksital.

Supporting edit

  • Chun Ho-jin - Kimura Taro (Father of Shunji; Chief of the Jongro police station, Chairman of Gyeongseong branch of Kishokai)
  • Jeon No-min - Mok Damsari (Mok-dan's father and the General of the Independence Army)
  • Son Byong-ho - Circus Master Jo Dong-ju (Leader of the Circus team)
  • Song Ok-sook - Mrs. Han (Kang-to's mother)
  • Lee Il-jae - Lee Seon (Kang-to's father)
  • Ahn Hyung-joon - Katsuyama Jun (Chae Hong-joo's bodyguard)
  • Lee Byung-joon - Shin Nan-da (Circus member)
  • Ahn Suk-hwan - Lee Shi-yong (Royal Count, Kishokai member)
  • Kim Jung-nan - Lee Hwa-gyung (Royal Countess, Kishokai member)
  • Lee Kyung-shil - Oh Dong-nyeon (Widowed circus member who regards Mok-dan as her own daughter)
  • Kim Tae-young - Park In-sam (Kyeongseong Ilbo newspaper owner, Kishokai member)
  • Son Yeo-eun - Um Sun-hwa (Mok-dan's best friend, Circus member)
  • Seo Yun-a - Ham Gye-soon (Circus member and Shunji's spy)
  • Park Joo-hyung - Kimura Kenji (Former Captain of Jongro police station, Kishokai member)
  • Jeon Gook-hwan - Ueno Hideki (Chairman of Kishokai, a secret organization involved in the assassinations of the last Emperor and Empress of Joseon, adopted father of Chae Hong-joo)
  • Bruce Khan - Ginpei Gato (Chairman Ueno's samurai bodyguard)
  • Kim Eung-soo - Konno Goji (Director of the Kyeongseong police force)
  • Yoon Jin-ho - Goiso Tadanobu (Sergeant of Jongro police station)
  • Yoon Bong-kil - Abe Shinji (Private of Jongro police station)
  • Ban Min-jung - Jeok Pa/Anna (Comrade of Damsari)
  • Ji Seo-yun - Tasha (Owner of Angel Club)
  • Baek Jae-jin - Director Bong (Manager of Angel Club)
  • Choi Dae-hoon - Lee Hae-suk/Minami Tamao (Count's son, Kishokai member)
  • Bang Joong-hyun - Park Sung-mo (Newspaper owner's son, Kishokai member after replacing his father, In-sam)
  • Jang Joon-yoo - Merry
  • Lee Jae-won - No Sang-yeob
  • Kim Kyu-chul - Woo Byung-joon (Hospital director, Kishokai member)
  • Ko In-beom - Jo Young-geun (President of Jo Il Bank, Kishokai member)
  • Kwon Tae-won - Choi Myung-sub (Judge, Kishokai member)
  • Kim Bang-won - Kim Deuk-soo (Member of Dong Jin's Death Squad)
  • Jeon Hyun - Baek Gun (Subordinate of Kang-to's father)
  • Kim Myung-gon - Yang-baek (Leader of Korean Freedom Fighters)
  • Park Sung-woong - Dong-jin (Leader of Dong-jin's Death Squad)
  • Park Bo-gum - Han Min-gyu (Gye-soon's Younger Brother)

Production accident edit

The drama was originally expected to air on May 9, 2012[5][6] but a bus accident resulting in the death of a stunt double and serious injuries of other crew members caused delays in production.[7] On the last episode that aired on September 6, 2012, KBS sent out a formal apology message towards the relatives of the victims and friends.

Ratings edit

Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
TNmS Ratings AGB Nielsen
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Seoul
1 30 May 2012 12.6% 12.8% 12.7% 13.3%
2 31 May 2012 12.4% 13.3% 12.4% 12.9%
3 6 June 2012 13.3% 14.5% 13.6% 13.9%
4 7 June 2012 14.8% 14.9% 15.6% 16.7%
5 13 June 2012 13.8% 14.1% 14.5% 15.4%
6 14 June 2012 15.5% 16.3% 15.0% 15.7%
7 20 June 2012 15.3% 15.5% 15.5% 16.5%
8 21 June 2012 15.4% 15.0% 15.5% 16.3%
9 27 June 2012 14.7% 13.9% 14.8% 15.2%
10 28 June 2012 15.9% 15.3% 14.6% 15.0%
11 4 July 2012 17.6% 17.2% 14.8% 15.8%
12 5 July 2012 16.5% 15.6% 14.0% 14.0%
13 11 July 2012 16.7% 15.6% 14.4% 14.4%
14 12 July 2012 17.3% 16.3% 16.3% 17.5%
15 18 July 2012 17.2% 16.8% 15.2% 16.7%
16 19 July 2012 18.1% 17.3% 16.8% 18.2%
17 25 July 2012 16.7% 16.8% 15.6% 16.3%
18 1 August 2012 16.9% 16.3% 18.0% 18.2%
19 8 August 2012 19.3% 18.8% 18.3% 18.2%
20 9 August 2012 20.6% 20.6% 19.5% 19.8%
21 15 August 2012 22.6% 23.1% 19.4% 18.8%
22 16 August 2012 21.9% 22.4% 19.7% 19.5%
23 22 August 2012 22.2% 22.4% 19.8% 19.5%
24 23 August 2012 22.3% 22.9% 20.3% 20.2%
25 29 August 2012 19.4% 19.4% 20.4% 20.6%
26 30 August 2012 22.8% 22.9% 21.4% 21.7%
27 5 September 2012 24.3% 26.1% 21.5% 21.9%
28 6 September 2012 27.3% 27.7% 22.9% 23.2%
Average 18.0% 18.0% 16.9% 17.3%

Sources: TNmS Media Korea, AGB Nielsen Korea

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012
20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards[8]
Best Drama Bridal Mask Nominated
Best Drama PD Yoon Sung-sik Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actor Joo Won Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor Kim Eung-soo Won
Lee Byung-joon Nominated
Jeon No-min Won
Best Supporting Actor Park Ki-woong Nominated
Best New Actress Han Chae-ah Nominated
Jin Se-yeon Nominated
Ban Min-jung Won
Excellence Award, Actor Joo Won Nominated
Acting Award, Actress Jin Se-yeon Nominated
Best Action Stunts Bridal Mask Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor Joo Won Nominated
Chun Ho-jin Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Joo Won Won
Chun Ho-jin Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Jin Se-yeon Nominated
Han Chae-ah Nominated
Best New Actress Jin Se-yeon Won
Best Supporting Actor Park Ki-woong Won
Best Supporting Actress Kim Jung-nan Nominated
Best Young Actor Kim Woo-suk Nominated
Best Young Actress Kim Hyun-soo Nominated
Best Couple Award Joo Won and Park Ki-woong Nominated
Joo Won and Jin Se-yeon Nominated
Popularity Award Joo Won Won
2013 13th Republic of Korea National Assembly Awards[10] Drama of the Year Bridal Mask Won

International broadcast edit

  •   Algeria : It aired on DTV starting August 2016, dubbed into Arabic as قناع العروس (Qinā‘ al-‘Arūs).
  •   Thailand It aired on Workpoint TV beginning January 13, 2015, dubbed as Nakak Peesaj. ("หน้ากากปีศาจ", literally: Devil Mask).[11]
  •   Philippines It aired on UNTV on This 2021
  •   Indonesia It aired on B-Channel beginning February 13, 2013, dubbed as Bridal Mask.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "형 신현준 죽자 친일파 주원 2대 '각시탈' 됐다". Newsen. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  2. ^ "Gagksital speaks for the pent-up frustration of our people (Taekkyon)". 19 August 2016.
  3. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (13 February 2012). "Han Chae-ah cast as female lead in Bride Mask". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Shin Hyeon-joon to make special appearance in Bridal Mask". Hancinema. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  5. ^ "신현준, KBS 기대작 '각시탈' 출연..3년만에 안방 복귀". Sports Chosun. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  6. ^ "신현준, KBS2 '각시탈' 특별 출연 - 1등 인터넷뉴스 조선닷컴". The Chosun Ilbo. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  7. ^ "KBS <각시탈>, 보조출연자 30명이 탑승한 버스 교통사고로 촬영 중단". Asia Economic Daily. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  8. ^ "Archived Document". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  9. ^ "배우 중심의 시상식 'k드라마스타어워즈', 8일 대전서 열린다". 8 December 2012.
  10. ^ "제13회 대한민국 국회대상 시상식 개최". 2013-03-05.
  11. ^ "Bridal Mask หน้ากากปีศาจ – ซีรีย์เกาหลี". korea.tlcthai.com (in Thai). 6 September 2015.

External links edit