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Uncle Samsik takes audiences back to the turbulent 1960s in South Korea, a time of immense change and upheaval. This series explores the unique friendship and shared ambitions between two men from very different backgrounds: Uncle Samsik (Song Kang-ho), known for his resilience and wit, and Kim San (Byun Yohan), a highly educated and driven young man with grand aspirations. As they work together to achieve their goals, the series will highlight the personal sacrifices, moments of doubt, and unexpected twists that come with their journey.
About the series
In the years following the Korean War, the peninsula went through an extended period of hardship, with citizens working tirelessly to make ends meet. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Korea, Uncle Samsik tells a thrilling fictional story about two men's aspirations to improve their country - no matter the cost.
The cast is led by the prolific Song Kang-Ho, from the Academy Award-winning film Parasite (2019). The series also features Byun Yohan, Lee Kyoohyung, and Jin Kijoo.
On how Uncle Samsik came to be, director Shin Yeonschik says, "Uncle Samsik began entirely because of Song Kangho. About a week after Kangho returned from Cannes and the Academy Awards for Parasite, I contacted him with the idea for Uncle Samskin. That day, we sat down and discussed everything about the series, from who should be cast to how to secure the budget for the series. It was my first time sitting down with him for a project and I was a little stunned by how easily the meeting went. I thought it was too good to be true."
Furthermore, Yeonschick shared that the concept of an uncle in Korea is quite unique, although he understood that some shades of the same concept exist in other countries. But he believed an uncle, in the sense that people talk about it in Korea, rarely exists anywhere else in the world.
"We all have that one person we call uncle even though they are not related by blood. You don't know what this uncle does for a living. It is hard to figure out who this person is in terms of his character or personality. You don't really know if he is a good person or not, for that matter."
"I think these 'uncles' represent a type of people who were created in a very Korean and feudal society. An uncle could be your friend, or he could turn out to be your foe. We had numerous characters like that throughout Korean history. I wanted to explore that archetype. And as for Kangho, he had a massive influence on me throughout my career."
A frequent collaborator of Academy Award winner director Bong Joon Ho, Song Kangho dips his toes in a TV series for the first time in his 32-year career.
"It's not that I've deliverately avoided working on TV series, I just happen to have been working on filsm back-to-back since I first debuted in 1996."
On what viewers should expect from Uncle Samsik, Kangho says, "I approached this project with the mindset of a rookie actor embarking on a new journey. I worked hard and poured an incredible amount of energy into this new medium. I'm very curious to see how viewers will react to the series, but at the same time, I feel nervous as well. Most importantly, I feel incredibly happy that I got to be part of a series that features incredible actors and compelling stories. I can assure you that you won't be disappointed. Please stay tuned, and I look forward to hearing all the great things you have to say about the series. Thank you."
Uncle Samsik features an extensive number of characters from different social classes, each with their own aspirations and desires. These characters are brought to life by a cast of incredible actors who each poured so much of themselves into their roles.
Uncle Samsik will be streaming on Disney+ Philippines on May 15.
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