Wedding bells ring for actor Gong Hyo-jin, singer Kevin Oh

The highly anticipated Korean adaptation of the popular Spanish heist crime drama ‘Money Heist’ is finally here. According to director Kim Hong-sun, the success of the Spanish series was the driving force behind the Korean version of it. Hong-sun believes that it is the best time for Korean creators as they have an ‘easier path’ forward to showcase their work globally.

Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area is written by Ryu Yong-jae and it stars Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-soo, Jeon Jong-seo, Lee Won-jong, and Park Myung-hoon. The Korean version of the show is set against the backdrop of a fictional universe and it shows a hostage crisis in the Korean peninsula. The crisis involves several people and geniuses with distinct personalities and abilities.

The first season of "Money Heist: Korea" also stars Jun Jong-seo (Tokyo), Lee Won-jong (Moscow), Kim Ji-hun (Denver), Jang Yoon-ju (Nairobi), Lee Hyun-woo (Rio), Kim Ji-hoon (Helsinki), Lee Kyu-ho (Oslo), Kim Sung-oh (Captain Cha Moo-hyuk), Park Myung-hoon (Cho Young-min) and Lee Joo-bin (Yoon Mi-seon).

In the original Spanish version, the makers used a Salvador Dali mask to send the message of freedom. In Money Heist: Korea, the makers have used a Hahoe mask from the Andong area. The Hahoe mask embodies the criticism of the powerful.

"I know (the original) is a show with a great fandom. But a great story would be told well in any country. Korean content is now loved by people around the world and that is probably because our content creators have clever ideas and smart approaches. And that was done on this show as well," said actor Yoo Ji-tae.

Film-maker Kim Hong-sun, who previously helmed TV dramas like ‘The Guest’ and ‘Voice’, said he hopes viewers enjoy watching ‘Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area’ as much as they did ‘Squid Game’. "I hope the viewers find 'Money Heist: Korea' to be neck-and-neck with 'Squid Game'," the director said during a virtual press conference from Seoul.

“The show is set against the backdrop of a divided nation and there are some emotional conflicts that are inherently embedded in the storyline. The global audience will find joy in watching the show. We have great artists and creators in Korea. We followed the path of these great creators and I'm sure 'Money Heist: Korea' will follow the same path and create more opportunities," said the ‘Squid Game’ star Park Hae-soo, who plays Berlin.

‘Money Heist’ which had three successful seasons went on to win numerous awards. It bagged the prestigious International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series at the 46th International Emmy Awards. The show’s direction, intricate plot, and nuanced performances have been applauded at several global awards. The song ‘Bella Ciao’ which is heard numerous times in the show became wildly popular in the Europe in 2018.

‘La casa de papel’ (The House of Paper), the Spanish heist crime drama series was created by Alex Pina. The show chronicles heists on the Royal Mint of Spain and Bank of Spain led by the Professor. The events are told from the perspective of one of the robbers, Tokyo. The series is noted for its real-time narration with time-leaps and flashbacks. The show which began in May 2017 ended with its third season in December 2021.