Where fantasy fights real-life demons: Revisiting A Korean Odyssey after 8 years

India Today

29-05-2025

'A Korean Odyssey', also known as 'Hwayugi', was released in 2017. It arrived like many K-dramas - full of chaotic charm, quirky banter, and a high-concept fantasy world. A loose reimagining of the Chinese classic 'Journey to the West', it offers brooding immortals, flying monsters, and a heroine who sees ghosts. But don't let the flashy supernatural facade fool you. Beneath the demons and relics lies a surprisingly sharp and tender dissection of loneliness, power, and the burdens that society places on the vulnerable. Its attempt at showcasing real social evil, and, at the same time, presenting layered characters, makes it a perfect choice to be explored in our K-Fix.advertisementWhether you are a seasoned K-drama fan or a casual viewer looking for your next emotional roller-coaster, 'Hwayugi' offers far more than just fantasy fluff. It is stylish, heartbreaking, and, at times, disarmingly funny. The show asks a haunting question: Who are the real monsters in our society? A world where the divine meets the damned
At the heart of 'A Korean Odyssey' is the unlikely bond between Jin Seon-mi (played by Oh Yeon-seo), a lonely real estate mogul cursed with the ability to see ghosts, and Son Oh-gong (played by Lee Seung-gi), a cocky, powerful immortal bound to her through a cursed bracelet. Together, they navigate a world where gods, demons, and humans collide, and nothing, not even love, is free from manipulation.Seon-mi's character is especially compelling. She has built a steely exterior, turning her childhood nightmare into a strength -using ghost-seeing curse as a cold, corporate advantage. But, beneath the sharp suits and calm demeanour lies a woman quietly crumbling under the emotional labour of everyone around her. As Samjang - a messianic figure destined to save the world through sacrifice, Seon-mi becomes a pointed metaphor for how women are expected to carry society's burdens without complaint, support, and often, without a promise of survival.advertisementLove under a spell: The Geumganggo dilemmaSon Oh-gong (played by Lee Seung-gi) is the eternal rebel cloaked in sarcasm and supernatural powers. When he is magically forced to love Seon-mi through the Geumganggo bracelet, their romance takes a deeply unsettling turn. Is love still called love if it isn't a choice? Can affection be genuine when it's coerced? These questions simmer beneath every charged glance and playful insult, turning what could've been a tropey romance into something far more complex and human. The Geumganggo isn't just a magical shackle, it's a brutal metaphor for emotional manipulation and control. And Oh-gong, for all his swagger, is terrified of the real feelings he begins to develop. His bravado is a shield, his immortality a curse. In 'Hwayugi', love isn't a fairy tale; it's a battleground of autonomy, vulnerability, and fear.Loneliness in a crowded worldDespite its ensemble of gods and demons, 'A Korean Odyssey' is, at its core, a deeply lonely drama. Characters exist in shared spaces but remain emotionally siloed, unable or unwilling to connect. Ma Wang, a powerful demon and media mogul, is driven by guilt and longing. Buja, a resurrected zombie girl, searches for identity in a world that only sees her as a threat or a tool. Even Oh-gong, who seems invincible, is just another soul terrified of being truly seen.advertisementIn this world, performance is survival. Everyone wears masks. They play roles. And in a society that values appearances over authenticity, the cost of being real is often isolated. Success doesn't protect Seon-mi from emptiness. Power doesn't save Oh-gong from despair. Immortality doesn't make them less human; it makes them more painful.Power, perception, and the performance of truthBeneath its magical chaos, 'Hwayugi' offers a sharp critique of modern systems of power over how media, corporations, and cult-like ideologies construct and control truth. Ma Wang's role as a media executive is more than a plot device; it's a symbol of how narratives are manipulated, how illusions are sold as reality, and how morality can be manufactured to serve the powerful. The show subtly asks: In an era of misinformation and curated identities, who gets to decide what's real, and what happens when belief once sacred is reduced to spectacle?The ghosts we abandon'A Korean Odyssey' presents a world where even spiritual forces can be bought, sold, or manipulated. Sacred objects are traded as antiques. Even supernatural elements carry weight. Sacred relics are auctioned off. Spirits haunt the forgotten corners of urban sprawl. The divine is commodified. And in the middle of it all is Buja, a tragic figure stitched together from fragments of a lost soul. Kind, curious, and deeply misunderstood, she represents the other: the mentally ill, the homeless, immigrants, or anyone society deems inconvenient. Her journey, marked by empathy, confusion, and eventual rejection, mirrors how the vulnerable are used, discarded, and dehumanised. advertisementRewatching 'A Korean Odyssey' is an experience beyond a fantasy escape. It uses mythology to reflect real-world struggles like loneliness, manipulation, gender roles, and power imbalances - all layered within its storyline. The show offers both an emotional journey and a powerful message by wrapping these themes in folklore and magic. The scariest monsters are not from ancient tales but the ones we face in everyday life.The show is available on Netflix in India.