The Chaser
Promotional poster
Hangul
추적자
Genre
Created bySBS TV
Written byPark Kyung-soo
Directed by
  • Jo Nam-kook
  • Jin Hyuk
  • Jo Young-kwang
Creative directorLee Jung-heum
Starring
ComposerPark Se-joon
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16 + 2 specials
Production
Executive producerLee Hyun-jin
Producers
  • Kyung Min-Suk
  • Lee Sung-hoon
  • Park Sun-jae
Cinematography
  • Kim Dae-kwon
  • Jung Ki-Hyun
EditorBang Soo-yun
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time60 min
Production companies
Original release
NetworkSBS TV
Release28 May (2012-05-28) –
15 July 2012 (2012-07-15)
Korean name
Hangul
추적자
Hanja
追跡者
Revised RomanizationChujeokja
McCune–ReischauerCh'ujŏkcha

The Chaser (Korean: 추적자; RR: Chujeokja) is a 2012 South Korean television drama series about a grieving father out for revenge against corrupt officials.[1]

Despite no hype or big stars, the thriller gave a strong performance in the ratings, ending its run at 22.1% (number one in its timeslot). Its rise in popularity was based on the tightly written and well-structured storyline, solid direction, and cast members' acting skills.[2][3]

Plot

The series tells the story of Detective Baek Hong-suk, a happily married family man whose life is shattered when his 15-year-old daughter is killed in a car accident, causing his wife to go into a state of shock, eventually killing herself and leaving Hong-suk a widower. He later discovers his daughter's death was the result of a conspiracy led by politician Kang Dong-yoon, to secure his political future as a presidential candidate. Hong-suk goes from loving, doting father and cop to harrowed man hellbent on revenge, as Kang continues to rise in power. With the help of Kang's sister-in-law, a reporter, Hong-suk takes revenge against the man who ruined his life.

Cast

Main

Supporting

Special appearance

Original soundtracks

The Chaser OST Album
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
Released10 July 2012
GenreSoundtrack
Length23:01
LanguageKorean
LabelSony Music (소니뮤직)

The Chaser OST

No.TitleArtistLength
1."Saying "I Love You" (Acoustic Ver.)" (사랑한다는 이 말 (Acoustic Ver.))The One4:30
2."Lily" (나리꽃)Lee Hye-in5:40
3."A Dream (Drama Ver.)" (꿈 (Drama Ver.))The One3:46
4."Good Person" (좋은 사람)Ivy4:15
5."Saying "I Love You"" (사랑한다는 이 말)The One4:31
6."Callus" (굳은살)Kim Bum-soo4:08
7."A Dream" (꿈)The One3:30
8."The Chaser (Opening Title)"Various Artists1:58
9."Father's Original Story" (아버지 (Original Story))Various Artists3:11
10."Black Box"Various Artists2:17
11."The Truth is Far Away" (진실은 멀어진다)Various Artists2:03
12."Lily Guitar Story" (나리꽃 Guitar Story)Various Artists1:54
13."Wait for Kang Dong-yoon" (기다려라 강동윤)Various Artists3:33
14."Devil's Tears (Father's Sad Trumpet Story)" (악마의 눈물 (아버지 Sad Trumpet Story))Various Artists2:15
15."I Run" (나는 달린다)Various Artists1:46
16."Jin-soo (Father's Guitar Story)" (지수야 (아버지 Guitar Story))Various Artists1:42
17."I'm Sorry" (미안합니다)Various Artists3:32
18."Counterstrike"Various Artists1:42
19."Hong Seok-Yi's Dream" (홍석이의 꿈)Various Artists2:54
20."In Front of a Corpse" (주검앞에서)Various Artists3:00
21."The Beginning of Revenge" (복수의 시작)Various Artists1:37
22."The Dreams of the Poor" (가난한 자들의 꿈)Various Artists2:22
23."A Lonely Fight" (외로운 싸움)Various Artists1:47
24."The Chairman (Father's Waltz Story)" (The Chairman (아버지 Waltz Story))Various Artists3:08
Total length:23:01
The Chaser OST Special
Soundtrack album by
Heo Gong (허공)
Released17 July 2012
GenreSoundtrack
Length7:04
LanguageKorean
LabelSony Music (소니뮤직)

The Chaser OST Special

No.TitleArtistLength
1."How Can I Forget You?" (어찌 너를 잊어요)Heo Gong (허공)3:32
2."How Can I Forget You? (Inst.)" (어찌 너를 잊어요 (Inst.)) 3:32
Total length:07:04

Ratings

Episode # Original broadcast date Average audience share
TNmS Ratings[4] AGB Nielsen[5]
Nationwide Seoul National Capital Area Nationwide Seoul National Capital Area
1 28 May 2012 10.0% 12.6% 9.3% (13th) 10.3% (8th)
2 29 May 2012 10.9% 13.5% 9.9% (9th) 11.0% (6th)
3 4 June 2012 11.6% 14.7% 9.2% (16th) 9.7% (11th)
4 5 June 2012 11.5% 14.1% 9.8% (9th) 10.3% (9th)
5 11 June 2012 13.2% 16.5% 10.6% (7th) 10.7% (7th)
6 12 June 2012 12.5% 15.1% 11.1% (5th) 11.9% (4th)
7 18 June 2012 13.2% 14.5% 11.5% (5th) 12.4% (4th)
8 19 June 2012 13.2% 14.1% 13.3% (4th) 14.2% (4th)
9 25 June 2012 13.6% 16.3% 12.4% (4th) 13.1% (4th)
10 26 June 2012 13.8% 15.8% 13.2% (4th) 14.2% (4th)
11 2 July 2012 14.0% 15.9% 13.1% (4th) 13.9% (4th)
12 3 July 2012 15.3% 16.2% 13.5% (4th) 14.3% (4th)
13 9 July 2012 20.0% 22.4% 17.9% (3rd) 19.7% (3rd)
14 10 July 2012 23.1% 26.7% 20.7% (3rd) 22.3% (2nd)
15 16 July 2012 22.1% 26.6% 20.4% (3rd) 21.5% (1st)
16 17 July 2012 25.1% 28.3% 22.6% (2nd) 23.8% (1st)
Average 15.2% 17.7% 13.7% 14.6%

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012
5th Korea Drama Awards
Best Drama The Chaser Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actor Son Hyun-joo Nominated
Kim Sang-joong Won
Excellence Award, Actress Jang Shin-young Nominated
1st K-Drama Star Awards[6]
Grand Prize (Daesang) Son Hyun-joo Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor Kim Sang-joong Nominated
25th Grimae Awards
 Excellence Award in Visuals Jung Ki-hyun, Kim Dae-kwon Won
20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards
 Popularity Award, Drama category Go Joon-hee Won
SBS Drama Awards
 Grand Prize (Daesang) Son Hyun-joo Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Son Hyun-joo Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Kim Sang-joong Won
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Kim Sung-ryung Won
Special Acting Award, Actor in a Miniseries Ryu Seung-soo Nominated
Jo Jae-yoon Nominated
Special Acting Award, Actress in a Miniseries Jang Shin-young Won
Kim Do-yeon Nominated
Producers' Award Park Geun-hyung Won
Top 10 Stars Son Hyun-joo Won
New Star Award Park Hyo-joo Won
Go Joon-hee Won
24th Korean PD Awards
 Best Drama The Chaser Won
2013
49th Baeksang Arts Awards[7][8]
Best Drama The Chaser Won
Best Actor (TV) Son Hyun-joo Won
Best Director (TV) Jo Nam-kook Nominated
Best Screenplay (TV) Park Kyung-soo Won
40th Korea Broadcasting Awards Best Mid-length Drama The Chaser Won
Best Actor Son Hyun-joo Won
Best Screenwriter Park Kyung-soo Won
7th Seoul International Drama Awards[9]
Silver Bird Prize (Runner-up, Best Series Drama) The Chaser Won

International broadcast

It aired in Japan on cable channel KNTV from 20 September – 8 November 2013,[10] and was re-aired on cable channel BS-Fuji.[11]

It aired in Thailand on Workpoint TV in midyear 2015.[12]

References

  1. ^ Kim, Hyo-eun (20 June 2012). "Searching for the killer takes its toll off the set". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Lee, In-kyung (16 June 2012). "Top Two Male Dramas Take Over TV". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. ^ Hong, Lucia (18 July 2012). "THE CHASER ends Mon-Tues primetime race at No. 1". 10Asia. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  5. ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  6. ^ "'K드라마어워즈' 대상 손현주 "박근형 선생님께 이 상 보여드릴 것"". TV Report (in Korean). 8 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  7. ^ Hicap, Jonathan M. (5 April 2013). "49th Baeksang Arts Awards nominees revealed". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  8. ^ Yim, Seung-hye (10 May 2013). "Ryu Seung-ryong gets top Paeksang Award". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Lee, Hye-ji (6 September 2013). "Israeli Series Prisoners of War 2 Grabs Top Prize at Seoul Drama Awards". 10Asia. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Ｋｎｔｖ ドラマ 追跡者(チェイサー)". Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  11. ^ "＜韓国ドラマ＞『追跡者〔チェイサー〕』 - オフィシャルサイト - Bsフジ".
  12. ^ "เรื่องย่อละคร The Chaser โหด/ดิบ/ไล่ล่า". truelife (in Thai). 13 September 2015.

External links

Screenplays by Park Kyung-soo
Works by Kim Jong-hak Production
Categories