Sixteen-Part Series Aims to Highlight the Destructive Effects of Drugs

Courtesy of SBS

SBS's new thriller drama series "Connection" aims to raise awareness about drug use in Korean society by addressing its destructive effects, a sensitive subject for terrestrial television.

"Connection" is a 16-part series that narrates the story of Jang Jae-kyung, a detective specialized in catching drug criminals, who becomes forcibly addicted to drugs by an unidentified person. The character of Jang Jae-kyung is played by Ji Sung.

The series' director, Kim Mun-kyo, stated that the goal of the series is to shed light on the destructive effects of drug use. "Drug use is a timely topic to discuss in the contemporary era, but a difficult topic to deal with on broadcasting channels," Kim said during a press conference held in Mok-dong, Seoul, on Friday.
 

▲ A scene from "Connection," starring Ji Sung / Courtesy of SBSKim emphasized that the series aimed to portray drug use as a serious condition rather than showcasing any momentary pleasure it might provide. He described drug addiction as a type of sickness and expressed a bold approach in depicting this aspect.

Ji Sung, known for his stage name Kwak Tae-keun, shared that he made significant efforts to realistically portray a drug addict. He revealed that he lost 15 kilograms over two months to effectively depict a person addicted to drugs. Additionally, Ji Sung mentioned that he altered his breathing technique during filming to depict the pain of drug addiction, which led to episodes of hyperventilation.

The drama series explores the hypothetical scenario of being forcibly addicted to drugs by someone else. Ji Sung noted that while the series does not offer solutions to the societal problems caused by drugs, it aims to provide some courage to viewers by telling the story of Jang Jae-kyung and his choices.

The first episode of "Connection" will air on SBS on Friday at 10 p.m.

Sayart 

Kelly.K, pittou8181@gmail.com