Man from the Equator

Man from the Equator
Promotional poster
Also known asThe Equator Man
Hangul
적도의 남자
Hanja
赤道의 男子
RRJeokdoui namja
MRChŏktoŭi namja
Genre
Created byKBS Drama
Written byKim In-young
Directed byKim Yong-soo
Han Sang-woo
StarringUhm Tae-woong
Lee Joon-hyuk
Lee Bo-young
Im Jung-eun
Music byPark Seung-jin
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producerJung Hae-ryong (KBS Drama)
ProducersKang Byung-taek
Moon Jung Soo
Kim Hee Yul
Production locations
Running time60 minutes
Production companyPan Entertainment
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseMarch 21 (2012-03-21) –
May 24, 2012 (2012-05-24)

Man from the Equator (Korean: 적도의 남자; RR: Jeokdoui namja; also known as The Equator Man) is a 2012 South Korean television series, starring Uhm Tae-woong, Lee Joon-hyuk, Lee Bo-young and Im Jung-eun. A tense, emotionally charged tale of brotherhood and betrayal, it follows two best friends with a tragic, twisted history that follows them from youth to adulthood. It aired on KBS2 from March 21 to May 24, 2012 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 (KST) for 20 episodes.

After premiering in last place among its more high-profile competitors The King 2 Hearts and Rooftop Prince, the viewership ratings for Man from the Equator steadily climbed due in large part to Uhm Tae-woong's praise-worthy acting and the well-combined plot of romance, fate, revenge and success. Out of a total of 20 episodes, 16 rated number one in its timeslot.

Plot

One the driven top student and the other a happy-go-lucky troublemaker, Jang-il (Siwan) and Sun-woo (Lee Hyun-woo) become unlikely buddies in high school, both poor but proud in their own ways. Their fathers both have ties to a powerful businessman who orders Jang-il's father to kill Sun-woo's father. One desperate crime begets another, and the boys' friendship derails in a shocking betrayal. The attack leaves Sun-woo blind and in a coma. Thirteen years later, their fates will come to a head when they meet again as adults. Jang-il (Lee Joon-hyuk) has become a prosecutor haunted by his past, while Sun-woo (Uhm Tae-woong), the young CEO of investment trust company Royal Tree, is plotting his revenge. Their fates are intertwined with the women they love—Ji-won (Lee Bo-young), a volunteer reader for visually impaired people who now works as a VIP party planner at a five-star hotel, and Soo-mi (Im Jung-eun), a hyper-realism painter. As Jang-il and Sun-woo vow to destroy each other, the truth unravels in a harrowing cycle of deception and revenge as the crimes and secrets of yesteryear come to light.

Cast

Formerly a problem child with a penchant for getting into fist fights, Sun-woo discovers his new-found passion for learning after he befriends top student Jang-il. One day, Kyung-pil, whom he looked up to as a father, dies mysteriously. While trying to discover the truth behind his death, Sun-woo gets into a fatal accident. Years later, he establishes himself as a successful businessman. His new goal now is to solve the mystery behind Kyung-pil's death while coming face to face with his former childhood best friend and nemesis, Jang-il.
Jang-il is from a poor family and grew up in the countryside. From a young age, he excelled in his academic studies, dreaming of one day making it in the real world. His efforts pay off and he becomes a celebrated public prosecutor. Jang-il's greed and ambition for fame and fortune makes him betray his childhood best friend Sun-woo, and he must now live with his dark and lonely secret.
Sun-woo's biological father
Sun-woo's adoptive father, a timid but kind man.

Ratings

In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

Episode # Original broadcast date Average audience share
TNmS Ratings AGB Nielsen
Nationwide Seoul National Capital Area Nationwide Seoul National Capital Area
1 21 March 2012 7.9% 8.7% 7.7% 8.0%
2 22 March 2012 8.1% 9.1% 8.1% 8.2%
3 28 March 2012 8.7% 9.0% 8.1% 8.2%
4 29 March 2012 8.9% 9.5% 8.5% 8.9%
5 4 April 2012 11.4% 12.6% 10.2% 10.7%
6 5 April 2012 9.6% 11.1% 10.2% 10.5%
7 11 April 2012 13.1% 15.8% 14.3% 15.4%
8 12 April 2012 11.7% 13.4% 10.8% 11.2%
9 18 April 2012 12.1% 13.4% 12.0% 12.6%
10 19 April 2012 13.3% 14.7% 13.1% 13.9%
11 25 April 2012 15.6% 16.7% 15.0% 15.7%
12 26 April 2012 13.6% 15.7% 15.2% 16.1%
13 2 May 2012 13.4% 15.0% 14.7% 15.3%
14 3 May 2012 13.1% 14.6% 13.9% 14.9%
15 9 May 2012 12.5% 15.5% 14.6% 16.0%
16 10 May 2012 12.9% 14.5% 14.2% 15.5%
17 16 May 2012 13.5% 15.4% 15.1% 15.3%
18 17 May 2012 13.6% 16.4% 14.2% 14.9%
19 23 May 2012 12.8% 14.8% 14.3% 15.5%
20 24 May 2012 13.8% 16.3% 14.1% 15.1%
Average12.0%13.6%12.4%%13.1%

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012 5th Korea Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Uhm Tae-woong Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress Kim Hye-eun Nominated
1st K-Drama Star Awards Excellence Award, Actor Uhm Tae-woong Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Uhm Tae-woong Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress Lee Bo-young Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Uhm Tae-woong Won
Lee Joon-hyuk Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama Lee Bo-young Won
Actor of the Year
(awarded by PDs from all three broadcasters)		 Uhm Tae-woong Won
Best New Actor Lee Hyun-woo Nominated
Best New Actress Park Se-young Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Lee Jae-yong Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Cha Hwa-yeon Nominated
2013 49th Baeksang Arts Awards Best TV Actor Uhm Tae-woong Nominated

References

  1. ↑ เจ๊จี (2015-10-27). รวมซีรีส์เกาหลี ถ่ายทำที่ประเทศไทย. Sanook (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  2. ↑ Yu, Ah-jeong (21 February 2012). "Three hunks heat up spring TV season". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  3. ↑ Jeon, Ji-young (28 March 2012). "Um Tae Woong and Lee Joon Hyuk Present Friendly Relationship in Man From the Equator". KBS Global. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  4. ↑ Ho, Stewart (20 April 2012). "Uhm Tae Woong and Lee Joon Hyuk Make Script Rehearsing Look Good for Equator Man". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  5. ↑ Choi, Eun-hwa (7 April 2012). "Uhm Tae Woong Garners Praise for His Acting in Equator Man". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  6. ↑ Lee, In-kyung (18 April 2012). "Will Uhm Tae Woong's Transformation in Equator Man Help it to Surpass Rooftop Prince?". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  7. ↑ "Um Tae Woong's Excellent Acting Enraptures Viewers". KBS Global. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  8. ↑ Ho, Stewart (19 April 2012). "Equator Man Beats Out King 2Hearts and Rooftop Prince, Becomes Most Watched Drama". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  9. ↑ Lee, In-kyung (12 April 2012). "The Equator Man Records Highest Ratings Yet". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ Lee, Dong-hyun (27 April 2012). "What Helped The Equator Man Come Out on Top?". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  11. ↑ Hong, Lucia (11 May 2012). "Man From the Equator continues to eclipse over competition". Asiae. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  12. ↑ Suk, Monica (25 May 2012). "Curtains close on Rooftop Prince, The King 2Hearts, Man From the Equator". Asiae. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  13. ↑ "Im Si Wan and Lee Hyun Woo To Have Confrontation in Man From the Equator". KBS Global. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  14. ↑ Suk, Monica (5 April 2012). "REVIEW: KBS drama Man From the Equator - 5th Episode". 10Asia. Archived from the original on 2014-07-17. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  15. ↑ Ho, Stewart (25 April 2012). "Uhm Tae Woong Confronts Father's Killers on This Week's The Equator Man". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.[permanent dead link]
  16. ↑ "Goddess From the Equator". KBS Global. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  17. ↑ Jeon, Ji-young (7 May 2012). "Um Tae Woong and Lee Bo Young Begin Romance". KBS Global. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  18. ↑ "The Day Eom Tae-ung Confessed the Truth to Lee Bo-yeong". KBS Global. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  19. ↑ "Seonu and Jiwon Date with Braille Book at Midnight". KBS Global. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  20. ↑ Ho, Stewart (23 May 2012). "ZE:A's Im Si Wan, Lee Hyun Woo Makes a Return to The Equator Man". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ↑ "TNmS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNmS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  22. ↑ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2013-12-26. Retrieved 2012-03-21.