Sisyphus: The Myth

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Sisyphus: The Myth
Sisyphus The Myth.jpeg
Promotional poster
Hangul시지프스: the myth
Genre
Created byJTBC
Written by
  • Lee Je-in
  • Jeon Chan-ho
Directed byJin Hyuk
Starring
ComposersChung Ye Kyung
Oh Jun Sung
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producerJung Seung-son
Producers
  • Park Joon-seo
  • Park Sang-eok
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Distributor
Budget₩20-25 billion[1][2]
(~US$18-22 million)
Release
Original networkJTBC
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Audio formatDolby Digital
Original releaseFebruary 17 (2021-02-17) –
April 8, 2021 (2021-04-08)
External links
Website
Production website

Sisyphus: The Myth[3][4] (Korean: 시지프스: the myth; RR: Sijipeuseu: the myth), also known as Sisyphus,[5] is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye.[6] Labeled as "JTBC's 10th Anniversary Special Drama", it aired on JTBC from February 17 to April 8, 2021;[7][8] each episode is released on Netflix in South Korea and internationally after their television broadcast every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:00 (KST).[9][10]

Synopsis[]

Sisyphus: The Myth tells the story of a genius engineer named Han Tae-sul (Cho Seung-woo), who tries to uncover the truth behind his older brother's death, and a mysterious woman called Gang Seo-hae (Park Shin-hye), who travels back in time to help him save the world from imminent danger.

Cast[]

Main[]

A genius engineer, CEO and the co-founder of the company Quantum and Time. Rude and arrogant at first, he later becomes more understanding after meeting Seo-hae. He gets involved in a conspiracy to start a war when he saves flight he was in from crashing down on the ground, only to see unexplained things that lead him to uncovering the real reason behind his older brother's unexplained death.
A mysterious woman from the future intent on saving the war ravaged world from destruction. She is the daughter of Dong-ki. She lived in a bunker for eight years before coming out to explore and scavenge the war-torn Korea. Battle-hardened elite warrior, she travels to the past to save Tae-sul from death and prevent him from inventing the Uploader, a time machine capable of launching people and things to the past, including a nuke.

Supporting[]

  • Heo Joon-seok as Han Tae-san
    • Cha Sung-je as young Han Tae-san
Tae-sul's protective older brother who supposedly died ten years ago. He faked his death to track down Sigma, whom he found out to be his younger brother's former classmate and the mastermind behind the future war as well as the rise of Tae-sul as the CEO of Quantum and Time.
A former restaurant worker who becomes wealthy with Seo-hae's help, he aids the lead characters because of his fondness towards Seo-hae.

Quantum and Time[]

Co-CEO of Quantum and Time and Tae-sul's best friend, though their friendship begins to drift apart due to Tae-sul's erratic behavior.
A psychiatrist and daughter of the chairman of Quantum and Time, Kim Han-yong. She previously dated Han Tae-sul before becoming the fiancée of Eddie Kim, though they later break up. Like her father, she is in league with Sigma.
A future version of her, named "Agnes", later appears, running an orphanage for children who crossed over from the future to the past. She is part of the Advance Team.
  • Jeon Gook-hwan as Kim Han-yong
The chairman of Quantum and Time and Seo-jin's father, who aids Sigma to cure his wife of ALS.
  • Tae Won-seok as Yeo Bong-sun
Tae-sul's loyal assistant and bodyguard. He is later in a vegetative state after the shooting at the Busan Expo, waking up during the war and learning of Tae-sul's death in the past. He tries to change the future when Seo-hae encounters him on her way to the Uploader.

The Control Bureau[]

The head of the 7th division of the Immigration and Foreign Affairs, also known as the Control Bureau. He is a former NIS agent.
  • Yang Joon-mo as Choi Yeon-sik
A high-ranking agent in the 7th division of the Control Bureau.
A newcomer Control Bureau agent and a former cop, intent on killing Seo-hae, who he believes killed his mother. He is also a colleague of Dong-ki.
  • Park Young-bin as Kwon Hyuk-bum
An agent in the 7th division of the Control Bureau.
  • Lim Ji-sub as Ma Yong-suk
An agent in the 7th division of the Control Bureau.

Asia Mart[]

A man from the future who runs Asia Mart, a convenience store on the outside and a broker business dedicated to helping time-travelers in the inside. He is a member of the Advance Team.
  • Jung Ha-joon as Uhm Seon-ho
  • Lee Myeong-ro as Uhm Seon-jae
  • Lee Si-woo as Bing Bing/Lee Ji-hun
Park Hyeong-do's long lost biological daughter from the future. She came to the past ahead of her mother and has been waiting ever since. She wasn't sure to tell Hyeong-do about her true identity, only to be exposed to Hyeong-do by Tae-sul.

Sigma[]

A mysterious character from the future who has been manipulating past events in his favor. He was Tae-sul's former classmate in elementary school. He was abused by his father, leading him to kill his father with a science formula he learned from Tae-sul. Due to his rough childhood, he developed a sense of loneliness and thought that his mandate was to destroy the world. In the future, he is the leader of the Advance Team.
  • Lee Jae-won as Kim Dong-hyeon
A fund manager who helps Sigma develop his business in the stock market. At first, he was just a stock manager/advisor to Seo Won-ju and didn't believe that he would predict stock exchanges. After seeing that Won-ju's prediction of the stock market was true, he became rich. He tried to warn Tae-sul about the incoming war, only to be killed by Won-ju. (Ep. 1 & 8)

Others[]

  • Kim Jong-tae as Kang Dong-ki
Seo-hae's father, who teaches her how to survive during the war. He is a veteran Senior Inspector of the National Police Agency and former colleague of Jung Hyun-gi.
  • Lee Yeon-soo as Lee Eun-hee
Seo-hae's mother, who sacrifices herself to save her husband and daughter at the beginning of the war.
  • Kim Hee-ryeong as Kim Han-yong's wife
A woman with ALS, her husband and daughter are desperate to cure her through any means necessary, even if it means betraying their friends.
  • Shin Young-jin as Choi Jae-sun's mother.
  • Ha Yu-ri as Choi Go-eun[12]
Choi Jae-sun's sister.

Special appearances[]

  • Kim Byung-chun as the owner of the Chinese restaurant where Jae-sun works (Ep. 1–2)
He is the owner of the Chinese restaurant and has vowed that he would not die of suicide. He is later killed by the Control Bureau, making it look like suicide.
  • Hwang Dong-joo as the co-pilot (Ep. 1–2)
He is the co-pilot in which Tae-sul was in during the beginning part of the story. He was later tortured and killed by the Control Bureau for seeing what he shouldn't have.
  • Sung Byoung-sook as Jung Hyun-gi's mother (Ep. 4)
Jung Hyun-gi's mother who passed away from illness while Hyun-gi was imprisoned in the Control Bureau jail. Her death was blamed on Seo-hae, giving the present Hyun-gi a reason to join the Control Bureau.

Production[]

Development[]

In May 2016, screenwriting duo Lee Je-in and Jeon Chan-ho signed a contract with SBS's Studio S to write a 20-episode television series which could not be broadcast on another channel. Studio S provided the writers a workplace where they worked on the script for Sisyphus: The Myth, but the production was eventually cancelled due to the difficulties in casting directors and actors. In December 2018, the duo were put in charge of writing the remaining 36 episodes of Fates & Furies when the previous screenwriter left after writing 4 episodes. However, Studio S did not pay the ₩60 million writing fees which were to be paid within 15 days after the conclusion of the series. The duo terminated their contract with Studio S and turned to JTBC for the broadcast of Sisyphus: The Myth. Studio S filed a lawsuit which they lost in November 2020.[13]

Casting[]

In late September 2019, JTBC confirmed that Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye would star in Jin Hyuk's mystery drama Sisyphus: The Myth.[14]

Filming[]

Principal photography began in May 2020, with Cho Seung-woo joining after completing his work on the second season of Stranger,[15] and filming was completed in early December.[16] Production was temporarily halted in late November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

Original soundtrack[]

Sisyphus: The Myth OST
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Released
  • 2021
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label

Part 1

Released on February 17, 2021 (2021-02-17)[18]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Stay (tempus) (Prod. GroovyRoom)"GSoul
  • GroovyRoom
  • GSoul
GSoul3:21
2."Stay (tempus) (Prod. GroovyRoom)" (inst.) 
  • GroovyRoom
  • GSoul
 3:21
Total length:6:42

Part 2

Released on February 24, 2021 (2021-02-24)[19]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Fight For Love (Aria for Myth)"
  • Jin Hyuk
  • Safira.K
Oh Joon-sungSumi Jo4:21
2."Fight For Love (Aria for Myth)" (inst.) Oh Joon-sung 4:22
Total length:8:43

Part 3

Released on March 10, 2021 (2021-03-10)[20]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."My Last Love (In Paradisum)"
  • Jin Hyuk
  • Kim Yoo-kyung
Oh Joon-sungAilee4:18
2."My Last Love (In Paradisum)" (inst.) Oh Joon-sung 4:18
Total length:8:36

Part 4

Released on March 17, 2021 (2021-03-17)[21]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."You're My Light (Lacrimosa)"
  • Jin Hyuk
  • Kim Yoo-kyung
Oh Joon-sungPark Won4:29
2."You're My Light (Lacrimosa)" (inst.) Oh Joon-sung 4:29
Total length:8:58

Part 5

Released on March 24, 2021 (2021-03-24)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."True (Vertitas)"DOKODOKODOKO2:40
2."True (Vertitas)" (inst.)   2:40
Total length:5:20

Viewership[]

Sisyphus: The Myth : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
12345678910111213141516
11.3741.5771.4191.4451.1841.1901.1011.0391.1141.1891.0531.0851.0181.0620.8071.0291.168
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Media Research[22]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(AGB Nielsen)[22]
Nationwide Seoul
1 February 17, 2021 5.608% (4th) 6.766% (3rd)
2 February 18, 2021 6.677% (4th) 8.063% (3rd)
3 February 24, 2021 6.167% (4th) 6.200% (3rd)
4 February 25, 2021 6.178% (4th) 6.771% (4th)
5 March 3, 2021 5.240% (4th) 6.036% (4th)
6 March 4, 2021 4.972% (5th) 5.620% (4th)
7 March 10, 2021 4.633% (5th) 5.040% (4th)
8 March 11, 2021 4.848% (4th) 5.574% (4th)
9 March 17, 2021 4.905% (4th) 5.372% (4th)
10 March 18, 2021 4.804% (5th) 5.038% (4th)
11 March 24, 2021 4.435% (4th) 4.834% (4th)
12 March 25, 2021 4.637% (4th) 5.160% (4th)
13 March 31, 2021 4.302% (6th) 5.106% (4th)
14 April 1, 2021 4.246% (6th) 4.971% (4th)
15 April 7, 2021 3.394% (9th) 3.925% (5th)
16 April 8, 2021 4.363% (9th) 4.878% (6th)
Average 4.963% 5.585%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

References[]

  1. ^ Kim, Hee-kyung (January 31, 2021). "호화 캐스팅에 수백억 제작비…'텐트폴' 드라마 전쟁". Hankyung (in Korean). Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Ji, Yeon-jin (February 13, 2021). "'시청률은 주가 바로미터'…새 드라마 방영 앞둔 컨텐츠주 '주춤'". Asia Kyungje (in Korean). Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Moon, Kat (January 29, 2021). "The 15 Most Anticipated Korean Dramas of 2021". Time. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Lee, Gyu-lee (February 18, 2021). "Blockbuster TV series 'Sisyphus: The Myth' off to a good start". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Yonhap (January 7, 2021). "Netflix, tvN come up with star-studded K-drama series for 2021". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Yim, Seung-hye (January 20, 2021). "Cho Seung-woo, Park Shin-hye take lead roles in JTBC's new sci-fi fantasy series". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Kwak, Hyun-soo (December 14, 2020). "조승우·박신혜 '시지프스' 촬영 완료…후반작업 박차". Sports Donga (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  8. ^ MacDonald, Joan (January 6, 2021). "10 Dramas To Watch Out For In 2021". Forbes. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  9. ^ Robinson, Jacob (February 4, 2021). "Netflix K-Drama 'Sisyphus: The Myth' Season 1: Plot, Cast, Trailer & Episode Release Schedule". WON. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  10. ^ Composer. "정예경". m2.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  11. ^ Jin Hyang-hee (March 5, 2021). "시지프스' 김병철=시그마, 본격 등장". mk.co (in Korean). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  12. ^ Ha Soo-jung (March 1, 2021). "신예 하율리 '시지프스' 투입..박신혜x채종협과 호흡 [공식]". Osen (in Korean). Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  13. ^ Jung, Tae-geon (November 3, 2020). "[단독]SBS 드라마 제작사, '시지프스' 작가진 발목 잡았다가 패소". Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  14. ^ "Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye in "Sisyphus: The Myth"". HanCinema. September 30, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Park, Jin-young (April 20, 2020). "[단독]성동일, '시지프스 : the myth' 합류…조승우X박신혜와 호흡". iNews 24 (in Korean). Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  16. ^ Kwak, Yeon-soo (November 26, 2020). "Film events, TV productions halted by COVID-19 resurgence". The Korea Times. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  17. ^ Schwartz, William (November 25, 2020). "Lead Actors of COVID-19 Adjacent Dramas Test Negative". HanCinema. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "시지프스 OST Part.1" [Sisyphus OST Part.1]. Melon. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  19. ^ "시지프스 OST Part.2" [Sisyphus OST Part.2]. Melon. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  20. ^ "시지프스 OST Part.3" [Sisyphus OST Part.3]. Melon. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  21. ^ "시지프스 OST Part.4" [Sisyphus OST Part.4]. Melon. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nielsen Korea Cable Daily -TOP 10 LIST FOR TV PROGRAMS". AGB Nielsen Media Research. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2021.

External links[]

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