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Man from the Equator

Man from the Equator
Promotional poster
Also known asThe Equator Man
Hangul
적도의 남자
Hanja
赤道의 男子
Revised RomanizationJeokdo-ui Namja
McCune–ReischauerJŏktoŭi 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; Hanja: 赤道의 男子; RR: Jeogdoui 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.[2][3][4] 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.[5][6][7] Out of a total of 20 episodes, 16 rated number one in its timeslot.[8][9][10][11][12]

Plot

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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.[13] 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.[14][15][16][17][18][19]

Cast

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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

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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[21] AGB Nielsen[22]
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%
Average 12.0% 13.6% 12.4%% 13.1%

Awards and nominations

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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

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  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 (22 February 2012). "Three hunks heat up spring TV season". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. 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.
  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.
  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.
  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.
  9. ^ Lee, In-kyung (12 April 2012). "The Equator Man Records Highest Ratings Yet". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  10. ^ Lee, Dong-hyun (27 April 2012). "What Helped The Equator Man Come Out on Top?". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  11. ^ Hong, Lucia (11 May 2012). "Man From the Equator continues to eclipse over competition". 10Asia. 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". 10Asia. 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.
  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. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  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.
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