Once in a blue moon comes a K-Drama character that becomes legendary by virtue of their existence alone. The moment you lay your eyes on them, they're etched in your memory indelibly, and you know that they will be just as iconic in ten years as they are now. Such a character is Kokdu from "Kokdu: Season Of Deity", played by Kim JungHyun in his highly anticipated small-screen comeback, and you can mark our words when we say that Kokdu is going to be one for the history books.
Kim JungHyun, one of the finest actors of our generation, is also one of the most versatile. From comedy to thrillers, romance, and more - there's nothing this man cannot do with utter perfection. So, when his screen comeback was first announced, fans couldn't help but look forward to it with high expectations. Now that "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" is finally airing, it is being showered with love and attention from fans all over the world.
For those who might not know, "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" is an ongoing supernatural fantasy romance drama that tells the story of star-crossed lovers who are fated to be apart. The eponymous Kokdu has been cursed with incarnating on Earth as a vigilante every 99 years for 99 days. However, when the time comes, his plans are slightly derailed by the reincarnation of his beloved - Seol Hui (played by Im SooHyang) as Han GyeJeol because he doesn't remember her.
This is Kpopmap's "Character Sketch" and today, we're discussing the impassioned yet cruel limbo that our central protagonist Kokdu is born of. Earlier this month, Kpopmap opened a poll, asking readers to vote for the Korean drama or film character they would like to see a deep dive analysis of. Kokdu emerged victorious, with 66.1% of the total votes cast by global fans. So, without any further ado, let's get analyzing!
Note: This analysis only takes into account Kokdu's character as seen until episode 8 of the show. Do JinWoo's character is not dicussed.
Spoiler Alert!
The Tragedy
Our story opens with a majestic albeit defeated and broody young man, Kokdu, overlooking the seascape. Clad in all black, there's an enigmatic aura about him that is warning us to stay back, almost as if the darkness around him is ruinous. Despite his youthful visuals, this man has despair writ all over his face. Kim JungHyun, incredibly handsome himself, delivers this sense of mystery and gloom veiled in calmness with ease, setting the bittersweet tone for the drama.
We're transported back to ancient times, where we meet Oh Hyun, a warrior, also played by Kim JungHyun. Oh Hyun is a man of character and purpose but helpless at the hands of national politics, he is forced to sell off his beloved, Seol Hui as a concubine. Interestingly, Oh Hyun's countenance here is indifferent but determined, as opposed to Kokdu's melancholic appearance. The shades of difference between a man who is about to lose it all and one who already has, is expressed with delicate nuance by Kim JungHyun.
Despite his stern displeasure, Oh Hyun must escort his woman to what she calls her deathbed, but his promise to protect her irks him too much to let go. So, he hatches a plan to elope with Seol Hui in the night, only to be intercepted by an enemy soldier, who kills him right in front of her eyes. He doesn't go out without a fight, however. Burning with passion and vengeance, Oh Hyun dies a pitiful yet honorable death, holding on to his unchanging vow. Later, Seol Hui kills herself, starting a bloodbath that takes innumerable lives, much like she had predicted.
The tale as old as time is transformed into a fable in the present, where Han GyeJeol, a doctor, listens to her patient narrating it. Legend has it that Oh Hyun and Seol Hui, though noble lovers, were seen as nothing but sinners in the eyes of the Creator, who punished them for causing destruction. Seol Hui was doomed to eternal reincarnation, where her fate of committing suicide after losing someone dear to her would repeat endlessly, and Oh Hyun was condemned to the underworld, guiding souls to the afterlife as Kokdu. Ultimately, they were never to meet again, as punishment.
The next time we see Oh Hyun, now Kokdu, time stops. Rain pours down relentlessly on a particularly lousy day when GyeJeol is fired from her job. Just as she is about to slip down some stairs, she calls out to her late mother, begging for salvation, making Kokdu magically appear on the scene. Cherry blossoms bloom anew, and the sun shines bright as if ushering in a new season - the season of deity.
Contrary to how romantic the situation is, Kokdu retains the poignant look on his face. Unfazed, he turns away and disappears into thin air, leaving a ring in his wake - the same one he had promised to return to Seol Hui centuries back. Now, we, as viewers know that GyeJeol is Seol Hui herself, but how serendipitous it must have been that the ring found its rightful owner!
The rest of the first episode follows Do JinWoo (Kim JungHyun), a young and talented doctor in present time, who is embroiled in a medical controversy that cost his biological mother her life. Han GyeJeol gets involved with Do JinWoo, who suspects medical malpractise and convinces her to testify for him in court. The usual suspects from the past appear again in this lifetime, indicating a fateful connection. Soon enough, he is murdered, and that too by a seeming reincarnation of the same person who killed Oh Hyun. In a twist of fate, Kokdu, on his timely visit to Earth as a punisher, ends up possessing Do JinWoo's body, completing the circle.
Kokdu awakens with an idiosyncratic start, looking around like a curious meerkat taking in his surroundings. Naturally, GyeJeol embraces him immediately, glad to see "Do JinWoo" back to life. Bruised and bloody, yet visibly repulsed by the idea of being held, Kokdu pushes her away with nothing but a finger. The same Kim JungHyun who had to convey feelings as intense as his character being pushed to death, turns his comedic timing on in an instant, transforming into a whole other entity that needs no introduction.
With a grin, Kokdu waves at Okshin & Gakshin - his companions on this earthly tour (played by Kim JungHyun's co-actors from "Mr. Queen" Kim InKwon and Cha ChungHwa respectively), hiding in the distance. Clearly, this isn't quite a "happy to see you again" as much as a "this is your last day" because soon enough, he has murder on his mind. In another switch, Kokdu turns into a horrid monster choking out Han GyeJeol. As it turns out, all he had wished for was to incarnate in peace. Yet, not having been able to arrange for that much that awakened Kokdu's wrath.
Nevertheless, it doesn't take long for us to see that, more often than not, this "wrath" is just childish whining and foot-stomping (literally), especially when it comes to Okshin & Gakshin. In his element, Kokdu is animated, loud, and even bratty at times! As godly as he is, Kokdu calls for attention by acting out, and Kim JungHyun's enactment of this personality is nothing if not endearing. Before we know it, the banter has begun, giving us a solid preface for what's to come.
Yet, as night falls and Kokdu is left to his devices, a hue of darkness washes over him, signaling his divine purpose - dishing out judgment. This scene reminds us once more that despite how bright he might appear, Kokdu is cursed, and as much as you call this drama a romantic comedy, it cannot escape the clutches of melo. It is at this moment that we knew, we had an icon in our hands because no one but Kim JungHyun could have expressed this alarming duality as effortlessly.
The Curse
The unsettling feeling that we're about to get our hearts broken creeps up on us even more in episode 2, where we learn about the extent of Kokdu's curse. Unlike the flowery image drawn by folklore, the reality is much harsher. Having dedicated his life to loving Seol Hui, Oh Hyun found himself waiting endlessly for Seol Hui in the hellish, unchanging road to the afterlife. However, like Godot, she never comes. The Creator, distressed by the man's unyielding resolve, warns him that his fate will lead their union to disaster. So, he must cross the river to the afterlife and wash off their tragic connection to be reborn with a new fate. However, no matter how prosperous this fate might be, it does not promise to bring his Seol Hui back to him, so he perseveres, despite the pain, even as tears roll down his cheeks.
In flashbacks, we see just how gentle, tender, and affectionate of a lover Oh Hyun was, which evokes even more sympathy for his catastrophic end. He had gifted the ring with the bog laurel engraved to Seol Hui to indicate how he would protect her till the end of time, just like how the flower blooms in this world and the next. However, it became an emblem of their terrible fate but also the herald of their reunion.
Kim JungHyun portrays Oh Hyun with such sensibility and utter sweetness but also strength and courage that it leaves a lasting impression on the viewers, especially in contrast with the Kokdu we know in the present. This Kokdu claims to have changed entirely, primarily due to having lost all his memories, but in the cracks of his consciousness, Oh Hyun peeks through, shining in brilliant color.
Waiting dreadfully as time melted into itself, Oh Hyun eventually forgot Seol Hui's essence but not his unwavering desire to meet her. Angered by Oh Hyun's defiance, the Creator punishes him with the role of Kokdu - a feared being who can never receive love and will be haunted by the curses and grudges of humans forever. Despite this cruel retribution, the Almighty concludes with a caveat - if Kokdu can be loved by that woman despite the way he is now, his cursed life will end.
Almost immediately, we're reminded of classics like "Goblin" and "Doom At Your Service", which isn't great news, given the immense struggle our lead couples had to endure to be together. The drama even peppers in references to the former throughout the drama, usually for comedic import, but the foreshadowing is rather painful, to say the least.
The torment in Kokdu's eyes as he recalls his punishment indicates a resentment towards Seol Hui, to some degree, especially since he has no recollection of why he had been waiting for her and, more importantly, why she never came. He defied God for her, but she never sought him out, so safe to say the warmth in his heart for Seol Hui has gone rather cold - or so he thinks. At this point, the only reason he must use his 99 days in the mortal realm to look for Seol Hui and receive a confession of love from her is to end the curse and attain eternal peace.
Back in the present, the clock strikes 09:09, and Kokdu's ears are filled with the ringing of human grievances. He must now go out to avenge them, one perpetrator at a time, freezing them to death. As cathartic as these divine punishments are, especially with how well Kim JungHyun pulls off the gravity, intensity, and badassery of the scenes, these strange "murders" around town start to draw unwanted interest from the police department, turning Kokdu into a potentially wanted criminal. It is also through these nightly hunts that Kokdu meets Han GyeJeol again when she posts fake information about Do JinWoo on the internet to find him and clear her name.
You see, GyeJeol was going against the bigshots to help Do JinWoo out, but his disappearance left her in a tough spot. However, even when they finally meet again, as Kokdu and GyeJeol, the latter assumes that Do JinWoo has lost his memories. They're constantly at each other's necks but it seems like Han GyeJeol can control Kokdu at will, getting him to do whatever she wants. This leads Kokdu to believe that Han GyeJeol might be "that" woman. Thus begins Kokdu's attempt to make her fall in love with him and Han GyeJeol's attempt to get him to regain his memories.
A New Beginning
As the drama tones down the conspiracy, the varied layers of Kokdu's personality are allowed to shine. He is pouty, childish, immature, impossibly self-confident, and talkative, but also gets flustered easily, is apathetic on the surface, but is secretly kind. The humor in these aspects comes so naturally to Kim JungHyun that watching him on screen is an absolute treat. On the other hand, his soulful soliloquys as he reflects on his pains and regrets draw us in to sympathize with the pathos of his existence. In particular, it is because we constantly see this binary between the upbeat Kokdu and the darker version that it makes us appreciate Kim JungHyun as an actor even more.
Kokdu is happy to be acknowledged as "Kokdu" by Han GyeJeol but, despite being centuries old, tends to forget that she doesn't actually see him for what or who he is. Meanwhile, with the personality of a jaded god with a superiority complex, Kokdu's "make GyeJeol fall in love" mission doesn't quite go according to plan. After betraying and repeatedly trying to kill her, when Kokdu goes in for the true love's kiss, it is but obvious that he is turned down. So, he brings out the big guns and decides to let the money do the talking.
He opens up a little clinic in the countryside for GyeJeol and lets her run it free of cost with the one hidden condition that she has to date him for 90 days. It is only after GyeJeol has signed the contract that she finds out about this additional clause, but she would rather pay the penalty than date him, so that's what she does.
Around this time, we also find out the reason why Han GyeJeol's words bind Kokdu. As it turns out, GyeJeol's late mother met Kokdu on the road to the afterlife and, instead of being terrified, saw her daughter in him. Kokdu explains that souls are guided to the afterlife by the one they miss the most. So, with the song she always sang to GyeJeol, she embraced Kokdu, comforting and delivering him from his agonizing pain while all anyone else did was try to tear him to shreds. The submission in Kim JungHyun's eyes in this scene, as Kokdu takes a moment to let go of his burdens, is worth high praise. Seeing this as a precious gift, Kokdu offered to grant her a wish. It was then that GyeJeol's mother asked Kokdu to indulge her daughter, no matter what, if he ever met her.
While this does explain Han GyeJeol's power over Kokdu, it also brings him to the realization that it's not because she is Seol Hui that he is pulled towards her. Special props are due here to Kim JungHyun, who plays a drunk Kokdu with the most harrowing array of expressions, going from giddy to grim in a matter of seconds as he contemplates his anguish at having lost the chance to lift his curse once again. Kim JungHyun is so deft at these utterly heartbreaking transitions that we almost jumped into our screens to console him.
As much as Kokdu is dispirited, Han GyeJeol takes the fact of Kokdu knowing her mother as a sign of fate, which suddenly causes her to be more interested in him as a romantic partner. Just when Kokdu gives up on her, she proactively starts pursuing him and, in the process, understands him on a deeper level. So, when she sees him losing his mind from the voices in his head (well, ears) at 09:09, she covers his ears and tells him to listen to her alone.
Magically but not surprisingly, all the voices disappear, and Kokdu, for the first time, experiences true inner peace, even if it is momentary. Naturally, he wants her to repeat this command for the rest of his limited lifetime, but it makes her fall for him even more. Inadvertently, it has the same effect on Kokdu too, who is now falling for Han GyeJeol - the person, and not the hope of salvation that Seol Hui would bring. In fact, he would much rather she weren't Seol Hui because Seol Hui now takes up a grey area in his heart and mind, whereas Han GyeJeol is in full vivid color, like spring sunshine.
Like a little boy who has just found his favorite toy, Kokdu is on top of the world with his newfound serenity. He's not throwing things (or Okshin) around and is genuinely a brighter person who is seeing the world through rose-colored glasses for the first time. GyeJeol's clumsiness no longer gets on his nerves, and he's more than happy to cater to her whims. However, late at night, alone, Kokdu returns to his blues, almost as if he's convincing himself that he too, deserves happiness. The man who never hoped for the faintest ray of light now wants to illuminate his life and shine bright. Symbolically, these ruminations happen by the lighthouse, with the vast sea representing himself and Han GyeJeol standing in as his guiding light. It is so overwhelmingly fulfilling to see Kokdu smile to himself here that we wish we could protect it forever.
Soon after though, Gakshin's innocent (?) trick to put some distance between Kokdu and GyeJeol ends up nearly killing GyeJeol, but Kokdu gets to her rescue just in time to save her from drowning. Once she somewhat comes to her senses in Kokdu's arms, she cannot help reaching over to kiss him. However, this isn't really GyeJeol but Seol Hui, who calls Kokdu by his real name, Oh Hyun. The moment doesn't last long before GyeJeol comes back and her usual shenanigans break Kokdu out of his trance. Having kissed the woman, he has now seen her past life as Seol Hui, confirming that she is, indeed, the one who can break his curse.
The Catch-22
Kokdu finally gives in to fate, admitting to the Creator's big plan, which he now assumes must have some beauty to it too. However, he's visibly more relieved when GyeJeol is in his arms rather than Seol Hui. Arguably, for the first time in the history of K-Dramas, we have someone unwilling, even annoyed, to reclaim his destined love. Even though his heart is beating faster than ever, he calls it an involuntary reaction to meeting Seol Hui because his curse is on the verge of being lifted, not knowing that it beats for GyeJeol. Even though they're the same person, to Kokdu, GyeJeol is the one who came in like a North star. So, regardless of whether she's Seol Hui or not, his heart lies with her.
To make haste, Okshin organizes for Kokdu to propose to Seol Hui so their master can be liberated. However, Kokdu would rather not hurry and this is where the great dilemma comes into play. While it has not been expressed evidently yet, Kokdu is growing increasingly fond of life with GyeJeol. This is to say that he is in no rush for his excruciatingly long life to end, not when he's finally starting to enjoy it. Now, if K-Drama rules are anything to go by, it's going to be quite a heart-rending conversation - with GyeJeol finding out the truth and Kokdu not being ready to let go (think Ji EunTak and Goblin from "Goblin", played by Kim GoEun and Gong Yoo), but we do have fate's kryptonite, GyeJeol's power over Kokdu, that could potentially save them both the misery.
Either way, curse or no curse, there are some exes in the equation that are messing up the calculation. First, GyeJeol's ex Jung YiDeun (Lee JungJoon), who keeps appearing in front of her, and second, Do JinWoo's ex Tae JungWon (Kim DaSom), who is convinced that GyeJeol wrongfully seduced an amnesiac. While the former makes Kokdu jealous, the latter makes GyeJeol doubt her feelings for Kokdu and, by extension, Do JinWoo. Now, we've seen many different sides of Kokdu, but by far, jealous Kokdu is a delight like no other. However, he barely has much time to dwell on it before he is bombarded with questions from Tae JungWon regarding the legitimacy of his relationship with GyeJeol after she hears about it from, quite literally, the entire town.
You see, GyeJeol has bragged to everyone about her "boyfriend" Kokdu, and now, there's a brand new misunderstanding. Despite Kokdu's many attempts to reject JungWon, she insists that they're together, so Kokdu has to pretend to be Do JinWoo and remind her of their break up (which he read about in Do JinWoo's diary). Thinking Do JinWoo's memory has returned, GyeJeol tries to reaffirm his feelings for her, but JungWon isn't buying his act.
Elsewhere, GyeJeol is drinking her disappointment away while Kokdu vents his own at her. He is visibly upset at how GyeJeol keeps dismissing Kokdu as "not real", wishing for Do JinWoo to come back. The hurt on his face is clear as day, but so is his desperation to be accepted. Rather than being angry, he is sulking, and Kim JungHyun makes the difference quite apparent. If Kokdu were truly mad, he would internalize it calmly, but because he still hopes to change GyeJeol's mind, he is expressive. This subtle distinction can be seen in the way Kim JungHyun deepens his voice while arguing about reality, as opposed to the higher tone he was adopting until then. Grabbing GyeJeol's face in his hands, Kokdu is pleading for her to acknowledge him, and Kim JungHyun could not have made it more touching.
Discarding the potential of wholesomeness, this scene takes a dark turn as GyeJeol demands Kokdu disappear, and so he does - back into the afterlife. Panicked, she also brings him back with a command but the experience leaves him rather traumatized. If this wasn't aggravating enough, the next day, he is going on a "date" with JungWon so she can test him, which means more studying. Just when you think Kim JungHyun cannot possibly get any more entertaining in this drama, the date scenes takes it up a notch.
Kim JungHyun acting as Kokdu acting as Do JinWoo makes for an unforgettable sequence, to say the least. From the stiff expressions and awkward movements to the perfect enunciation, you cannot help but roll over laughing. Still, when he comforts her with warmth after confirming their separation, it speaks volumes of his kindness and consideration towards Do JinWoo. He does break character quickly though, and we love to see it, as always!
Before the show throws us in for a loop of soul swapping next, we get a sweet little scene of Kokdu, GyeJeol, and a little kid (a patient's son) eating fried chicken, where the kid claims that the two are made for each other, leaving Kokdu a blushing mess. Though short-lived, it's a wonderful little dose of slice-of-life that brightened up the episode.
The dreaded time arrives, and an emergency leaves Kokdu and GyeJeol in a burning hospital building with a patient in critical condition. GyeJeol desperately calls for Do JinWoo, and it works, swapping out Kokdu's soul for Do JinWoo's, who performs the surgery. Kokdu is sent right back to the afterlife, and this time, with little to no hope for returning.
Dancing With Destiny
At this point, Han GyeJeol is OP (overpowered), and we know it, which gives us hope for the future, but the present is rather tricky to wrap our heads around. Our heroine brings back a dead soul in a live body, so we can only imagine the chaos that is about to ensue. However, what's more of our concern is that if Do JinWoo's body decays with a dead soul residing in it, Kokdu will lose all chances of ever returning. Currently, he's up in the afterlife, being his usual self, and it is actually refreshing to see that he is indeed as energetic over there as he is over here.
Suffering from a complex, having been sent back to where he came from by a mere human, Kokdu is rolling around helplessly, whining and pouting about his fate. When Gakshin sets up a magical mirror to act as a CCTV in GyeJeol's office, he perks up even at the sight of her, despite scowling at Do JinWoo a second ago. However, when Do JinWoo decides to take on a villainous new persona (once again proving Kim JungHyun's extraordinary mettle as an actor), Kokdu cannot help but be unnerved, especially when Do JinWoo declares his intention of holding on to Han GyeJeol like a talisman to protect him from death.
Switching from furious to dejected like he's watching a makjang drama unfold right in front of his eyes, Kokdu is losing his marbles little by little but he still can't help judging GyeJeol's aegyo through the mirror or looking after her when plan "Kokdu, please come back" goes haywire. He does come back though, after Do JinWoo is killed (again) before his time, and he pops up next to GyeJeol, accompanied by midsummer snow. In his first embrace with Han GyeJeol, we see glimpses of Oh Hyun again as he contemplates the weakness of his heart, but it is not long before our favorite eccentric golden retriever boy returns.
With Han GyeJeol now suspecting that Do JinWoo has Dissociative Identity Disorder, Kokdu must be trained on the diagnosis, and what better way to do that than to use "Kill Me, Heal Me" as a reference, right? (Not really, but we'll roll with it). Later, Kokdu plucks leaves to find out if GyeJeol likes him and dreams of having three babies in 2 months. The two even end up going on a museum date and a hilarious shopping spree after she recognizes him, but it's more bickering than lovey-dovey.
As always, the happy spell is followed by detective mode Kokdu as he seeks out Kim PilSoo (Choi KwangIl) to get rid of him once and for all. Delivering what is easily one of the most satisfying scenes on the show so far, Kim JungHyun is absolutely fantastic here, richly colored in vengeance and fury, fitting the King of the afterlife. With a smile to send chills down our spines, Kokdu is about to end it all when he is interrupted by GyeJeol. Puzzled by the human psyche and GyeJeol's attempt to make him a "better person", Kokdu is once again on the verge of insanity when GyeJeol finally confesses to him but before she can say the three magic (or cursed) words, Kokdu kisses her in urgency. Our catch-22 is in full action, with Kokdu choosing to love than to leave even though he has been waiting for this since the inception of his curse.
We're only halfway through "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" and things are starting to get rather interesting. Kim JungHyun is a master at work, and watching his character consistently grow, and bloom is a viewer's treat. Seeing how the drama maintains a steady balance between jovial humor, dreamy romance and chilling thriller, it will be intriguing to see what it has in store for us next.
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