Yainsidae (야인시대, lit. The Age of Wild Men, also known as Rustic Period) is a historical Korean Drama. It aired on SBS from July 29, 2002 to September 30, 2003, concluded with 124 episodes. Based on autobiographies of real-life mobster-turned-politician Kim Du-han (albeit with a varying degree of faithfulness, often slipping into Very Loosely Based on a True Story), it follows the entire life of Kim Du-han from The Roaring '20s (during the height of Korea's Japanese occupation) to his death in the early Seventies (during the founding of the Fourth Republic of Korea).
The series was told in two parts. Part 1, the first 50 episodes, shortly covers Du-Han's childhood in the 1920s before skipping to his youth as a gangster in the 1930s and 40s, consisting of a Mob War against other Korean mobsters and his assistance on La Résistance against Japanese occupators. Part 2, ranging from episode 51 to 124 (originally planned as 50 episodes like Part 1 but was extended), continues from the year 1945 after the conclusion of World War II and the end of Japanese administration, covering Du-han's adulthood during the United Nations' trust governance in late 1940s, his participation in and the aftermath of The Korean War in the 1950s, and his involvement in politics afterward until finally closing the saga with his death in 1972.
Part 1 was intended to be little more than a preface to the more grounded drama of the second half, but proved to be a massive Sleeper Hit in Korea with average ratings of 30% share and a maximum of 57.1% share. This was in part because the simple plot and especially the fight scenes were also highly appealing to child and teenage audiences, since seeing Du-han and the cast beating a Monster of the Week was rather similar to the formula of Toku shows. Conversely, the more serious Part 2 almost halved the ratings, even with newfound elder audiences. Part 2 would be reevaluated years later when many scenes became huge memes on the interest, thus causing people to Watch It for the Meme.
The show got a Web Video Series Meta Sequel in 2021 called "Yain is Back", where Yainsidae's main actor Ahn Jae-mo regresses into an aged version of his King Du-han role and acts like a Fish out of Temporal Water, trying to adapt into the modern age — including the internet. Comedian and Yainsidae fan Lee Jin-ho serves As Himself as his sidekick to guide him in the modern world, and as the director of the Show Within a Show King Du-han TV
. The show also features cameos from other Yainsidae actors.
This series provides examples of:
- Anyone Can Die: In part 2 of the drama, just like in real life, most of Du-han's allies and enemies end up dying as time passes. For example, Kim Mu-Ok, one of the major characters in the previous part, dies just a couple of episodes later after the beginning of part 2. And the bodies keep piling, unfortunately...
- Artistic License – History: Kim Mu-Ok, who is one of the most devoted individuals to Du-han's cause, is killed in episode 69, just a couple of episodes after the introduction of part 2 as a way to show Darker and Edgier tone. However, in reality, Mu-Ok died along with his friend Yung-Cheol during the Korean War.
- Big Bad: Rival gangster Goo Ma-juk, Korean oyabun Hayashi, and Japanese Dirty Cop Miwa Wasaburo in the first part. Former friends Jeong Jin-yeong (Communist) and Lee Jeong-jae (Liberal Party) in the second part, general/president Park Chung-hee in the epilogue.
- Blood Knight: Sirasoni's purpose seems to be little more than fighting and kicking ass. This serves as a counterpart to the rest of the gangsters, who despite being highly skilled in fights, are more ambitious.
- Damn, It Feels Good to Be a Gangster!: One of the main criticisms of the series is that it's unfair to portray gangsters as heroic. While it's a common trope, Yainsidae had a huge following between children.
- Darker and Edgier: Sure, part 1 was quite dark because of the ugly history behind Korea back in the day, but part 2 cranks it up to eleven. Not only were Du-han and his gangs were subjected to political discourse, but also had to participate in the Korean War as well. Furthermore, most of the important characters back in part 1 bites the dust, including his friend Gaeko and Jeong Jin-yeong.
- The Dragon: In the first half, Karate champion Shibaru as the main bodyguard of Hayashi's yakuza clan, and seven-time Judo medalist Maruoka for the japanese policemen. Interestingly enough, both of them are the show's best japanese melee fighters, and don't care at all about the main characters' race unlike other japanese villains. In the second half, the nominally Communist Geumgang serves as this for the Communists, and US Army Boxing Battler Sergeant Michael for the brief prison arc. Unlike some of the less physically-skilled main villains, all of them are treated as worthy opponents.
- Famous Ancestor: Kim Du-han was the real-life son of national Korean hero Kim Chwa-chin: the character is featured on many flashbacks giving lessons to the protagonist.
- Heroic Second Wind: When things get tough for Du-han, he's likely to remind his father's lessons.
- Historical Beauty Upgrade: Young Du-han was portrayed by the rather handsome Ahn Jae-mo◊. Real-life photos from Du-han's youth show him rather dissimilar◊.
- Historical Hero Upgrade: While Kim Du-Han's antics have sometimes an Anti-Hero edge, the real person wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty to accomplish his anti-communist beliefs by any means, while politicians and allied forces looked the other way. As a gangster, he wasn't above illegal practices such as racketeering merchants (a "Korean freedom tax" against Japanese gangsters), money lending, drug trafficking, anti-left terrorism and murder attempts.
- Also, while in the show he's portrayed as a politician who would rather be honest than side with other parties, his real-life impact on national politics can be summed as "that illiterate right-wing nut that threw crap at the parliament".
- Historical Villain Upgrade: The Korean Armed Forces Reserve, who was composed by draftees from the end of the Japanese Occupation, was one of the many post-WWII military groups which were disbanded in real life (among other reasons) for being against the United States' proposal to make Korea an United Nations trust territory. While it's true that a number of draftees were communist sympathizers, the show paints the Reserve as an evil cabal of communists bent on bringing the revolution to South Korea by violent means. Of course, the army is heroically defeated through a raid on their base by Du-han's gang.
- La Résistance: The Korean gangsters act as a literal armed force against the Japanese occupiers.
- Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: Fights between gangsters are usually fought without any weapons, and are the way to decide who's superior — although the yakuza usually resort to katanas. Slightly downplayed in the second part, where some fights devolve into drawing out weapons.
- Multiple Demographic Appeal: Almost by accident — it was originally aimed to a 30 to 50-year-old demographic, but the first action-heavy part drew dozens of young watchers, and the second historical part appealed to older nostalgia-filled watchers.
- Noose Catch: Lee Jung-Jae's fate after being arrested and sentenced to death.
- World's Best Warrior: Many starring characters have the reputation of being Korea's best street fighters, especially Du-han and Sirasoni — apparently some of them had similar reputation in real life. Apparently, the popularity of the show caused many fondly remembered schoolyard debates about who was the strongest character in the vein of Dragon Ball.
