Set around Gyeonggang―the bustling Han River port where Joseon’s money and goods converge―the action drama follows people with clashing agendas who fight to upend a corrupt order and reclaim their humanity. The series is directed by Choo Chang-min of "Masquerade" (2012), with writer Cheon Sung-il returning to historical drama 14 years after "The Slave Hunters". Rowoon, Shin Ye-eun, Park Seo Ham, and Park Ji-hwan headline with bold, finely tuned performances.
The newly released main poster gathers the principal players, teasing a collision of motives―some driven by survival and justice, others by greed and power. At the center are three young leads: Si-yul (Rowoon), determined to straighten out lawless Gyeonggang and live with dignity; Choi Eun (Shin Ye-eun), who plants her feet firmly in a world that keeps trying to knock her down; and Jeong-cheon (Park Seo Ham), who throws himself into danger in the name of justice. They’re flanked by Mu-deok (Park Ji-hwan), the gang leader who “keeps order” where the money flows; Lee Dol-gae (Choi Gwi-hwa), a corrupt Police Bureau official who reigns like a king off kickbacks; and the enigmatic Wang-hae (Kim Dong-won), whose singular aura hints at deeper mysteries.
The main trailer, which offers a broader look than the earlier teaser, amps up the intrigue with expanded story beats.
We glimpse the past that pushed Si-yul into hard labor at Mapo Wharf―and see Mu-deok sizing him up: “Look at those eyes―you’re a natural. Join my crew.” The footage also hints at a buried history between Si-yul and Jeong-cheon, raising questions about what secrets bind them. The trailer exposes a gang that skims “taxes” from merchants―and the corrupt officials behind them bleeding the people dry―revealing a predatory food chain of power and profit.
With Joseon rotting from within, opportunists move to seize control. “Charge in carelessly and you’ll be swept away by the riptide. You may even have to kill. Can you handle that?” warns the high-ranking officer Daeho-gun (Choi Won-young). Another ominous line sets the stakes: “Find the hand pulling every string. Stop it, and this country stands again.” Quick cuts of the mysterious Wang-hae (Kim Dong-won), Choi Eun on the run, and life-or-death showdowns featuring Si-yul and Jeong-cheon ratchet up the tension to the final frame.
"The Murky Stream" premieres Friday, Sept. 26 on Disney+ with episodes 1-3, followed by two new episodes weekly for a total of nine.
[Photo: Disney+]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)