Jungle Fish (Korean정글피쉬) is a 2008 South Korean youth television special starring Kim Soo-hyun and Park Bo-young. Based on a true story, the drama depicts the pressures placed on students to achieve and gain admission to prestigious colleges and universities. Also, it showcased new interactive blogging. The series marked Kim's first official lead role. It aired on KBS2 on 5 May 2008 at 19:20 (KST), and is available for worldwide streaming through KBS World's official YouTube channel.[1][2][3][4]

Jungle Fish
Promotional poster
Hangul
정글피쉬
Revised RomanizationJeonggeulpiswi
GenreTeen drama
Written by
  • Seo Jae-won
  • Kim Kyung-min
  • Im Chae-joon
Directed byChoi Sung-bum
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes1
Production
Executive producerKim Gwang-pil
ProducerKim Jeong-hwan
Production locationsSeoul, South Korea
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseMay 5, 2008 (2008-05-05)

The special recorded a viewership rating of 3.3%. It received critical acclaim for filming and editing, and acting by a cast of young performers winning numerous awards, including the Peabody Award. It became the KBS show with the most international awards in history.[5]

It was given a theatrical screening on 23 September 2010 at the Lotte Cinema at Konkuk University. A television series, Jungle Fish 2, was created featuring a different cast, and aired in 2010 on KBS.[6][7][8][9]

Summary

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The drama Jungle Fish, which means a fish that lived on the coast of Africa and fell into the jungle by a whirlwind, portrays the current youth (fish) who are struggling for the better future (beach) while suffering from the reality (jungle) of the entrance exam.

The story is about high school students around Han Jae-ta (Kim Soo-hyun) who share their concerns and problems through the blog. One day, an examination paper leak incident occurs at his school through special tutoring. The class leader leads Jae-ta and digs into the problem to confirm "Who is the protagonist of the incident?", and the incident is gradually amplified through Jae-ta's blog. Through this incident, Jae-ta and his friends are increasingly in conflict and skepticism about "the value of friendship and success."

Cast

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Main

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A high-school student, who has good photography skills and runs a blog about his daily life.
Her mother wants her to enroll in a prestigious college. She unburdens her daily life problems through the blog.

Supporting

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Jae-ta's friend who leads him to find out who stole the exam question papers.
Jae-ta's friend who comes in skepticism about the friendship with him after the incident.
Eun-soo's good friend who refuses to talk with her after learning the truth.
  • Seo Hye-jin as Na Mi-rae
Eun-soo's classmate who takes special classes with her and Dong-hee.

Awards

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Kim Jeong-hwan at the 68th Annual Peabody Awards for Jungle Fish
Ceremony Year Award Result Ref.
Japan East Asia PD Forum 2008 Excellence Award Won [10]

[11]

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Awards Grand Prize - TV Youth Won
Seoul Drama Festival Awards Best Juvenile Series Won
Peabody Award 2009 Award Winner Won

References

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  1. ^ <김포외고 사건 소재 청소년 드라마 등장> [A youth drama appeared in the case of Gimpo Foreign Language High School>]. Yonhap (in Korean). April 17, 2008. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Kim, Kook-hwa (April 17, 2008). '정글피쉬' 김수현, 제작발표회에서 눈물 펑펑 ['Jungle Fish' Kim Soo-hyun, tears popping at the production presentation]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Kim, Min-jung (May 4, 2008). 청소년 드라마 ‘정글피쉬’, 어린이 날 방영 확정 [Youth drama 'Jungle Fish' confirmed to air on Children's Day]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Jungle Fish". The Peabody Awards. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "정글피쉬2 시리즈 제작 가능할까". 시티저널 (in Korean). 2010-12-27. Archived from the original on 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  6. ^ Han, Sang-hee (September 26, 2010). "Realism essential for local teen dramas". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  7. ^ Kim, Min-jung (May 6, 2008). ‘정글피쉬’, 3.3% 시청률보다 더 빛난 이유 [Why 'Jungle Fish' shined more than 3.3% viewership]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  8. ^ Choi, Na-young (April 24, 2009). '정글피쉬’, 피바디상 수상 기념 재방송 ['Jungle Fish' re-broadcast to commemorate the Peabody Award]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  9. ^ 박보영ㆍ김수현 주연 '정글피쉬' 특별개봉 [Special release of 'Jungle Fish' starring Park Bo-young and Kim Soo-hyun]. Yonhap (in Korean). Naver. September 16, 2010. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  10. ^ Kim, Su-jin (October 1, 2008). '정글피쉬', 日 동아시아 PD포럼 우수상 수상 ['Jungle Fish' won the Excellence Award at the East Asia PD Forum]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  11. ^ KBS '정글피쉬', 피버디상 수상 [KBS 'Jungle Fish' won the Peabody Award]. Yonhap (in Korean). Naver. April 2, 2009. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
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