The Merchant: Gaekju 2015

During the Joseon Dynasty in the late 1800s, the father of Chun Bong Sam (Jang Hyuk) made his living as a merchant before being framed for opium possession and wrongfully executed. Bong Sam’s older sister seeks her own revenge, while Bong Sam himself joins a group of children who train to become peddlers, eventually working himself up to becoming a merchant himself. He later inherits an inn, albeit in poor condition and requiring substantial renovation. Nevertheless, Bong Sam perseveres, maintaining his humble roots as he strives to become one of Korea’s top merchants despite opposition from greedier peers. This drama was based on Kim Joo Young’s novel “Gaekju,” serialized in a Korean daily newspaper from 1979–1983.