Is Mr Sunshine a Real Story? Ending Explained and Plot
by A Maria
Updated Apr 12, 2023
Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is a South Korean television drama that premiered in 2018. It was written by Kim Eun-sook and directed by Lee Eung-bok and starred Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-Seok, Kim Min-jung, and Byun Yo-han. The story is set in the early 1900s in Hanseong (present-day Seoul) and follows the journey of activists fighting for Korean independence.
The drama aired on tvN every Saturday and Sunday from July 7 to September 30, 2018, and was later made available for international audiences on Netflix. Despite receiving critical acclaim for its cinematography, storytelling, and portrayal of strong female characters and lower classes, Mr. Sunshine was also subject to some criticism for what was seen as an inaccurate representation.
Historical facts, with some accusing it of being "pro-Japanese" and others arguing that it enforced stereotypes of the Japanese as villains and Americans as heroes. Nonetheless, it achieved high ratings and became the third highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history.
Is Mr Sunshine a real story?
The character of Kim Hui-seong in the show is a work of fiction but serves to illustrate the efforts made by newspaper reporters to accurately portray real-life events. In the series, Kim photographs the pro-Japanese ministers responsible for the Eulsa Treaty, which placed Korea under the protection of Japan.
Meanwhile, the attention of the international community has been drawn to the enigmatic North Korean resistance group, Free Joseon, which declared revolution on the centennial of the March First Movement of 1919 and made headlines for its intrusion into North Korea's embassy in Spain. The recent arrest of a Korean-American U.S. Marine veteran for leading the embassy raid has confounded both the American media and the public.
While audiences in Korea and around the world have been following the fictional tale of a Korean-American U.S. Marine caught up in Korean resistance against Japan in the early 1900s, Mr. Sunshine, since July 2018, few are aware that the unique story and current reality are based on a real-life individual.
This person was a Korean-American intelligence agent during World War II and a successful businessman before and after the war, known as Dr. Ilhan New, who was responsible for household names in both the United States and Korea.
Mr Sunshine Ending Explained
Get ready for guns, glory, and a sad ending as we conclude our journey with the cast and remaining story in a way that maximizes their potential. The final episode of Mr. Sunshine doesn't disappoint, delivering an incredible and overwhelming conclusion. Since its debut in 2018, the show has received high praise for its ability to interweave the drama and turmoil of a political era with the romance between Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-Hun) and Go Ae-Shin (Kim Tae-Ri).
In the final episode, Dong-Mae (Yoo Yeon-Seok) dies fighting his enemies but suffers fatal knife injuries, smiling and thinking of Ae-Shin in his final moments. Despite his rough exterior, Dong-Mae warmed our hearts throughout the series. But the sadness doesn't end there, as Eugene saves Ae-Shin from soldiers by using his last bullets to separate her train car, only to be killed by multiple shots to the back by Japanese soldiers.
In the epilogue, Ae-Shin continues to train soldiers in a liberated Korea, all thanks to Mr. Sunshine aka Eugene. However, the astounding story comes to a sorrowful conclusion.
Mr Sunshine Plot
Mr. Sunshine tells the story of Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), a former slave from Joseon who becomes a Marine Corps officer after escaping to the United States during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo. When he returns to Joseon for a mission, he falls in love with Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), an aristocrat's granddaughter who is part of the Righteous Army. However, their love is challenged by their different social classes and the presence of Kim Hui-seong (Byun Yo-han), Ae-shin's childhood betrothed.
The drama is set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before the Japanese annexation of Korea, and depicts the lives of people who fought for Joseon's freedom. The Righteous Army and its struggle against Japanese colonialism are heavily featured, with real-life historical events such as Shinmiyangyo, the Spanish-American War, the Russo-Japanese War, and the assassination of Empress Myeongseong portrayed or mentioned.
The drama includes appearances from real historical figures, such as Emperor Gojong, Itō Hirobumi, Hayashi Gonsuke, Hasegawa Yoshimichi, Horace Newton Allen, and the Five Eulsa Traitors, with others making cameo appearances. Additionally, significant events such as the Battle of Ganghwa, the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905, and the Battle of Namdaemun are extensively illustrated.
Mr. Sunshine Overview
Revised Romanization
Miseuteo Syeonsyain
Genre
Created by
Lee Myung-han (tvN)
Netflix
Developed by
Jinnie Choi
Studio Dragon
Written by
Kim Eun-sook
Directed by
Lee Eung-bok
Starring
Composer
Nam Hye-seung
Country of origin
South Korea
Original languages
No. of seasons
1
Executive producers
Kim Young-kyu
Yoon Ha-rim
Production companies
Original network
tvN
Original release
July 7 – September 30, 2018
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Is Mr. Sunshine a real story - FAQs
"Mr. Sunshine" is a South Korean television drama that follows the story of activists fighting for Korean independence in the early 1900s in Hanseong (present-day Seoul). The drama is set before the Japanese annexation of Korea and portrays historical events such as the Shinmiyangyo, the Spanish-American War, and the Russo-Japanese War.
"Mr. Sunshine" premiered in 2018 on the South Korean television network tvN. It aired every Saturday and Sunday from July 7 to September 30, 2018.
"Mr. Sunshine" was written by Kim Eun-sook and directed by Lee Eung-bok.
"Mr. Sunshine" starred Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-Seok, Kim Min-jung, and Byun Yo-han.
"Mr. Sunshine" is available for international audiences to watch on Netflix.