One of KBS’ biggest projects of the year “The Slave Hunters” made a remarkable start reaching 25.16% of ratings at the highest. The average ratings of the first episode is higher than that of “Queen Seondeok” (15.3%, AGB Nielsen) signaling that it might outstand “Queen Seondeok” which had the highest ratings among prime time drama series in 2009.

This historical drama is about the hunters who chase down the runaway slaves in Chosun Dynasty. With brilliant performance of the actors and camera works blended with vivid action and rich description of the tragic lives of people of the lowest class at that time, it attracts TV viewers regardless of the age and gender.


TV Ratings at Drama Prime Time (21:55~23:00), Jan 6th 2010

TNS Media Korea
The Slave Hunters(KBS) 22.9%, Will it snow for Christmas?(SBS) 14.5%, Hero(MBC) 5.3%

AGB Nielsen Media Research
The Slave Hunters(KBS) 19.7%, Will it snow for Christmas?(SBS) 13.9%, Hero(MBC) 5.2%


The Slave Hunters (70’x24) a.k.a. Chuno

Cast
Jang Hyeok            Windstuck(Film), 2004
Oh Ji-ho                Queen of Housewives(TV), 2009
Lee Da-hae            My Girl(TV), 2006
Gong Hyeong-jin    Alone in Love(TV), 2006
Lee Jong-hyeok     Once Upon a Time in High Schoo(Film), 2004

Synopsis
Being a slave hunter, Dae-gil is disregarded by people due to his low social status. While doing his job, Dae-gil is offered by Lee Gyong-suk to get Song Tae-ha and is promised to be given a fair amount of money as a reward. Tae-ha was forced to become a state slave as he was wrongfully accused of stealing some provisions.
After reading a secret message saying the life of So-hyeon’s youngest son is on the line, Tae-ha tries to escape in an attempt to save him, the eldest son of the Crown Prince. Daegil, however, gets wind of his plan and the two ends up fighting a bloody fight. Having barely escaped from the fierce fight, Te-ha happens to accompany a woman named Hye-won.
Dae-gil fails to track down the slave he was first assigned to capture, and constantly runs into Seol-hwa who escaped from a troupe of strolling actors. To make things worse, Dae-gil is threatened to be killed by a group of slaves who formed a hit squad to assassinate nobles.
As for Daegil, he has every reason to be successful in accomplishing his first mission. Aside from recovering his pride hurt by Tae-ha, Dae-gil needs a sizable sum of money to live a comfortable life in his old age.
In the end, Tae- ha manages to run away from Dae-gil while Dae-gil feels affection for Hye-won.