How "Secrets" Explores The Nature Of Evil

One of the things that kdramas does best is to explore the nature of evil. Is it better to start out as a principled man who commits a few sins and then slowly slides into immoral and evil behavior? Or is it better to be a man without principles who repents and, seeing the error of his ways, tries to make amends for what he has done.

That's the question posed by "Secret," the drama also known as "Secrets" and "Secret Love." The drama stars Ji Sung, Bae Soo Bin, Hwang Jung Eum and Lee Da Hee.

The drama may seem to be about a woman who is so loyal to the man she loves that she will go to prison for him rather than see his career damaged. But if you compare the man that she sacrifices her life for and the man who initially sets out to ruin her life, you may wonder which man is really more evil.

And which man has a better chance of redemption?

Spoiler alert: If you are not caught up in this series, read no further.

Bae Soo Bin plays Ahn Do Hoon, a prosecutor who accidentally gets involved in a hit and run accident. Although you know that his decision to let Hwang Jung Eum sacrifice her life for him is a wrong one, you can almost forgive him because he is being torn in several directions. But that first misstep leads to so many more that it sets him on a path to true evil. His desire for self-preservation eventually leads him to abandon all sense of right and wrong. It kills his relationship with the woman who loved him so unreservedly, separates him from his son, and destroys the very fabric of who he is.

Ji Sung on the other hand starts out as a totally unlikable  character. Jo Min Hyuk does not have the courage to fight for his love. Then he is consumed with revenge, which has no room for sympathy. A hit and run accident, as horrible as it is, does start out being an accident but he not only wants the person responsible to go to jail, he wants to ruin her life after she gets out. A lot of it is rage at his lack of courage in the situation and his own lack of control over his life.

But then he begins to see good qualities in the woman he is pursuing and he begins to change for better. He wants to protect her and discover the truth.

As Do Hoon loses his way, Ji Sung becomes more likable.

How do you feel about these characters? Do you still feel sympathy for Ahn Do Hoon? Is there hope for him?