If you can’t beat them… join them?
In the second episode of Narco-Saint, Kang is in prison trying to make a phone call. He is informed that since he was arrested for smuggling drugs, he has no right to make a phone call. This forces him to bribe a guard and he is finally able to make a few calls. ..
He first calls the Korean Embassy but they don’t prove helpful. He then calls his wife who is scared and wants to get him a lawyer. Kang is worried that a lawyer will cost a lot of money and refuses. He reassures her that he will find a way to clear his name.
Kang is surprised to find out that his friend and pastor, Jeon Yo-hwan, is not who he seems. Jeon has been lying to him all along and Kang is determined to find out the truth.
He is a pastor who smuggles drugs and controls 60% of all of Europe’s narcotic distribution and trade. I am shocked!
Kang is surprised to learn that his new friend is Suriname’s cocaine godfather. As it turns out for the past 18 years Pastor Yo-hwan has been on the run, assuming new identities and running different drug operations. He is a con man, drug dealer, and murderer. He is also the reason Kang is currently in jail. Agent Chang-ho explains that Pastor Yo-hwan is looking to expand into Korea and that is why he used Kang’s skate shipment to ship his cocaine.
Kang and Chang-ho are investigating the death of Eung-soo, a close friend of Kang’s. They learn that Eung-soo was killed by Pastor Yo-hwan’s men, and Kang is overwhelmed with the news. Chang-ho asks for Kang’s help to bring Pastor Yo-hwan to justice. They can’t arrest him as Suriname and Korea don’t have an extradition treaty which makes it hard to take him down.
The South Korean government suggests that they help each other by getting Pastor Yo-hwan out of Suriname. They plan to get Kang to convince him to sell his drugs to the West. Once he leaves Suriname to expand to the US, they will use international agencies to arrest him and bring him to justice. In return for his help, Kang will be able to clear his name and have the charges against him dropped.
Kang is obviously hesitant and feels that it would be a suicide mission. He is prepared to do it but under one condition, he wants to be paid 500 million won. He wants to get back the investment he made in the skate export business. Agent Chang-ho immediately accepts the condition and agrees to pay 200 million won upon release and a further 300 million won once Pastor Yo-hwan is in custody. The plan is now set in motion and Kang is ready to risk his life. ..
Kang will use his charms and judo skills to get close with Pastor Yo-hwan’s personal bodyguard from Nigeria who is currently serving time in the same prison. He will feed the bodyguard information to deceive Pastor Yo-hwan, so that he can be released on parole early and move to South Korea. Kang will do this by distributing drugs in the prison and acting as a “pusher.” Using his charms and his judo skills, Kang establishes himself as the drug kingpin in the prison.
Agent Chang-ho finally brings Kang home on his release date. They discuss the 200 million won that was promised to him upon his release. Agent Chang-ho thinks it is best if the money is paid in ten monthly instalments to Kang’s wife.
Kang is not pleased with the new set of arrangements and he negotiates and asks for Eung-soo’s family to be taken care of as well. After the financial matter is settled, they get straight to business.
He goes back to Suriname and pays a visit to the leader of the Chinese gang (Chen Zhen) to make him an offer. He tells him of his plan to sell Cocaine in Korea and asks if he can be his supplier. Chen says he needs a ton of cocaine for the first shipment and He says he is crazy but he is willing to get on board. ..
A few days later, Chen Zhen gets back to Kang and they set up a meeting at his restaurant in Chinatown. Kang is being followed by the pastor’s men and a bloody impasse ensues in the meeting. They threaten to kill Kang if he refuses to go meet with the pastor. The meeting with the pastor proves to be a mental power play as the pastor is curious about only one thing. Why did Kang return to Suriname? ..
The Episode Review
I was moved by Kang’s desire to secure the future of his kids even though he knew he was risking his life. He is also a good friend because he thought of Eung-soo’s family.
In this episode of “Kang and the Knights of the Round Table,” Kang’s plan to bring down the powerful drug leader masquerading as a holy man goes up against a determined resistance. How will Kang’s plan go down and who will be victorious?
