Reborn Rich: Song Joong-ki Time-Travel Revenge Drama That Became the Highest-Rated Show of 2022

Yoon Hyun-woo has spent over a decade as the most loyal employee of the Soonyang Group, Korea wealthiest conglomerate. His reward for that loyalty? A bullet to the head on a foreign beach, ordered by the very family he served. But death is not the end — Hyun-woo wakes up in 1987, in the body of Jin Do-joon, the youngest grandson of the Soonyang founder. Armed with future knowledge and decades of suppressed rage, he sets out to destroy the family from within.

A Second Chance at Justice

Reborn Rich became the highest-rated Korean drama of 2022 for good reason. It combines the satisfying catharsis of a revenge story with the intellectual pleasure of watching a brilliant strategist outmaneuver powerful enemies across decades of carefully plotted moves.

Song Joong-ki Dual Performance

Song Joong-ki plays both Hyun-woo and Do-joon, and his ability to convey two distinct consciousnesses — the weary, betrayed employee and the determined, calculating heir — within the same physical form is remarkable. The scene where he first realizes when and where he has awakened, the pieces of a decades-long plan already forming behind his eyes, is one of the great K-drama moments of recent years.

Lee Sung-min delivers a legendary performance as Jin Yang-chul, the iron-fisted Soonyang founder. His portrayal of a ruthless capitalist who genuinely loves his grandson but cannot stop himself from testing, manipulating, and ultimately betraying him is Shakespearean in its complexity.

Historical Fiction Done Right

The drama weaves its fictional narrative through real Korean historical events with surprising skill. The 1997 IMF crisis, the rise of the Korean tech industry, and the 2002 World Cup all serve as backdrops for Do-joon ambitious plans, grounding the fantasy premise in recognizable reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Reborn Rich have a satisfying ending?

The ending of Reborn Rich generated significant debate among viewers. Without spoiling details, it takes a narrative risk that some found brilliant and others found frustrating. It is recommended to watch and form your own opinion.