When a mother loses her son, she builds an artificial replacement to save him.
In short: In the 2018 South Korean drama Are You Human?, a grieving scientist creates a series of androids modeled after her estranged son. When the real heir falls into a coma, his robotic double is thrust into the cutthroat world of a corporate conglomerate to protect his inheritance.
The series centers on Oh Laura, a brilliant expert in brain science and artificial intelligence. After being forced to separate from her young son, Nam Shin, she channels her grief into creating three increasingly sophisticated androids: Nam Shin I, II, and III. Decades later, when the human Nam Shin survives an assassination attempt but slips into a coma, Laura deploys the most advanced model, Nam Shin III, to assume his identity and secure his position as the heir to the powerful PK Group.
The narrative tension escalates through the perspective of Kang So-bong, a former MMA fighter turned bodyguard who was once disgraced while working for the real Nam Shin. Initially motivated by self-interest, she becomes the android's protector, struggling to reconcile his strange, non-human behaviors with her growing genuine affection. As she uncovers the truth, she must shield him from the same conspirators who targeted the human heir, including high-level directors and rivals within the conglomerate.
Directed by Cha Young-hoon and written by Jo Jung-joo, the production was a significant undertaking, requiring two years to complete with a budget of 10 billion won, or approximately US$9.23 million. The filming process spanned multiple locations, including parts of the Czech Republic, and the series was notably screened at the Cannes International Series Festival before its television premiere on KBS2 in June 2018. The show explores the blurred lines between human identity and technological mimicry, set against the backdrop of corporate greed and familial duty.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Are You Human?
- Also: Wikidata — Are You Human? · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Are You Human? · CC0
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