View source for A Korean Odyssey


{{Infobox television
| image                = A Korean Odyssey (Hwayugi).jpg
| caption              = Promotional poster
| alt_name             =
| native_name          = {{Infobox Korean television name/auto|hangul=^화유기}}
| genre                = {{unbulleted list|[[Fantasy film|Fantasy]]|[[Romance film|Romance]]|[[Comedy]]|[[Horror film|Horror]]}}
| based_on             = {{Based on|''[[Journey to the West]]''|[[Wu Cheng'en]]}}
| developer            = [[Studio Dragon]]
| writer               = {{unbulleted list|[[Hong sisters|Hong Jung-eun]]|[[Hong sisters|Hong Mi-ran]]}}
| director             = {{unbulleted list|[[Park Hong-kyun]]|Kim Jung-hyun|Kim Byung-soo}}
| creative_director    = {{unbulleted list|Choi Hyun-sung|Geum Won-jung|Lee So-jin}}
| starring             = {{unbulleted list|[[Lee Seung-gi]]|[[Cha Seung-won]]|[[Oh Yeon-seo]]|[[Lee Hong-gi]]|[[Jang Gwang]]}}
| theme_music_composer = 
| open_theme            = 
| end_theme             = 
| composer             = 
| country              = South Korea
| language             = Korean
| num_episodes         = 20
| executive_producer   = Lee Jin-suk
| producer             = 
| location             = <!-- Should be left blank if same as country of origin above.-->
| cinematography       = 
| editor               = 
| camera               = [[Single-camera]]
| runtime              = 70 minutes
| company              = [[JS Pictures]]
| network              = [[tvN]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|2017|12|23}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|2018|3|4}}
| related              = <!-- To be used only for remakes, spin-offs, and adaptations --> 
}}

'''''A Korean Odyssey'''''<ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUVLLb2NxM|title=A Korean Odyssey 차승원, "난 요괴들의 신(神) 우마왕이다" 절대낭만 퇴마극 화유기 첫 티저 공개 171223 EP.1|website=YouTube|publisher=tvN Drama|date=November 23, 2017|access-date=November 24, 2017|language=ko}}</ref> ({{korean|화유기||'''Hwayugi'''}}) is a South Korean fantasy [[television series]] starring [[Lee Seung-gi]], [[Cha Seung-won]], [[Oh Yeon-seo]], [[Lee Hong-gi]], and [[Jang Gwang]]. Written by the [[Hong sisters]], the drama is a modern spin-off of the Chinese classic 16th-century novel ''[[Journey to the West]]''. It aired on [[TVN (South Korean TV channel)|tvN]] starting December 23, 2017, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 ([[Korea Standard Time|KST]]).

==Synopsis==
In 2017, [[Sun Wukong|Son Oh-gong]] ([[Lee Seung-gi]]) and [[Bull Demon King|Woo Ma-wang]] ([[Cha Seung-won]]) are in conflict with each other as they look for a true light in a dark world where evil thrives. From there, Son Oh-gong is bound to his protective role towards [[Tang Sanzang|Jin Seon-mi]] ([[Oh Yeon-seo]]), the little girl he had met years ago. Having made a contract with Seon-mi 25 years ago, entitling her to seek help from Son Oh-gong whenever she calls him in exchange for letting him free, the two meet again in a fateful encounter. From there, Son Oh Gong is bound to his protective role towards Seon Mi, the little girl he had met years ago.

==Plot==
{{Long plot|section|date=January 2019}}
Seon-mi is a young girl born with the ability to see ghosts and spirits. Her seemingly irrational behavior has isolated her from her family and peers, and her only protection is her grandmother and a small yellow umbrella with protection spells written by a Buddhist monk. One day when she walks home from school, a ghost follows her, and this is witnessed by a mysterious man in a suit and black top hat (Woo Ma-wang). The mysterious man exorcises the ghost for her, and asks her for a favor: to enter a magical majestic house and retrieve a certain fan. She is also given specific instructions to ignore anyone she sees in there. However, the person inside the house is Son Oh-gong, the Monkey King, who was imprisoned inside by Heaven for his crimes. He blocks her path and forces her to acknowledge him, and tells her that the man outside is a great danger to her as well. Oh-gong makes her a deal: if she puts out the five candles on the table and frees him, he promises to protect her from all dangers in her life every time she calls his name. But after she agrees and releases him, Oh-gong steals the memory of his name out of her head and makes a run for it, leaving young Seon-mi stranded in the middle of nowhere.

In the present day, Seon-mi has grown up into an adult. Still armed with her little magic umbrella, she owns a real estate company that specializes in buying haunted houses, exorcising the spirits, and then flipping them for large profits. At a busy intersection, Seon-mi and Oh-gong spot each other and Seon-mi asks why he did what he did. He gives an unsatisfactory answer and Seon-mi tearfully asks aloud why she ever bothered having faith in him as a child. Meanwhile, Son Oh-gong is looking to reinstate his status as an immortal and has been doing various good deeds to earn brownie points with Heaven. He learns from a possessed doll that [[Tang Sanzang|Sam-jang]] has been born, and anyone who eats Sam-jang's flesh can gain immortality. He decides to figure out who it is and eat them. However, Sam-jang is none other than Seon-mi, which means that Oh-gong cannot eat her without violating the promise he made to her as a child that he would protect her.

While Oh-gong tries to figure out a way to convince Seon-mi to die for him, Soo Bo-ri goes to Woo Ma-wang and asks him for help in protecting Sam-jang. Ma-wang takes Seon-mi to an antique shop with magical wares. There an old lady ([[Bodhisattva Guanyin]]) sells him a Geumganggo, a magical bracelet that will ensure the obedience of anyone who wears it through the power of love. The original Geumganggo is worn on the head, but this version is worn on the wrist. Seon-mi gives it to Oh-gong as a gift on Christmas Eve, and has a prophetic vision about standing in a field, wearing a [[hanbok]], and giving him a kiss.

This dream comes true when Seon-mi is dragged into a haunted painting by a [[malevolent spirit]] that kidnaps women and tries to marry them all. Oh-gong enlists the help of [[Zhu Bajie|Jeo Pal-gye]] ([[Lee Hong-gi]]), a pig demon and pop artist under Ma-wang's entertainment company, to get inside the painting. Pal-gye helps him, but he and Ma-wang burn the painting instead, trapping both Seon-mi and Oh-gong inside. Seon-mi decides to follow with her vision and kisses Oh-gong, thus activating the Geumganggo, though she did not realize what the Geumganggo would do. Oh-gong gives back her memory of his name and forces her out of the painting world, because he cannot leave the painting world unless she summons him from the outside. Seon-mi cuts her own hand and attracts a horde of demons to her before calling out Oh-gong's name. Oh-gong exits the painting world and rescues her from the demons.

From then on, the main plot is focused on Seon-mi and Oh-gong's budding relationship despite these difficult circumstances. Oh-gong professes to be deeply in love with Seon-mi, but only because of the Geumganggo. He constantly reminds her that if she takes it off, his love will disappear, and he may return to wanting to eat her for immortality instead. (In fact, if he really loves her from heart, he could take off the Geumganggo by himself. However, they don't know this.) Seon-mi, who has been a loner all her life, can't help but be touched by Oh-gong's thoughtful actions, and struggles to guard her heart against any romantic feelings because Sam-jang's tragic destiny is always to be a sacrifice for humanity against growing evil. Each episode involves Seon-mi and Oh-gong fighting off the demon of the week while dealing with their own internal conflicts. Seon-mi's feelings for Oh-gong are also constantly tested as she learns more about the kind of person Oh-gong is and his many secrets. The nightmare looming constantly over both their heads is a prophetic dream that Seon-mi had about the world ending, and knowing that she had to do everything she could to prevent it. Oh-gong later also learns that his role as Sam-jang's protector means he will either kill her, or she will kill him. This further drives them apart even as they fall more in love with each other.

==Cast==
===Main===
* [[Lee Seung-gi]] as Son Oh-gong the Great Sage Equal to Heaven (based on [[Sun Wukong]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201711051421245518523_2|title=Lee Seung-gi confirms lead role in upcoming drama 'Hwayugi'|date=November 5, 2017|website=[[Kpop Herald]]|access-date=2017-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105122709/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201711051421245518523_2|archive-date=2017-11-05|url-status=live}}</ref>
:An extremely powerful immortal who was exiled to the human world with his powers sealed, due to his mischievous and prideful nature. Jin Seon-mi is the love of his life. He possesses many powers, such as [[pyrokinesis]], [[Levitation (physics)|levitation]], [[telekinesis]], and body imprisonment.
* [[Cha Seung-won]] as Woo Hwi / Woo Ma-wang (based on the [[Bull Demon King]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003638798&gid=999339&cid=1072711|title=[공식입장] 차승원, tvN '화유기' 출연확정..홍자매와 재회|date=October 16, 2017|work=[[Osen (newspaper)|OSEN]]|language=ko|access-date=2017-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016230116/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003638798&gid=999339&cid=1072711|archive-date=2017-10-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mengnews.joins.com/view.aspx?aId=3039508|title=Cha Seung-won will star in tvN's 'Hwayugi'|date=October 17, 2017|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|access-date=2017-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017075627/http://mengnews.joins.com/view.aspx?aId=3039508|archive-date=October 17, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
:CEO of Lucifer Entertainment. A gentle and charismatic businessman, he is the object of others' envy due to his popularity. He has a bad history with Son Oh-gong in the past and now seeks chances to become a deity through 'collecting' points in order to change the fate of the woman he loves. He has supernatural powers that can affect Son Oh-gong.
* [[Oh Yeon-seo]] as Jin Seon-mi / Sam-jang (based on [[Tang Sanzang]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=382&aid=0000600027|script-title=ko:오연서, '화유기' 출연확정…차승원과 연기호흡 [공식입장]|date=October 17, 2017|work=Sports Donga|language=ko}}</ref> 
** [[Kal So-won]] as young Jin Seon-mi 
:A real estate CEO who resells houses that have had notoriously bad luck (inhabited by evil spirits). She is wealthy, beautiful, and has an unyielding tenacity. When she was a kid, she was ostracized by her peers. She meets Ma-wang, and releases Son Oh-gong from his prison, and later meets him again by fate. She is put off by Oh-gong initially but eventually comes to enjoy his companionship, and he finally becomes the love of her life. She has the ability to see ghosts and her blood has mystical properties that can enhance the powers of any entity. For this reason, demons and ghosts are easily attracted to her.
* [[Lee Hong-gi]] as P.K / Jeo Pal-gye (based on [[Zhu Bajie]])<ref name="tes">{{cite news|script-title=ko:[이슈IS]'화유기', 오늘 주연진 첫 만남 "이승기 제외"|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=241&aid=0002719610&gid=999339&cid=1072930|work=[[Ilgan Sports]]|access-date=October 18, 2017|language=ko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018134156/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=241&aid=0002719610&gid=999339&cid=1072930|archive-date=2017-10-18|url-status=live}}</ref> 
:A top star under Woo Hwi's agency Lucifer Entertainment. He has the power to seduce women and sucks the life force out of them. He is a pig demon.
* [[Jang Gwang]] as Yoon Dae-sik / Sa Oh-jeong (based on [[Sha Wujing]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://joynews.inews24.com/php/news_view.php?g_menu=700210&g_serial=1049260&rrf=nv|script-title=ko:[단독]장광, 홍자매 '화유기' 승선 …사오정 꿰찼다|date=September 19, 2017|work=Joy News|language=ko|access-date=2017-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014133535/http://joynews.inews24.com/php/news_view.php?g_menu=700210&g_serial=1049260&rrf=nv|archive-date=2017-10-14|url-status=live}}</ref>
:CEO of MSUN, a mobile phone manufacturing company. He is a river demon and a close friend of Son Oh-gong.

===Supporting===
* [[Lee Se-young]] as Jung Se-ra / Zombie / Jin Bu-ja / Richie (Bu-ja) / Asanyeo (based on [[Baigujing]])<ref>{{cite news|date=October 18, 2017|title=Lee Se-young to join tvN's "A Korean Odyssey"|url=https://www.hancinema.net/lee-se-young-to-join-tvn-s-a-korean-odyssey-111223.html|url-status=live|work=[[HanCinema]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104175733/https://www.hancinema.net/lee-se-young-to-join-tvn-s-a-korean-odyssey-111223.html|archive-date=January 4, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref>
:An idol group trainee under Woo Hwi's agency. She is a corpse accidentally reanimated by San-jang's blood. Because she cannot remember her past, she tries to find out who she is while her body continues to deteriorate.
* [[Song Jong-ho]] as Kang Dae-sung<ref>{{cite news|date=October 22, 2017|title=Song Jong-ho to join "A Korean Odyssey"|url=https://www.hancinema.net/song-jong-ho-to-join-a-korean-odyssey-111348.html|url-status=live|work=[[HanCinema]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918193127/https://www.hancinema.net/song-jong-ho-to-join-a-korean-odyssey-111348.html|archive-date=September 18, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref>
:A politician who is a candidate for the presidential election, and is popular with female voters for his good looks and his gentle character.  
* [[Kim Ji-soo (actress, born 1972)|Kim Ji-soo]] as Cha Eun / Seo Yoon-hee / Na Chal-nyeo (based on [[Princess Iron Fan]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=201710300735312251&ext=na|script-title=ko:김지수, '화유기' 출연확정 "차승원 첫사랑녀"|date=October 30, 2017|work=[[MyDaily]]|language=ko|access-date=2017-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031936/http://www.mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=201710300735312251&ext=na|archive-date=2017-11-07|url-status=live}}</ref>
:Woo Hwi's first love, who is serving her punishment for stealing human children souls for her child.
* [[Sung Ji-ru]] as Soo Bo-ri (based on [[Subhūti]])
: An elderly deity who knows hints of the heavens' plans and helps Woo Ma-wang in tabulating the points needed to be accumulated for him to achieve his goal of being a deity.
* [[Lee El]] as Ma Ji-young<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news1.kr/articles/?3128420|script-title=ko:[단독] 이엘, 차승원 비서된다…tvN '화유기' 합류|date=October 19, 2017|work=News1|language=ko|access-date=2017-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020033009/http://news1.kr/articles/?3128420|archive-date=2017-10-20|url-status=live}}</ref> 
:Woo Hwi's secretary and number one follower. She is a dog demon.
* [[Kim Sung-oh]] as Lee Han-joo<ref>{{cite web|url=http://star.mk.co.kr/new/view.php?mc=ST&year=2017&no=626199|script-title=ko:[단독]김성오, 홍자매의 '화유기' 캐스팅 확정|date=September 18, 2017|work=Star MK|language=ko}}</ref>
:A real estate employee who works under Jin Seon-mi. 
* [[Sung Hyuk]] as General Winter and Summer Fairy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?sc=30000001&year=2017&no=694971|title=[MBN스타 신미래 기자] 배우 성혁이 '화유기' 출연을 검토 중이다.|date=October 20, 2017|website=[[Maeil Business Newspaper]]|language=ko}}</ref>
:Two spirits in a body whereby General Winter is Son Oh-gong's advisor who owns an ice cream shop in the day, whilst Summer Fairy is a warm and social lady who owns a cocktail shop in the night, offering a listening ear to the demons as well as Sam-jang.
* [[Yoon Bo-ra]] as Alice / Ok-ryong (based on [[White Dragon Horse]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1OMI6UXNJM|script-title=ko:씨스타 출신 윤보라, '화유기' 출연 확정…톱스타 앨리스로 연기 도전|date=October 30, 2017|work=[[The Seoul Economy Daily]]|language=ko|access-date=2017-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020315/http://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1OMI6UXNJM|archive-date=2017-11-07|url-status=live}}</ref>
:A top star in Woo Hwi's agency. She later becomes the host vessel for Jade Dragon, the second son of one of the four Dragon Kings who rule the oceans. 
* [[Im Ye-jin]] as Peddler (based on [[Guanyin]])
:She owns a general store at Pirun-dong 28 where Woo Ma-wang bought the Geumganggo.
* [[One (rapper)|Jung Jae-won]] as Hong Hae-ah (based on [[Red Boy|Hong Hai Er]])<ref>{{cite web|title=[N1★종합] 차승원·오연서에 YG 원까지, '화유기' 막강 라인업 윤곽|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0002998467|access-date=October 19, 2017|language=ko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019060346/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0002998467|archive-date=2017-10-19|url-status=live}}</ref>
:A mysterious youth who is also the grandson of a peddler. Woo Ma-wang's son.

===Special appearances===
* Oh Yoo-mi as the teacher ghost that Ma-wang got rid of (Ep. 1)
* Jung Sang-hyun as Seon-mi's bully (Ep. 1)
* Seo Jang-hyun as Seon-mi's bully (Ep. 1)
* [[Lee Yong-yi]] as Jin Seon-mi's grandmother (Ep. 1, 3)
* [[Kim Ji-sung (actress)|Kim Ji-sung]] as the ghost who died losing 30&nbsp;kg for an audition (Ep. 1)
* [[Kim Yeon-woo]] as TV show "Superstar" judge Kim Yeon-woo (Ep. 1)
* [[Choi Dae-sung]] as broadcasting station PD (Ep. 1–2, 6)
* [[Yoo Yeon-jung]] as Lee Da-in (Ep. 1)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=469&aid=0000256394|script-title=ko:[단독]우주소녀 유연정, '화유기' 카메오 출격 '첫 연기 도전'|date=November 27, 2017|work=[[Naver]]|language=ko|access-date=2017-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033403/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=469&aid=0000256394|archive-date=2017-12-01|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Park Sang-hoon (actor)|Park Sang-hoon]] as Eun-seong, the boy possessed by wooden doll ghost (Ep. 1)
* [[Baek Seung-hee]] as the woman possessed by wooden doll ghost's bride (Ep. 1)
* {{ill|Kang Jae-joon|ko|강재준}} and Lee Eun-hyung as the newlyweds (Ep. 2)
* {{ill|Min Sung-wook|ko|민성욱}} as Saekjungki (Ep. 2)
* {{ill|Son Young-sun|ko|손영순}} as the street vendor who sold Seon-mi popcorn (Ep. 3)
* {{ill|Seo Yoon-ah|ko|서윤아}} as Mi-joo, Seon-mi's pregnant cousin (Ep. 3)
* [[Jung Jae-eun (actress)|Jung Jae-eun]] as Maternal Aunt (Ep. 3)
* [[Jang Keun-suk]] as Gong Jak, a peacock demon (Ep. 3)
* {{ill|Kang Sung-pil|ko|강성필}} as Gangster<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hancinema.net/kang-sung-pil-to-join-hwayugi-111132.html|title=Kang Sung-pil to join "Hwayugi"|date=October 16, 2017|work=[[HanCinema]]|access-date=2017-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018012449/http://www.hancinema.net/kang-sung-pil-to-join-hwayugi-111132.html|archive-date=2017-10-18|url-status=live}}</ref> (Ep. 3–4)
* Ham Na-young as Akiko, the Japanese spirit (Ep. 5, 16)
* {{ill|Park Seung-tae|ko|박승태}} as Kang Myung-ja (Ep. 5, 16)
* [[Jo Sung-ha]] as the man reading a newspaper who told Ma-wang the time in the movie (Ep. 5)
* {{ill|Park Seul-gi|ko|박슬기 (방송인)}} as Reporter (Ep. 5)
* Kim Mi-hye as heartbroken woman (Ep. 6)
* [[Wassup (band)|Bang Su-jin]] as Mermaid (Ep. 7)
* [[Michael K. Lee]] as Jonathan / Bong Sang-woo (Ep. 6–8, 10, 12, 15–16)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvreport.co.kr/?c=news&m=newsview&idx=1015300|script-title=ko:[단독] '팬텀싱어' 마이클 리, tvN '화유기' 합류…오연서 첫사랑 役|date=October 20, 2017|work=TV Report|language=ko|access-date=2017-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023173845/http://www.tvreport.co.kr/?c=news&m=newsview&idx=1015300|archive-date=2017-10-23|url-status=live}}</ref>
** {{ill|Kim Hyun-bin|ko|김현빈}} as young Jonathan
:Jin Seon-mi is his first love.
* Joey Albright as Tony, Jonathan's business partner (Ep. 7)
* {{ill|Park Noh-shik|ko|박노식 (1971년)}} as Dokchi (Ep. 8)
* [[Ok Ye-rin]] as Han-byul, Han-joo's daughter (Ep. 9, 15, 20)
* Kim Min-ho as Han-sol, Han-joo's son (Ep. 9, 15, 20)
* [[Oh Ah-rin]] as Lee Soo-jung (Ep. 9–10)
* [[Choi Seung-hoon]] as Lee Soo-chul, Soo-jung's brother (Ep. 9–10, 20)
* [[Lee So-yeon (actress)|Lee So-yeon]] as Bookseller (Ep. 9–10)
* Kim Si-ha as Woo Hwi's alleged inheritance child (Ep. 11)
* {{ill|Seo Eun-woo|ko|서은우}} as Summer Fairy's true form (Ep. 15)
* [[Oh Yeon-ah]] as Egret (Ep. 16)
* Kum Chae-ahn as the girl introduced to Oh-gong (Ep. 18)

==Production==
[[Park Bo-gum]] was offered the lead role of Son Oh-gong in July 2017, but eventually declined.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soompi.com/2017/07/21/park-bo-gum-rejects-offer-star-hong-sisters-new-fantasy-drama/|title=Park Bo Gum Rejects Offer To Star In Hong Sisters' New Fantasy Drama|date=July 21, 2017|work=[[Soompi]]|access-date=2017-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016230048/https://www.soompi.com/2017/07/21/park-bo-gum-rejects-offer-star-hong-sisters-new-fantasy-drama/|archive-date=2017-10-16|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=June 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=박 |first=소영 |date=July 4, 2017 |script-title=ko:박보검, '화유기'로 차승원·홍자매 만날까..차기작 솔솔 |url=http://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1110680537 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=[[Osen (newspaper)|OSEN]]}}</ref> [[Choo Ja-hyun]] was originally cast in the cameo role of Na Chal-nyeo, but had to be replaced by [[Kim Ji-soo (actress, born 1972)|Kim Ji-soo]] due to pregnancy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.jtbc.joins.com/article/article.aspx?news_id=NB11539251|title=[단독]추자현→김지수, tvN '화유기' 출연 확정|date=October 24, 2017|work=[[JoongAng Ilbo]]|language=ko|access-date=2017-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055138/http://news.jtbc.joins.com/article/article.aspx?news_id=NB11539251|archive-date=2017-11-07|url-status=live}}</ref>

The series reunites [[Cha Seung-won]], [[Lee Seung-gi]], and [[Lee Hong-gi]] with the [[Hong sisters]], who have worked together in the TV series ''[[The Greatest Love (South Korean TV series)|The Greatest Love]]'' (2011), ''[[My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox]]'' (2010) and ''[[You're Beautiful (TV series)|You're Beautiful]]'' (2009) respectively. It also reunites Hong sisters and director [[Park Hong-kyun]] who worked together on ''[[Warm and Cozy]]'' (2015) and ''[[The Greatest Love (South Korean TV series)|The Greatest Love]]'' (2011), as well as Lee Seung Gi, Cha Seung Won and Sung Ji Ru who starred together in ''[[You're All Surrounded]]'' (2014).

On December 27, it was announced that director Kim Jung-hyun will join the production.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Moon|first1=Ji-yeon|script-title=ko:[공식] '화유기' 측 "김정현 감독 B팀 투입, 완성도 높인다"|url=http://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201712280100204980014481&servicedate=20171227|access-date=December 28, 2017|work=[[Sports Chosun]]|date=December 28, 2017|language=ko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172003/http://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201712280100204980014481&servicedate=20171227|archive-date=2017-12-28|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hwang|first1=So-young|script-title=ko:[단독] 결국 '화유기' 긴급수혈…'구가의서' 김정현 감독 투입|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20171227n27618?mid=e1100|access-date=December 28, 2017|work=[[Nate News]]|date=December 28, 2017|language=ko}}</ref> A third director, Kim Byung-soo was added to the production on January 5, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.chosun.com/news/news.htm?id=201801060100040270002670&ServiceDate=20180105|script-title=ko:[공식] '화유기' 결국 C팀 체제…'나인' 김병수 PD 투입|date=January 5, 2018|website=[[Sports Chosun]]|language=ko|access-date=2018-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021823/http://sports.chosun.com/news/news.htm?id=201801060100040270002670&ServiceDate=20180105|archive-date=2018-02-13|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hancinema.net/director-kim-byeong-soo-to-join-a-korean-odyssey-114058.html |title=Director Kim Byeong-soo to join "A Korean Odyssey"  |work=HanCinema |access-date=2018-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213022207/https://www.hancinema.net/director-kim-byeong-soo-to-join-a-korean-odyssey-114058.html |archive-date=2018-02-13 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
According to data released by [[Nielsen Media Research|Nielsen]] Korea, ''A Korean Odyssey'' ranked the most-watched show of its time slot including both cable and public broadcasting channels for its premiere episode.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Myung|first1=Hee-sook|title=[Hi #시청률]'화유기' 시청률 제대로 터졌다 '동시간대 1위'|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=469&aid=0000264102|access-date=December 26, 2017|work=[[Naver]]|date=December 24, 2017|language=ko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226182422/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=469&aid=0000264102|archive-date=2017-12-26|url-status=live}}</ref> Moreover, the series broke the record for the highest ratings for the first episode of a tvN drama in the Nielsen Korea 20-49 year-old target audience bracket.<ref>{{cite news|script-title=ko:[공식]'화유기' 첫방부터 신기록…'tvN 역대 최고 타깃 시청률'|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003195321|access-date=December 26, 2017|work=[[Naver]]|date=December 24, 2017|language=ko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226182409/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003195321|archive-date=2017-12-26|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Controversy==
On December 24, episode 2 broadcast was repeatedly interrupted by long commercial ads during which [[tvN]] displayed a message stating that "internal issues delayed the broadcast". The broadcast then resumed but was later abruptly cut altogether. tvN issued an apology stating that there was "a delay in the computer graphics process" and that "the finalized version of episode 2 is set to air on December 25 at 6:10 p.m. (KST)."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201712251750574910647_2|title=Lee Seung-gi's 'A Korean Odyssey' faces nightmare before Christmas|date=December 25, 2017|work=[[Kpop Herald]]|access-date=2017-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226020833/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201712251750574910647_2|archive-date=2017-12-26|url-status=live}}</ref>

The show suffered another controversy when it was revealed that a staff member was seriously injured after falling on set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201712271157182555813_2|title='A Korean Odyssey' dealt another blow with accident on set|date=December 27, 2017|work=[[Kpop Herald]]|access-date=2017-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227051103/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201712271157182555813_2|archive-date=2017-12-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Original soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name       = A Korean Odyssey<br>Original soundtrack
| type       = Soundtrack
| artist     =
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   =
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     = [[CJ E&M Music Performance Division|CJ E&M Music]] Studios
| genre      = [[Soundtrack]]
| length     =
| language   = Korean, English
| label      = [[CJ E&M]]
| producer   =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}

===Part 1===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = Let Me Out
| note1 = 
| length1 = 3:18
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = [[NU'EST W]]
| title2 = Let Me Out
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 3:18
| total_length = 6:36
}}

===Part 2===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = When I Saw You
| note1 = 
| length1 = 2:57
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = [[Bumkey]]
| title2 = When I Saw You
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 2:57
| total_length = 5:54
}}

===Part 3===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = I'll Be By Your Side
| note1 = 네 옆에 있을게
| length1 = 4:04
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = [[MeloMance]]
| title2 = I'll Be By Your Side
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 4:04
| total_length = 8:08
}}

===Part 4===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = I'll Be Fine
| note1 = 뒷모습
| length1 = 4:16
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = [[Suran (singer)|Suran]]
| title2 = I'll Be Fine
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 4:16
| total_length = 8:32
}}

===Part 5===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = If You Were Me (ft. [[Yoo Hwe-seung]] of [[N.Flying]])
| note1 = 니가 나라면
| length1 = 3:13
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = [[AOA (band)|AOA]] ([[Shin Ji-min|Jimin]], [[Seo Yu-na|Yuna]])
| title2 = If You Were Me (ft. [[Yoo Hwe-seung]] of [[N.Flying]])
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 3:13
| total_length = 6:26
}}

===Part 6===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = If We Were Destined
| note1 = 운명이라면
| length1 = 4:08
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = [[Ben (South Korean singer)|Ben]]
| title2 = If We Were Destined
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 4:08
| total_length = 8:16
}}

===Part 7===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = Like A Miracle (Someday)
| note1 = 그 언젠가 기적처럼
| length1 = 3:56
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = [[Hwang Chi-yeul]]
| title2 = Like A Miracle (Someday)
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 3:56
| total_length = 7:52
}}

===Part 8===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = Always You
| note1 = 
| length1 = 2:53
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = leeSA
| title2 = Always You
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 2:53
| total_length = 5:46
}}

===Part 9===
{{Track listing
| all_writing = 
| extra_column = Artists
| title1 = Believe
| note1 = 
| length1 = 3:38
| writer1 = 
| extra1 = Mackelli
| title2 = Believe
| note2 = Inst.
| length2 = 3:38
| title3 = Justify 
| note3 = Opening Title
| length3 = 1:50 
| extra3 = Various Artists 
| title4 = Fara Effect 
| note4 =  
| length4 = 2:29 
| extra4 = Various Artists 
| title5 = Fire 
| note5 =  
| length5 = 2:28 
| extra5 = Various Artists 
| title6 = Mawang Tension 
| note6 =  
| length6 = 1:26 
| extra6 = Various Artists 
| title7 = Ghost scene 
| note7 =  
| length7 = 1:50 
| extra7 = Various Artists
| total_length = 14:55
}}

==Ratings==
{{Television ratings graph
| title           = A Korean Odyssey
| refs            = Audience measurement performed nationwide by [[Nielsen Media Research]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=3_1&area=00&begin_date=20180106|title=Nielsen Korea|work=AGB Nielsen Media Research|language=ko|access-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref>
| average         = y
| width           = 300
| height          = 199
| country         = South Korea
| - 
<!-- E01 -->|N/A
<!-- E02 -->|N/A
<!-- E03 -->|1.649
<!-- E04 -->|1.836
<!-- E05 -->|1.845
<!-- E06 -->|2.084
<!-- E07 -->|1.494
<!-- E08 -->|1.914
<!-- E09 -->|1.680
<!-- E010 -->|1.955
<!-- E011 -->|1.782
<!-- E012 -->|1.767
<!-- E013 -->|1.297
<!-- E014 -->|1.865
<!-- E015 -->|1.093
<!-- E016 -->|1.284
<!-- E017 -->|1.237
<!-- E018 -->|1.627
<!-- E019 -->|1.810
<!-- E020 -->|2.115
<!-- S01_AV -->|N/A
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;max-width:600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|-
|+ Average TV viewership ratings
|-
! rowspan="3" | {{abbr|Ep.|Episode}}
! rowspan="3" | Original broadcast date
! colspan="4" | Average audience share
|-
! colspan="2" |AGB Nielsen<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=3_1&area=00|title=Nielsen Korea|work=AGB Nielsen Media Research|access-date=March 22, 2018|language=ko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601140426/http://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=3_1&area=00|archive-date=June 1, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! TNmS<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnms.tv/rating/default.asp?menu=Cable_Daily|title=TNMS 홈페이지에 오신 것을 환영합니다.|website=TNmS|access-date=January 22, 2018|language=ko|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411000428/http://www.tnms.tv/rating/default.asp?menu=Cable_Daily|archive-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref>
|-
! width="100" | Nationwide !! width="100" | [[Seoul Capital Area|Seoul]] !! width="100" | Nationwide 
|-
! 1
| December 23, 2017
| 5.290% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.933% {{small|(1st)}}
| 4.9%
|-
! rowspan="2"|2{{efn|On December 24, 2017, episode 2 did not fully air due to "internal issues" and was re-broadcast the following day at 18:10 (KST).}}
| December 24, 2017
| 4.849% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.292% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.4%
|-
| December 25, 2017
| 5.623% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.659% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.2%
|-
! 3
| January 6, 2018{{efn|Episode 3 and 4, which were supposed to air on December 30 and 31, 2017 respectively,<ref name=delayedep3&4>{{cite web|url=https://www.dramabeans.com/2017/12/troubled-hwayugi-pre-empts-episodes-in-wake-of-accidents/|title= Troubled Hwayugi pre-empts episodes in wake of accidents|date=December 28, 2017|accessdate=January 1, 2022|work=Dramabeans}}</ref> were pushed back a week to give time for the production team to work on the CG,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kim|first1=Bo-ra|script-title=ko:[공식입장] tvN 측 "'화유기' 3회는 그대로, 4회는 방송 연기"|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20171225n17289|access-date=December 28, 2017|work=[[Nate News]]|agency=[[OSEN (newspaper)|OSEN]]|date=December 25, 2017|language=ko}}</ref> as well as to evaluate the production process of the program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3042667|title='A Korean Odyssey' production put on hold|date=December 30, 2017|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|access-date=2017-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231101558/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3042667|archive-date=2017-12-31|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201712291434581499308_2|title=Lee Seung-gi's 'A Korean Odyssey' postponed after production disaster|date=December 29, 2017|work=[[Kpop Herald]]|access-date=2017-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231212352/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201712291434581499308_2|archive-date=2017-12-31|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| 5.614% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.125% {{small|(1st)}}
| 7.1%
|-
! 4
| January 7, 2018
| 6.060% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.439% (1st)
| 7.0%
|-
! 5
| January 13, 2018
| 6.102% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.473% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.2%
|-
! 6
| January 14, 2018
| {{color|red|'''6.942%'''}} {{small|(1st)}}
| {{color|red|'''7.749%'''}} {{small|(1st)}}
| 7.2%
|-
! 7
| January 20, 2018
| 5.131% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.044% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.1%
|-
! 8
| January 21, 2018
| 5.822% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.949% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.4%
|-
! 9
| January 27, 2018
| 5.054% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.539% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.8%
|-
! 10
| January 28, 2018
| 6.271% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.987% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.6%
|-
! 11
| February 3, 2018
| 5.705% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.702% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.5%
|-
! 12
| February 4, 2018
| 5.605% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.122% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.1%
|-
! 13
| February 10, 2018
| 4.397% {{small|(1st)}}
| 4.365% {{small|(2nd)}}
| 5.0%
|-
! 14
| February 11, 2018
| 5.517% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.810% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.2%
|-
! 15
| February 17, 2018
| {{color|blue|'''3.586%'''}} {{small|(2nd)}}
| {{color|blue|'''3.516%'''}} {{small|(2nd)}}
| {{color|blue|'''4.5%'''}}
|-
! 16
| February 18, 2018
| 4.250% {{small|(1st)}}
| 4.565% {{small|(1st)}}
| 4.6%
|-
! 17
| February 24, 2018
| 3.821% {{small|(2nd)}}
| 3.819% {{small|(3rd)}}
| 5.0%
|-
! 18
| February 25, 2018
| 5.472% {{small|(1st)}}
| 5.708% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.2%
|-
! 19
| March 3, 2018
| 5.945% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.205% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.8%
|-
! 20
| March 4, 2018
| 6.881% {{small|(1st)}}
| 6.924% {{small|(1st)}}
| {{color|red|'''7.4%'''}}
|-
! colspan="2" | Average
! {{color|green|'''5.415%'''}}
! {{color|green|'''5.713%'''}}
! {{color|green|'''6.1%'''}}
|-
| colspan="6" |
* {{small|In the table above, {{color|blue|'''the blue numbers'''}} represent the lowest ratings and {{color|red|'''the red numbers'''}} represent the highest ratings.}}
* {{small|This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters ([[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]], [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]], [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]] and [[Educational Broadcasting System|EBS]]).}}
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|ko}}
* [http://www.studiodragon.net/front/kr/works/portfolio_view?class1=E&cpage=4&idx=235 ''A Korean Odyssey''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723152033/http://www.studiodragon.net/front/kr/works/portfolio_view?class1=E&cpage=4&idx=235 |date=2023-07-23 }} at [[Studio Dragon]] {{in lang|ko}}
* [http://jspictures.tv/portfolio_page/%ED%99%94%EC%9C%A0%EA%B8%B0/ ''A Korean Odyssey''] at [[JS Pictures]] {{in lang|ko}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{HanCinema drama}}

{{Works by Studio Dragon}}
{{Journey to the West}}
{{Hong sisters}}
{{TvN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas (2006–2019)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Korean Odyssey, A}}
[[Category:TvN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas]]
[[Category:2017 South Korean television series debuts]]
[[Category:2018 South Korean television series endings]]
[[Category:South Korean fantasy television series]]
[[Category:South Korean romantic comedy television series]]
[[Category:Television shows written by the Hong sisters]]
[[Category:Television shows based on Journey to the West]]
[[Category:Television series by Studio Dragon]]
[[Category:Demons in television]]
[[Category:Television series by JS Pictures]]
[[Category:Korean-language Netflix exclusive international distribution programming]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=A Korean Odyssey|access_date=2026-02-24}}