Ojakgyo Family (Korean: 오작교 형제들; RR: Ojakgyo hyeongjedeul; lit. “The Ojakgyo Brothers”) is a South Korean family‑drama television series that aired on KBS2 from 6 August 2011 to 19 February 2012. The series was broadcast on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) at 19:55 KST and consists of 58 episodes.
Synopsis
The narrative centers on the Hwang family, who operate a farm called Ojakgyo Farm near Seoul. The household includes the patriarch Hwang Chang‑sik (Baek Il‑seob), his wife Park Bok‑ja (Kim Ja‑ok), their grandmother (Kim Yong‑rim), and their four sons: Tae‑sik (Jung Woong‑in), Gi‑sik (Ryu Soo‑young), Joon‑sik (Joo Won), and Seok‑sik (Yeon Woo‑jin). Their relatively tranquil life is disrupted when Baek Ja‑eun (Uee), a young woman claiming to be the daughter of the farm’s former owner, arrives and asserts a claim to the property. The series explores themes of love, familial duty, socioeconomic disparity, and personal ambition as the characters navigate romantic entanglements and generational conflicts.
Production
- Writer: Lee Jung‑seon
- Director: Ki Min‑su
- Executive Producer: Lee Kyung‑hee (KBS)
- Production Company: KBS Drama Production
Cast (selected)
- Uee as Baek Ja‑eun
- Joo Won as Hwang Joon‑sik (fourth son)
- Ryu Soo‑young as Hwang Gi‑sik (second son)
- Choi Jung‑yoon as Park Bok‑ja (mother)
- Jung Woong‑in as Hwang Tae‑sik (eldest son)
- Yeon Woo‑jin as Hwang Seok‑sik (youngest son)
- Baek Il‑seob as Hwang Chang‑sik (father)
- Kim Ja‑ok as Park Bok‑ja’s mother
Reception
The series achieved solid viewership ratings for its weekend slot, often ranking within the top five programs during its broadcast period. Critics highlighted the ensemble cast’s performances and the series’ blend of melodrama with lighter comedic moments, though some reviews noted the conventional nature of its plot structure.
International Distribution
"Ojakgyo Family" has been made available with subtitles in multiple languages through various streaming platforms and has been broadcast in several Asian markets, contributing to the broader popularity of Korean family dramas internationally.
Related Works
The series is sometimes referred to by its alternative English titles, including “Ojakgyo Brothers,” “Golden Pond,” and “The Brothers of the Ojakgyo.” These titles reflect variations in translation of the original Korean name.