Black Knight

Official promotional poster

***Black Knight*** (Korean: 택배기사; RR: *Taekbaegisa*; lit. ***Delivery Driver***) is a 2023 South Korean streaming television series written and directed by Cho Ui-seok, and starring Kim Woo-bin, Song Seung-heon, Kang Yoo-seok and Esom. Based on the webtoon of the same title by Lee Yun-kyun, it depicts a dystopian future where extensive air pollution has become a huge problem after a comet destroyed most of the world and forced the people who are still alive to depend on elite delivery drivers for survival. It was released on Netflix on May 12, 2023.

## Synopsis

In 2071, extreme air pollution has turned the majority of the Korean peninsula into a wasteland after a comet wiped out all but 1% of its original population, who live in segregated districts based on their social status. They are also required to wear respirators and rely on the "Knights", specialized delivery drivers, to provide them with the supplies (especially fresh oxygen) they need to stay alive. One day, a legendary knight called '5-8' meets a boy named Sa-Wol, who wishes to become a Knight just like him, and decides to train him so that he can accomplish his dream in the dark and dangerous world that they live in.

## Cast

### Main

* Kim Woo-bin as '5-8'

A legendary Knight.
* Song Seung-heon as Ryu Seok

The wealthy heir to the Cheonmyeong Group who rules the world with oxygen as a weapon.
* Kang You-seok as Yoon Sa-wol
	+ Choi Seung-hun as young Sa-wol

A refugee boy who envies '5-8' and dreams of following in his footsteps as one of the Knights.
* Esom as Jeong Seol-ah

A military intelligence officer of the Defense Intelligence Command and Sa-wol's older adoptive sister.
### Supporting

* Kim Eui-sung as Grandpa

An all-around mechanic who can fix almost anything and Sa-wol's longtime guardian.
* Jin Kyung as Chae Jin-kyung

The President of South Korea.
* Nam Kyung-eup as Ryu Jae-jin

The Chairman of the Cheonmyeong Group and Ryu Seok's father.
* Lee Sung-wook as Director Oh

The assistant of Ryu Seok.
* Roh Yoon-seo as Jeong Seul-ah
	+ Kim Ah-hyun as young Seul-ah

Seol-ah's younger sister who lives together with Sa-wol.
* Lee Joo-seung as Useless

Sa-wol's refugee friend.
* Jung Eun-seong as Dummy

Sa-wol's refugee friend.
* Lee Sang-jin as Dumb-Dumb

Sa-wol's refugee friend.
* Kim Min as Joo Kyung-nam

One of the competitors for the new Knight selection.
* Cho Ji-seung as Hyun Soo

One of the competitors for the new Knight selection.
#### Cheonmyeong Group Knights

* Lee E-dam as '4-1'
* Bae Yoo-ram as '5-7'
* Lee Soon-won as '3-3'
* Heo Hyeong-gyu as '1-3'
* Bae Myung-jin as '2-4'
* Yu In-hyuk as '4-2'
* Jang Mi-gwan as '5-2'
* Yoo Hyuk-jae as '8-9'
* Yang Jeong-doo as '8-2'
* Han Sang-gil as '7-3'
* Zo Zee-an as '6-3'

## Production

*Black Knight* featured Korea's top visual effects team, VFX Studio Westworld, who worked on series such as *Sweet Home*, *Squid Game*, and *All of Us Are Dead*. In the desert area, sand was laid on a construction site of 50,000 pyeong, and a road was made with about 1 km of soil to digest various scenes were filled with VFX. Lee Byeong-ju from Westworld Headquarters, said "source shooting was conducted in areas such as Bayanjak in Mongolia and Honggorin Els in the Gobi Desert, and expressed as deserts suitable for each environment."

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lee Gyu-lee (May 10, 2023). Netflix series 'Black Knight' to depict pursuit of utopia in dystopian society. *The Korea Times*. Retrieved on May 11, 2023.
2. ↑ Black Knight. *Webtoon* (7 May 2023). Retrieved on 9 May 2023.
3. ↑ Kim Jeong-yu (19 October 2017). [김정유의 웹툰파헤치기"힘센 놈이 진리다" 약육강식의 미래… 투믹스 '택배기사'] [[Explore Kim Jeong-yu's webtoon] "The strong man is the truth" The future of the weak and strong... Toomics 'Delivery Knight'] (in ko). *Edaily*. Retrieved on 28 June 2022 – via Naver.
4. ↑ Moon Ji-yeon (January 12, 2022). [공식 김우빈X'마스터' 조의석 감독, 눈부신 재회..'택배기사' 제작 확정] [[Official] Kim Woo-bin X 'Master' Director Jo Eui-seok, dazzling reunion... 'Delivery Driver' production confirmed] (in ko). *Sports Chosun*. Retrieved on March 24, 2022 – via Naver.
5. ↑ Park Jeong-sun (January 17, 2023). '경성크리처'부터 '퀸메이커'까지…2023 넷플릭스 韓 라인업 [From 'Kyungsung Creature' to 'Queen Maker'... 2023 Netflix Korea Lineup] (in ko). *JTBC*. Retrieved on January 17, 2023 – via Naver.
6. ↑ Lee Min-ji (March 29, 2023). 김우빈 ‘택배기사’ 5월 12일 공개 확정 [공식] [Kim Woo-bin's 'Courier Driver' confirmed to be released on May 12 [Official]] (in ko). *Newsen*. Retrieved on March 29, 2023 – via Naver.
7. ↑ Carmen Chin (January 12, 2022). Kim Woo-bin to make long-awaited comeback in new Netflix sci-fi K-drama. *NME*. Retrieved on June 28, 2022.
8. ↑ Kim Hyun-rok (January 12, 2022). 김우빈, 넷플릭스 '택배기사'로 컴백…강유석‧이솜 합류[공식] [Woobin Kim, comeback with Netflix's 'Delivery Driver'... Kang Yoo-seok and Esom joined [Official]] (in ko). *Spotify News*. Retrieved on March 25, 2022 – via Naver.
9. ↑ Patk Jae-hwan (February 10, 2022). 송승헌 빌런 된다, 넷플릭스 '택배기사' [Song Seung-heon becomes a villain, Netflix's 'Delivery Driver'] (in ko). *KBS Entertainment*. Retrieved on March 25, 2022 – via Naver.
10. ↑ Kim Hyun-sook (January 12, 2022). 배우 강유석, 김우빈·이솜 주연 '택배기사' 합류 [Actor Kang Yoo-seok joins 'Delivery Driver' starring Kim Woo-bin and Esom] (in ko). *news*. Retrieved on March 24, 2022 – via Naver.
11. ↑ Kim Jin-seok (August 5, 2021). [단독이솜, 김우빈과 넷플릭스 '택배기사' 주인공] [[Exclusive] Esom, Kim Woo-bin and Netflix's 'Delivery Driver' protagonists] (in ko). *JTBC*. Retrieved on March 25, 2022 – via Naver.
12. ↑ Kang Hyo-jin (January 21, 2022). [단독김의성, 넷플릭스 '택배기사' 출연…'특송' 이어 배송행보ing] [[Exclusive] Kim Eui-seong to appear in Netflix's 'Delivery Driver'... Delivery following 'special delivery'] (in ko). *Spotify News*. Retrieved on March 25, 2022 – via Naver.
13. ↑ Kang Hyo-jin (February 23, 2023). 진경, 넷플릭스 '택배기사' 합류…김우빈과 호흡 [Jin Kyung joins Netflix's 'Courier Driver'... breathing with Kim Woo-bin] (in ko). *SPOTV News*. Retrieved on February 23, 2023.
14. ↑ Park Soo-in (May 3, 2023). 뚝딱할배 김의성→대통령 진경 ‘택배기사’ 신스틸러 보니 [Grandpa Kim Eui-sung → President Jin-kyung's "Delivery Knight" scene stealer] (in ko). *Newsen*. Retrieved on May 3, 2023 – via Naver.
15. ↑ Lee Yoo-min (May 3, 2023). ‘택배기사’ 송승헌→이솜, NEW 캐릭터 공개 ['Courier Driver' Song Seung-heon → Esom, new character revealed] (in ko). *Sports Kyunghyang*. Retrieved on May 3, 2023 – via Naver.
16. ↑ Park Jae-hwan (May 5, 2023). 넷플릭스 '택배기사', 모래로 뒤덮인 지구, '산소'가 필요하다. *KBS Entertainment* (in ko). Retrieved on May 5, 2023.