2021 has been the year for K-drama. After the immense success of Squid Game, Netflix has opened all doors for K-dramas, and it seems to have found new success with two more, My Name and Hellbound. While Squid Game redefined innocent children's games, My Name is all about revenge. The story revolves around the character Ji-Woo, the revenge for her father's murder and her involvement with the underworld organization and the police.
The plot is a precarious chase among the leads, with the genre satisfying viewers' taste for revenge and bloody narratives. My Name is a gritty adventure and an action-packed crime noir with characters who display impressive strength and fighting abilities, making the series much more violent than initially expected.
Kang Su-Yeon
Kang Su-Yeon (Baek Joo-Hee) is the secretary and the personal confidante of Choi Mu-Jin. The character has very little screen time but plays an impressive part in the story.
Choi Mu-Jin, one of the biggest drug lords in South Korea, obviously has made many enemies over time and been involved in plenty of disturbing situations. Kang Su-Yeon acts as his legal advisor and trusted secretary in the K-drama, and despite her presence being short, her character is strong and resilient. She sticks to Dongcheon, proves her loyalty, and always provides support for Mu-Jin.
Mango
As a K-drama filled with dangerous criminals and killers, it's difficult for small-time crimelords to make a powerful impact. Mango has a brief screen presence but he makes a significant contribution to the brutal plotline.
Mango is a businessman and owner of an underground club who gets involved with Do Gang-Jae in a new drug trial. His involvement lands him in big trouble with the NFS and Do Gang-Jae. His character might seem timid, especially in front of his "boss," but for a businessman and a drug peddler with an army of goons, Mango displays his potential strength.
Yoon Dong-Hoon
The murder of Yoon Dong-Hoon kicks off the entire plot of the series. He was Ji-Woo's father and a close confidant of Mu-Jin, and his personality in the series was not shown much, except in brief, older clips.
He was a highly ranked member of Dongcheon and it was only revealed later in the series that he was a undercover cop. He was through and through courageous and dedicated. Even at his death, he willingly protected his daughter and didn't show any signs of weakness. Despite his rocky relationship with his daughter, older clips showing Ji-Woo and Dong-Hoon on the beach show his emotional and caring side, which seemed to be covered up by his rugged and ruthless officer persona.
Cha Gi-Ho
The head of the Inchang Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics department, Inspector Cha Gi-Ho, is a cunning, passionate, and true-hearted officer. At first, his character seems dubious, but the latter part of the series reveals him as a loyal colleague to Dong-Hoon.
His desperation in taking down Choi Mu-Jin shows him to be a steadfast inspector. His initial uncertainty about Ji-Woo to him later helping her displays the contrast of his stark personality. He is smart-witted and practical about his approach to the problem, and while there aren't a lot of scenes of him fighting hand to hand, he displays remarkable tactics and skill.
Do Gang-Jae
A vengeful ex-member of Dongcheon, Gang-Jae is vicious and grim. His relationship with the other remaining characters doesn't seem any better, and his screen time shows his worst side.
Do Gang-Jae is first seen as a member of Dongcheon and he's mentioned as the subordinated of Tae-Ju. He is ambitious and passionate about Dongcheon, dreaming of becoming one of its highest-ranked henchmen. After being thrown out, he makes his organization powerful against Dongcheon. His vengeance, temper, and drive to be a ruthless crimelord show him as a spiteful criminal.
Jung Tae-Ju
A common trope in crime or thriller K-dramas is that every crime boss obviously has their own gang of trusted henchmen. Tae-Ju is the trusted right-hand man of Mu-Jin, and they're usually seen together, advising or plotting.
His cold demeanor with Ji-Woo led to a tense relationship between them, with Tae-Ju even trying to give up on Ji-Woo's revenge story. While he is an excellent fighter and a skilled criminal, his loyalty to Mu-Jin is immeasurable. His involvement in Dong-Hoon's death showed him as a cold killer and precisely why he Mu-Jin's right-hand man.
Jeon Pil-Do
Narcotics Unit detective and Ji-Woo's partner, Pil-Do is a considerate and understanding colleague. His relation with Ji-Woo initially started off on the wrong track, but as the series progress, they learn to work together, making them a powerful duo.
Portrayed by Ahn Bo-Hyun, Pil-D0 is a devoted and true detective. He usually has an entire squad with him but he's still one of the strongest characters in the series. Despite being portrayed as comic relief in some of the show's dark, gritty scenes, Pil-Do is a skilled fighter, tactician, and an excellent marksman. The show shows his ruggedness and understanding relationship with Ji-Woo in its latter parts.
Choi Mu-Jin
As CEO of Dongcheon, Choi Mu-Jin is South Korea's biggest crime boss. He is introduced as Dong-Hoon's close friend and later takes care of Dong-Hoon's daughter.
Charismatic, cold, and ruthless, it's no surprise this character owns the screen whenever he appears. Mu-Jin's strengths are not just limited to combat or infighting, either. He is a brilliant tactician and skillful in mapping out plans. His chilling charisma and cunningness are his main attributes and make him seem fearful. Despite his behavior, though, a part of him honestly feels for Ji-Woo and wants her to enact her revenge.
Yoon Ji-Woo / Oh Hye-Jin
The main character and protagonist of the show, Yoon Ji-Woo/ Oh Hye-Jin certainly ranks at the top when it comes to strength. Her father's murder marks the story's start, with Ji-Woo hunting down the killer and trying to avenge his death.
The whole show revolves around her revenge, from being trained by Choi Mu-Jin to becoming an undercover cop. Her character arc is the most developed of all characters on the show. She is vengeful, strong-headed, and definitely a badass K-drama female lead and her action scenes show her physical strength and stamina. Apart from being trained in a criminal-drug ring, her bashfulness, at times, puts her in a better position than her opponent. Her tenacity and spitefulness make her the strongest character in the show.