The premiere episode of tvN's 'Siren' aired on October 2nd at 8:50 PM, directed by Kim Chul-kyu and written by Lee Young, introduces us to insurance investigator Cha Woo-seok, portrayed by Wi Ha-joon. The episode reveals the truth that his sister, Cha Woo-hee, played by Jang Se-rim, was a victim of insurance fraud.
Cha Woo-seok makes a striking entrance by apprehending a suspect who deliberately injured themselves to fraudulently claim a large sum of industrial accident insurance. Despite the envious jests from his colleagues, Cha Woo-seok proudly highlights his success in preventing insurance fraud, showcasing his exceptional skills as an investigator. Even with concerns from those around him about his exhaustive fieldwork, Cha Woo-seok remains resolute in his pursuit of truth.
His sharp intuition shines once more at a tragic child accident scene. It is revealed that a child, hospitalized with severe burns covering 40% of their body, had previously received a large insurance payout for a blindness accident a year prior. While the child insists it was a mere accident, Cha Woo-seok uncovers suspicious activities of the child's mother, who was about to sign a new car contract, and continues his relentless questioning. Outraged by the exploitation of a child's suffering for financial gain, Cha Woo-seok vows to uncover the perpetrator hiding behind the child's false testimony.
The episode also delves into Cha Woo-seok's past. Visiting a columbarium to honor his sister Cha Woo-hee, he recalls confronting Joo Hyun-soo, played by Park Ji-an, who had mocked his sister's death in court. Overcome with anger, Cha Woo-seok had assaulted Joo Hyun-soo. Despite Joo Hyun-soo's involvement in insurance fraud being exposed, he received only a lenient one-year sentence, highlighting flaws in the judicial system.
Driven by a mission to punish those who trade lives for money, Cha Woo-seok dedicates himself to catching insurance fraudsters. One day, he receives a call from someone claiming to have information on a fraud suspect. He heads to Royal Auction, the country's largest art auction house, to meet the informant. However, before he can meet them, a tragic accident occurs. Kim Yoon-ji, the deputy auctioneer at Royal Auction, falls from the building.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr