A Comprehensive Look at Stealer: The Treasure Keeper 2023

Dive Into the undercover World of 'Stealer: The Treasure Keeper'

Explore every aspect of  ‘Stealer: The Treasure Keeper’ in this comprehensive review. Dive into character insights, strengths, and weaknesses. If you haven’t seen the drama yet and are looking for a spoiler-free review, check out the link below.

Spoiler Alert

Please be advised that this review contains significant spoilers about the plot and characters of ‘Stealer: The Treasure Keeper’. If you have not yet watched the drama, we recommend viewing it first to avoid any spoilers.

Series Details

General Information

     Air Dates: April 12 – May 18, 2023

Episodes: 12

Where to Watch: CJENM

Genre: Action Comedy

Starring: Joo Won and Lee Joo Woo

The Story

A man acts as a bumbling civil servant by day. But by night, he is a “super-hero” burglar who has followed in his late father’s footsteps by trying to reclaim priceless national heirlooms, stolen by the rich and powerful. And when he joins forces with a local police task force, he is determined to recover stolen treasures and finally get revenge on the man who was responsible for his father’s death.

Meeting the stars: Joo Won and Lee Joo Woo

Joo Won as Hwang Dae Myung

Hwang Dae Myung grew up as the son of an archeologist, who taught him the value to history and the cultural assets left behind that help tell that story. But when his father is killed for his beliefs, Dae Myung vows to avenge his father’s death. To pay his bills and keep up appearances, Dae Myung spends his days as a lazy civil servant. But at night, with the help of his IT partner, Lee Chun Ja, he becomes the vigilante known as “Skunk”.  And though his actions are technically illegal, Dae Myung considers it a debt to his nation.

But one day, Dae Myung is approached by Officer Jung Tae In, who is in charge of the Cultural Heritage Department at the local police department. Tae In wants Dae Myung’s help in recovering a famous relic, known as the eternity stone, with a dangerous legend attached to it. Now, as part of Team Karma, Dae Myung will plan his most high-stakes heist, against a very powerful enemy, who turns out to have more secrets than just a hidden treasure.

Hwang Dae Myung has a fun Clark Kent/Superman thing going. But as he begins working with the police, his true identity will be jeopardized and he will be forced to decide who he can actually trust. Joo Won is a talented actor, and I always look forward to his charming smile. This role fit him well and he managed to play his bumbling alter-ego without overdoing his goofiness.

A Safe Peek at Stealer: The Treasure Keeper 2023
A Safe Peek at Stealer: The Treasure Keeper 2023

Lee Joo Woo by Choi Min Woo

Choi Min Woo is a talented police officer who had hoped to join the Homicide Department. So, her assignment with the Cultural Heritage Team was a disappointment at first. But as she gets to know her team mates and understand their mandate, she embraces her new position sincerely. In the beginning, she is reluctant to include a known thief onto their team, but as she begins working with “Skunk”, she begins to see his true motives and honest personality. And she soon finds herself falling for the masked stranger.

Min Woo is the field officer who is working most closely with Skunk, so it makes sense that she would be the first to discover that the charismatic hero was actually Dae Myung. And as she keeps his identity secret from the rest of the Karma Team, their connection is strengthened. But as the clock begins to run down on their chances to recover the “Seven Joseon Coins”, she and Dae Myung will put everything on the line to recover the treasure and put the true thief, Kim Young Soo, behind bars where he belongs.

Choi Min Woo is hard working and enthusiastic. It would have been easy for her to become bitter about her seeming demotion to the Cultural Assets Team. In fact, I fully expected it. But Min Woo was quck to jump back in with a determination that is admirable. Her characters story arc was well played, and the touch of romance between her and Dae Myung was just enough to give a sweet touch. I liked Lee Joo Woo in this role and I was surprised to find she hasn’t done another drama since. I hope to see her back on the small screen at some point soon.

Supporting characters

Jo Han Chul as Jung Tae In

Jung Tae In was the head of the Violent Crimes Division before his demotion to team leader of the Cultual Heritage Team. But that doesn’t stop him from jumping in to his new position and doing his best to catch the villains responsible for stealing these treasures and keeping them in hiding.

A Comprehensive Look at Stealer: The Treasure Keeper 2023

Kim Jae Won as Shin Chang Hun

Shin Chang Hun is a former Homicide Detective under Team Leader Jung. He follows Tae In to the Cultural Heritage Department. Chang Hun is obsessed with physical fitness and he is considered the muscle of the team.

A Comprehensive Look at Stealer: The Treasure Keeper 2023

Choi Hwa Jung as Lee Chun Ja

Lee Chun Ja is a professional IT designer and hacker. She met Dae Myung by chance after his first robbery, and agreed to partner with him. She is responsible for all the equipment Dae Myung uses and she keeps him safe during his “missions” with her computer hacking skills.

A Comprehensive Look at Stealer: The Treasure Keeper 2023

3 things i loved about ‘Stealer: The Treasure Keeper’

1.

Chun Ja:

I absolutely adore Kim Mi Kyung as the IT hacker in ‘Healer’ and I definitely felt like Chun Ja was modeled after her. But Chun Ja has some unique charms as well. I loved her spunky attitude and bonus points for her subtle little romance with Tae In.

2.

Humor:

I can be a bit picky about the kind of humor I enjoy, and I get annoyed when it turns too slapstick. This drama managed to skirt the line between silly humor and slapstick in a way that made it fun without feeling too over the top.

3.

Jin Ae Ri:

Jin Ae Ri was a nice addition to the Karma team that I didn’t see coming. I did expect her to cause problems for Dae Myung and his secret identity, but I was surprised when they brought her on and she had her own skills to add to the mission.

3 things i didn’t love about ‘Stealer: The Treasure Keeper’

1.

Kim Young Soo:

I didn’t find Kim Young Soo very interesting as the villain. His tendency to deliver long, rambling monologues and his glowering facial expression just made him kind of boring. And his Japanese political learnings and quest for eternal life felt kind of cliche.

2.

Check Your Logic:

So, I just need to say it. If you are looking for a realistic, true crime kind of show, this is not the one. At times the motives and methods barely make sense, and the “narrow” escapes are bordering on miraculous. And I would love to know how someone with the skills of Chun Ja hasn’t been put in charge of national defense!

3.

Shin Chang Hun:

I’ve always liked Kim Jae Won’s teddy bear-like presence, and this role was great for him. But I really wish we could have seen him more. I felt like there were plenty of opportunities for the muscles of the operation to come in and save the day. Sadly, Dae Myung was too busy saving himself and Min Woo! 

The Conclusion of 'Stealer: The Treasure Keeper'

The Ending

The end of ‘Stealer: The Treasure Keeper’ sees the case of the seven coins finally come to an end. Rather than the eternal life Kim Young Soo has always wished for, he soon learns that the stone is cursed by human greed. Though Dae Myung barely manages to stop himself from killing the villain, after finding out his sister has been dead for a long time, Jo Hin Dal beats Kim Young Soo to death with his beloved stone. And although it is too late to see Kim Young Soo punished in this lifetime, they do arrest his corrupt cronies. And the stone is returned to some monks who promise to keep it safely tucked away,

Jin Ae Ri joins the cultural heritage team, where the mission to recover other artifacts continues. And just in case they ever decide to do a sequel, we see Dae Myung get notification of a new treasure being located, and the Karma Team is off and running. I doubt there will actually be a season 2, but it’s nice to know our team is still active and doing what they love together.

My Personal Thoughts and Ratings

‘Stealer: The Treasure Keeper’ is an action drama with a comedy flair. It feels like ‘Healer’ with a chaotic humor. This drama is just fun, and never takes itself too seriously. The “Karma” team has a nice energy and the revenge story is balanced by a fair sense of true justice. The fight scenes are campy and the spy gadgets are unique. This is a great drama if you are looking for something lightweight that is not rom-com. 

But there is nothing mind-blowing about this series.  The villain is ridiculously one-dimensional and the silly comedy may not resonate with more serious fans. There is nothing realistic about the team or their heists. That’s really not the point! But I found it a nice change of pace and I enjoyed some giggles along the way.  I give ‘Stealer: The Treasure Keeper’ an 8 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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