Low Life
Low Life
Set in 1977, a tomb-raiding organization and various others become entangled over artifacts discovered at sea. Building on a premise that begins with the actual discovery of the Sinan shipwreck, dealings, competition, and violence are added as the desires of those seeking to claim the treasure collide.
OVERALL TRUTH BASIS · Inspired reconstruction
A period drama inspired by the real events of the 1975 discovery of the Sinan shipwreck and the illegal salvage that followed, but shifts the setting to 1977 and invents the central characters, criminal organization, and relationships.
The 1975 Discovery of the Sinan Shipwreck Artifacts and Illegal Salvage Incident
The discovery and excavation of the Sinan ship, following the discovery of Yuan Dynasty ceramics in the waters off Sinan in 1975, and followed by illegal salvage and state-led underwater excavation.
FACT / FICTION
Verification 12
Fact / Fiction verification
12 recordsLow Life is a Korean drama series released on Disney+ in 2025.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Disney+'s official page lists it as a 2025 title, Season 1, and classifies it as drama, crime, and action.
View 1 sources
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
The main setting in the series is South Korea in 1977.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Disney+'s official synopsis specifies 1977.
View 1 sources
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
The discovery of the Sinan shipwreck began in August 1975, when a fisherman's net brought up six pieces of pottery.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Official materials from the National Museum of Korea confirm this.
View 1 sources
- 신안해저선 발굴국립중앙박물관 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
The Cultural Heritage Administration began a full-scale excavation in 1976, and 11 excavations were conducted through 1984.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- National Museum of Korea materials record the excavation period and number of excavations.
View 1 sources
- 신안해저선 발굴국립중앙박물관 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
Soon after the actual discovery, illegal salvage also took place in the waters off Sinan, with people secretly raising pottery.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The National Museum of Korea explains that illegal salvage took place.
View 1 sources
- 신안해저선 발굴국립중앙박물관 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
Disney+ describes the series as inspired by a sunken treasure ship incident that attracted nationwide attention in real life.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- A Korea Times report on the Disney+ lineup specifies that it was inspired by a true story.
View 1 sources
- Disney+ rolls out Korean originals for second half of 2025The Korea Times · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
Gwanseok and Heedong have not been confirmed as characters who directly portray a specific individual fisherman or grave robber from the 1975 artifact-discovery incident.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Disney+'s official synopsis presents a story about a group of fictional characters pursuing rumors of a treasure ship.
View 1 sources
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
The actual initial discovery was in 1975, but the series is primarily set in 1977.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- There is a clear difference in timing between the official museum records and the Disney+ synopsis.
View 2 sources
- 신안해저선 발굴국립중앙박물관 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
The rivalries, dealings, and violence among the grave-robbing organization in the series, as well as the relationships among its characters, have not been confirmed as events identical to those in the actual excavation records.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The actual records confirm the artifact discovery, illegal salvage, and state excavation, while the Disney+ story expands this into a crime-action drama.
View 2 sources
- 신안해저선 발굴국립중앙박물관 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
The series is based on Yoon Tae-ho's webtoon.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The Korea Times' introduction to the Disney+ lineup specifies the source material.
View 1 sources
- Disney+ rolls out Korean originals for second half of 2025The Korea Times · Major news · Grade AOpen source →
Season 1 is currently available to stream on Disney+.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Disney+'s official page is currently available.
View 1 sources
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
Ryu Seung-ryong plays Gwanseok, and Yang Se-jong plays Heedong.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- Disney+'s official cast list and episode descriptions confirm this.
View 1 sources
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
CHARACTER ↔ PERSON
Characters and real people
관석
Fictional character희동
Fictional characterSources used
- 파인: 촌뜨기들Disney+ · Production material · Grade AOpen source →
- 신안해저선 발굴국립중앙박물관 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
- Disney+ rolls out Korean originals for second half of 2025The Korea Times · Major news · Grade AOpen source →