Oh my goodness, I don't know where to start. This was truly the first drama, more modern that represented to me as an epic! Sure, there have been sageuks that I could name but this was the first slightly modern drama that truly showed you a complete story. I especially loved the child actors here as their portrayal helped catapult the adult actors tremendously! All of them, not going to just mention one, all did a great job. The story was the best. It helped the viewer to not only understand the politics of the time in S. Korea but also how those same politics (and politicians) could be manipulated for personal gain. Do I think it was an exaggeration? No! Was I shocked and bothered sometimes by it? You're damn right! Even though this drama focuses mainly on the construction business; I'd have to classify it as a political drama more so! The acting by all the cast was stellar. Note worthy performances has to be given to all of the main cast which I would include the secondary cast under that same umbrella; Lee Bum So, Park Jin Hee, Joo Sang Wook, Hwang Jung Eum, Park Sang Min and especially most props to Jung Bo Suk, play our sadistic leader of the baddies, Jo Pil Yeon. Of all of the dramas I've watched, I have to say the romance that developed between Min Woo and Mi Ju was absolutely one of the best! As they fell in like, then love, then hate (maybe); you felt every emotion with them! I found their romance more convincing and heartfelt than the leads. So much so, you prayed for a happy ending, who cares. But the writers did an excellent job in grabbing our emotions, attention and making you invest a lot of time to watch this. I highly recommend this!!