Inspiring Generation

The series is based on the manhwa 'Gamgyeok sidae' by screenwriter Bang Hak-gi, published in the Sports Seoul newspaper from June 1985 to June 1988.

The broadcast was supposed to start on November 20, 2013 as the successor to 'Secret', but due to production delays it debuted only on January 15, 2014, after 'Pretty Man'.

The series was accused of being a remake of the SBS drama 'Yain Sidae' (Age of Feeling), due to strong thematic and setting similarities.

The protagonist character Shin Jung-tae is a fictional character that blends the traits of two Korean historical figures from the 1930s, gangster Kim Du-han and wrestler Lee Sung-soon known as 'Sirasoni'.

Actor Kwak Dong-yeon, who played the young Shin Jung-tae, won the award for best teenage actor at the 2014 KBS Drama Awards.

Jin Se-yeon and Lee Hae-in reunited in this cast two years after working together in the SBS special drama 'Five Fingers'.

Choi Il-hwa and Lee Hae-in reunited in this series seven years after acting together in the MBC drama 'Hit'.

Among the actors announced in the cast, four never actually appeared in the series: Yoo Tae-woong (Shin Ma-juk), Seo Dong-gun (Cha Sang-ki), Kim Roi-ha (Shin Ga-jeom) and Yeo Ho-min (Ma-dang-ga).