A noir like Pyongyang Naengmyeon is coming to the living room.

JTBC new Friday series ‘Good Man’ (directed by Song Hae-sung, Park Hong-soo, written by Kim Woon-kyung and Kim Hyo-seok)is a sentimental noir about Park Seok-cheol(played by Lee Dong-wook), the eldest grandson of a three-generation gangster family and surprisingly innocent, and his first love Kang Mi-young(played by Lee Sung-kyung), who dreams of becoming a singer.The passionate love of a man and a woman who give up everything for someone precious, and the process of overcoming the harsh reality and pursuing their dreams will present a deep resonance with warm laughter.The production team has compiled three must-see points to watch.

# Production crew

Director Song Hae-seong of the films ‘Failan’, ‘Aging Family’, and ‘Our Happy Time’ and director Park Hong-soo of the drama ‘No Longer Human’ will co-direct.Writer Kim Woon-kyung of ‘Yuna’s Street ‘,’ The Moon of Seoul ‘, and’ The Blue Bird Is Here ‘and writer Kim Hyo-seok of the film’ Opposition Party ‘will co-write the drama.This is the first drama from Hive Media Corp, the production company behind the films’ Spring of Seoul ‘,’ Opposition Party ‘,’ The Man Standing Next ‘,’ Deliver Us From Evil ‘, and’ Inside Men ‘.

Director Song Hae-seong emphasized, “The core of’ Good Man ‘is the main character’s ordeal, overcoming, and finding his complete self and love through enlightenment,” and “In that sense, the greatest appeal of this work is the character of ‘Park Seok-cheol.’ The very setting of a gangster who wants to be a poet and does not lose his innocence while living in a harsh world is contradictory and yet attractive.” He continued, “The difference is that the tension of noir, the lyricism of melodrama, and the warmth and empathy of a family drama are all combined.It is not a story of perfect people, but a story of people who are hurt and shaken, just like us, living step by step to get better little by little.” He pointed out the appeal of the work.Writer Kim Hyo-seok emphasized that he wanted to convey a message of empathy, saying, “The characters in ‘Good Man’ all want to find a better version of themselves.Like ordinary people like us, they maintain their faithfulness to life while also dreaming of change.I hope that the warm texture of the story, like the light of an incandescent light bulb, will be a differentiating factor.”

# Lee Dong-wook and Lee Sung-kyung’s romantic chemistry

The heartbreaking and exciting romance between Park Seok-cheol, a man who had a lot to protect, and his first love, Kang Mi-young, who evokes a sense of nostalgia, is definitely the best point to watch.Lee Dong-wook is equipped with deep emotions as ‘Park Seok-cheol’ and embarks on an intense transformation.He was a man who dreamed of being a novelist, but became a gangster against his will to make a living.Having endured more honestly than anyone else, the moment he decides to turn his life around, he has a fateful reunion with his first love, Kang Mi-young, and falls into the fierce whirlpool of life once again.Lee Sung-kyung plays ‘Kang Mi-young’, Park Seok-cheol’s first love and a singer.Kang Mi-young, who does not give up her dream of becoming a singer despite being crushed by harsh reality and her fatal weakness of stage fright, reunites with Park Seok-cheol, whom she had a sweet love for since childhood, and experiences a fierce turning point in her life.

Director Song Hae-seong chose ‘completion’ as the keyword that runs through the ‘relationship’ and ‘love’ of Park Seok-cheol and Kang Mi-young, and said, “The two are beings who fill each other’s emptiness.Park Seok-cheol regains his inner purity through Kang Mi-young, and Kang Mi-young gains the courage to go out into the world through Park Seok-cheol,” raising expectations.
# Various actor activities

From a thrilling love triangle to a cheerful yet heart-wrenching family love, Park Hoon, Oh Na-ra, Ryu Hye-young, and Chun Ho-jin, who will complete a variety of relationships, are also worth noting.Park Hoon will play the role of Kang Tae-hoon, the boss of Samjun Construction, a rival organization of Myeongsan Industrial, and will face Park Seok-cheol in the most dangerous love triangle.Park Hoon will excel in controlling the tension of the drama by portraying the character of Kang Tae-hoon, who is on the tightrope of a thrilling relationship.Oh Na-ra will play the role of Park Seok-kyung, a troublemaker who, after failing in marriage and business, enters the gambling world, but fails in that too and returns home with only debt, led by her younger siblings.Oh Na-ra’s performance, which will bring out the charm of Park Seok-kyung, who is absolutely impossible to hate, is anticipated.Ryu Hye-young will play the role of Park Seok-hee, the youngest of three siblings and one of the most elite.Park Seok-hee, who is the pride of her family with her neat and upright personality, also has a moment to choose between her dreams and reality.Attention is focused on the transformation of Ryu Hye-young, who will delicately portray the complex and intricate inner thoughts of Park Seok-hee, who is not overshadowed by the aura of the extraordinary family members.The pillar of the ‘Park Seok-cheol Family’, ‘Park Sil-gon’, is played by Cheon Ho-jin.Although he was famous as a gangster nationwide, Park Sil-gon, who now lives in the wilderness and works on his garden, is a character who regrets his choice to push his son into the world of gangsters.Cheon Ho-jin’s passionate acting, which realistically portrays the weight and agony of being the head of the household, also adds to the anticipation.The production team’s trust in the actors is also absolute.

Director Song Hae-seong said, “In dramas, it is important how well the actor fits the character, and in that sense, ‘A Good Man ‘is a work that I filmed while being indebted to all the actors.” Writer Kim Hyo-seok also showed special affection, adding, “I never thought of other actors.It’s not common for casting to proceed like this, so I thought, ‘That’s right.’”

‘ Good Man’ will premiere at 8:50 PM on the 18th and air twice consecutively every week.

Hong Se-young, reporter for Donga.com projecthong@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.