3 Reasons To Look Forward To Lee Dong Wook And Lee Sung Kyung's Upcoming Drama “The Nice Guy”
JTBC’s upcoming drama “The Nice Guy” has revealed a few key reasons why viewers should get excited for its premiere!
“The Nice Guy” is a noir drama that follows Park Seok Chul (Lee Dong Wook), the eldest grandson of a third-generation gangster family with an unexpectedly pure heart, and his first love Kang Mi Young (Lee Sung Kyung), a woman who dreams of becoming a singer.
Ahead of its premiere, here are three reasons to look forward to the drama:
A trusted production team
“The Nice Guy” is co-directed by Song Hae Sung, known for films like “Failan,” “Boomerang Family,” and “Maundy Thursday,” and Park Hong Soo, who worked on the drama “Lost.” The script is written by Kim Woon Kyung, the writer behind “Yoona’s Street,” “The Moon of Seoul,” and “There Is a Bluebird,” in collaboration with Kim Hyo Seok of the film “Yadang: The Snitch.” The drama is also the first television production by Hive Media Corp, which produced major films like “Yadang: The Snitch,” “12.12: The Day,” “The Man Standing Next,” “Inside Men,” and “Deliver Us from Evil.”
Director Song Hae Sung emphasized, “At its core, ‘The Nice Guy’ is about a man who finds love and discovers who he really is by going through hardships and overcoming them.” He added, “The greatest charm of this work is the character Park Seok Chul himself—a gangster who wants to be a poet, someone who lives in a rough world yet doesn’t lose his innocence. The contradiction makes him incredibly compelling.”
He continued, “This drama stands out because it blends the tension of noir, the lyricism of melodrama, and the warmth and relatability of a family drama. It’s not about perfect people but about wounded, wavering individuals who are just like us, taking one step at a time to become better.”
Writer Kim Hyo Seok explained, “I wanted to convey a message of empathy. All the characters in The Nice Guy are searching for better versions of themselves. Like ordinary people, they try to stay faithful to life while still dreaming of change. I hope the story comes across as something unique.”
The heart-fluttering romance between Park Seok Chul and Kang Mi Young
One of the biggest highlights of the drama is undoubtedly the heart-fluttering romance between Park Seok Chul, “a man with much to protect,” and his first love Kang Mi Young.
Lee Dong Wook plays Park Seok Chul, a man who once dreamed of becoming a novelist like Ernest Hemingway but reluctantly turned to the gangster life to make a living. Having endured life with quiet determination, just when he decides to turn his life around, he fatefully reunites with Kang Mi Young—throwing him into another whirlwind.
Lee Sung Kyung portrays Kang Mi Young, a woman who holds onto her dreams of becoming a singer despite life’s harsh realities and her crippling stage fright. Her reunion with Park Seok Chul becomes a turning point in her life.
Director Song Hae Sung chose “completion” as the keyword that best describes the relationship between Park Seok Chul and Kang Mi Young, saying, “They fill the empty spaces in each other. Seok Chul regains his innocence through Mi Young, while Mi Young finds the courage to face the world through him.”
A star-studded and talented cast
The drama features an ensemble of talented actors including Park Hoon, Oh Na Ra, Ryu Hye Young, and Chun Ho Jin.
Park Hoon plays Kang Tae Hoon, the leader of Samjun Construction, a rival group to Myeongsan Industries where Park Seok Chul works. Kang Tae Hoon was once part of the same organization as Park Seok Chul. However, after falling for Kang Mi Young at first sight, he becomes caught in a tense and unstable love triangle with Seok Chul.
Oh Na Ra takes on the role of Park Seok Chul’s sister, Park Seok Kyung, a troublemaker with no shortage of drama. After failing in both marriage and business, she turns to gambling, only to end up with nothing but debt.
Ryu Hye Young plays Park Seok Chul’s youngest sibling, Park Seok Hee, who is known as the family’s elite. A nurse by profession, she is admired for her sharp mind and upright character. However, she too reaches a moment where she must choose between her dreams and reality.
Chun Ho Jin plays Park Sil Gon, the pillar of Park Seok Chul’s family. Once a notorious gangster, he now lives quietly, tending to a garden in the countryside. He’s a man haunted by regret for pushing his son into the gangster world.
The production team has immense trust in the cast. Director Song Hae Sung remarked, “Casting actors who fit their roles perfectly is crucial in a drama. ‘The Nice Guy’ is a project that owes everything to its cast.”
Writer Kim Hyo Seok added, “I never imagined anyone else playing these roles. It’s rare for casting to work out this perfectly—it felt like fate.”
“The Nice Guy” is set to premiere on July 18 at 8:50 p.m. KST and will air two consecutive episodes every Friday.
While you wait, watch Lee Dong Wook in “Tale of the Nine-Tailed”:
And check out Lee Sung Kyung in “Sh**ting Stars” on Viki:
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