In a revealing interview with MyDramaList, Good Boy writer Lee Dae Il shared that his upcoming JTBC K-drama, premiering May 31, 2025, is a heartfelt ode to “good people” and those striving to be good in a flawed world. The action-comedy series, set in the fictional Inseong City, follows former Olympic medalists who swap their athletic glory for police badges, joining the Special Violent Crimes Unit to battle injustice.
“Above all, just like the title suggests, it’s a story about ‘good people’ and ‘those who strive to become good people,’” Lee said. “I focused on each character living with realistic concerns. I wanted to tell the story of all of us, who are ‘not special but special,’ who worry, are in pain, and work hard.”
The show boasts a powerhouse cast led by Park Bo Gum as Yoon Dong Joo, a boxing gold medalist turned rookie cop demoted after mishaps, and Kim So Hyun as Ji Han Na, a sharpshooting sergeant with a fearless streak. They’re joined by Lee Sang Yi, Heo Sung Tae, and Tae Won Seok as a fencer, wrestler, and discus thrower, respectively, with Oh Jung Se as the menacing crime lord Min Joo Young. Lee was thrilled about the ensemble, saying, “I was honestly amazed that such great actors were coming together. It felt as though the actors were leading the characters, not the script.” Their chemistry shone at a March 2024 script reading, where laughter and tension brought the story to life.
What sets Good Boy apart, Lee explained, is its fresh spin on the detective genre. “The very premise of former medalist athletes becoming police officers is a distinguishing element,” he noted. The characters’ athletic skills—boxing, shooting, fencing—fuel dynamic action scenes, from Yoon Dong Joo’s punches to Ji Han Na’s pinpoint aim. But it’s their personal struggles, like career-ending injuries or unfair expulsions, that ground the show. Lee revisited Inseong City, a setting from his earlier works like Life on Mars, reimagining it as a modern, gritty backdrop where “foul play” thrives. “Wondering how the Inseong of the 1980s might look today, I found the idea intriguing,” he said.
Directed by Shim Na Yeon (The Good Bad Mother), Good Boy blends action, humor, and heart, aiming for “cathartic, feel-good thrills,” per the production team. Lee praised Shim’s thoughtful direction, saying, “Each frame is filled with unwavering conviction.” A key line from Yoon Dong Joo—“Who is ever born good?”—captures the show’s theme of growth and resilience. Park Bo Gum called the project “a new beginning,” while Kim So Hyun said playing Ji Han Na made her “braver.” With global streaming on Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+, Good Boy is poised to connect with audiences craving relatable heroes. Lee’s vision of ordinary people chasing justice makes it a K-drama to watch.
Source: MyDramaList