The hit SBS drama Flex X Cop (also known as Chaebol X Detective) is returning for its second season, and this time, there is an exciting new addition to the cast. Jung Eun Chae will reportedly join Ahn Bo Hyun in the follow-up to one of 2024’s most talked-about K-dramas.
On October 15, SPOTV NEWS reported that Jung has been approached for the female lead role after Park Ji Hyun declined to appear in Flex X Cop season 2.
The new season is set to air sometime in 2026, bringing fans another round of mystery, humor, and stylish detective action.
Jung Eun Chae Replaces Park Ji Hyun in Flex X Cop Season 2
The first season of Flex X Cop, which ran from January to March 2024, followed Jin Yi Soo (played by Ahn Bo Hyun), the youngest son of South Korea’s largest conglomerate, Hansoo Group. After an unexpected twist of fate, he ends up working as a detective in the Violent Crimes Unit. Viewers loved the chemistry between Ahn Bo Hyun and Park Ji Hyun, who played Detective Lee Kang Hyun, his no-nonsense partner.
However, Park Ji-hyun will not be returning for the second season due to scheduling conflicts. SBS confirmed that the actress had prior commitments that made it difficult for her to participate in the new episodes. Instead of recasting the same role, the production team decided to take the story in a slightly different direction by introducing a new character — Joo Hye Ra, to be played by Jung Eun Chae.
Jung Eun Chae as Joo Hye Ra
In Season 2, Jung Eun Chae takes on the role of Joo Hye Ra, the new team leader of the Violent Crimes Unit. Previously the ace of the National Police Agency’s counter-terrorism team, Hye Ra is described as sharp, relentless, and fiercely independent. She is known among her colleagues for her meticulous approach to cases and her fearless attitude. She does shy away from even riding a motorcycle when chasing down criminals.
Interestingly, she will have a past connection with Ahn Bo Hyun’s character Jin Yi Soo. During his time at the police academy, Joo was famously known as the “devil instructor” who pushed him to his limits during training. This backstory sets the stage for a tense yet entertaining reunion as the two characters are forced to work together in the field once again.
Jung Eun Chae’s Career and Upcoming Projects
Starting her career as a model, she made her acting debut in the early 2010s and quickly earned praise for her powerful performances. Her breakthrough came with the 2013 film Nobody’s Daughter Haewon, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and earned her several Best New Actress awards.
Over the years, she has proven her range across a variety of genres. Many viewers will remember her as Prime Minister Goo Seo Ryung in The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), or as the determined exorcist Kang Gil Young in the horror-thriller The Guest. She also received a Baeksang Arts Award nomination for her role in Anna and gained global fame through Apple TV+’s Pachinko, where she portrayed the complex and conflicted Choi Kyung Hee.
Before Flex X Cop 2 hits screens, Jung Eun Chae will appear in several other high-profile projects. She will make a special appearance in the upcoming JTBC drama The Story of Manager Kim, premiering on October 25. She is also set to co-star with Lee Na Young and Lee Chung Ah in the mystery thriller Honor, scheduled for the first half of next year.