JTBC is reviving the noir melodrama genre with The Nice Guy (Korean title: Chakhan Sanai). The drama features two of K-Drama’s biggest stars, Lee Dong Wook and Lee Sung Kyung, in the lead roles. Their chemistry is what fans are most excited about, and judging by the teasers and stills, it looks incredibly promising.
Notably, Lee Sung Kyung is making her first full-fledged return as a leading actress in two years since Dr. Romantic 3. Although she made cameo appearances in Dr. Slump and The Player 2: Master of Swindler, this marks her true comeback in a main role.
On the other hand, Lee Dong Wook recently starred in The Divorce Insurance and is now preparing for Season 2 of A Shop for Killers on Disney+.
Since The Nice Guy airs this week, here’s everything you need to know from release date to cast, plot, and more.
The Nice Guy Release Date
The noir melodrama, The Nice Guy, starring Lee Sung Kyung and Lee Dong Wook, is set to premiere on July 18, 2025, at 8:50 p.m. KST and conclude on August 29. The 14-episode series will air two back‑to‑back episodes every Friday and stream internationally via Viki and Disney+ in select regions.
Plot
Described as a “sentimental noir,” the drama follows Park Seok Cheol (Lee Dong Wook), the eldest grandson in a third-generation gangster family. He once dreamed of becoming a novelist like Ernest Hemingway, but family ties forced him to swap his pen for a life of violence. His weary, empty life is turned upside down when he coincidentally crosses paths again with his first love, Kang Mi Young (Lee Sung Kyung).
Mi-young is an aspiring singer held back by stage fright, endless part-time jobs, and heavy family burdens. Seeing Seok Cheol again gives her new hope, both for her life and her music.
Cast and Characters
Lee Dong Wook plays Park Seok Chul, the eldest grandson in a gangster family who once dreamed of being a poet but was forced into a life of crime to survive. Lee is famous for roles in Goblin, Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Bad and Crazy, Strangers from Hell, and A Shop For Killers.
Lee Sung Kyung portrays Kang Mi Young, Park Seok Chul’s first love, who still holds onto her dream of becoming a singer despite countless setbacks and crippling stage fright. Her notable acting credits include Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Cheese in the Trap, Dr. Romantic, and Call It Love.
Park Hoon plays Kang Tae Hoon, the head of Samjun Construction. He is also Park Seok Chul’s old comrade turned rival, who complicates things further by stepping into a tense love triangle. Park is recognized for supporting roles in Descendants of the Sun, Memories of the Alhambra, Nobody Knows, and Big Mouth.
Oh Na Ra appears as Park Seok Kyung, the family’s reckless troublemaker. After losing everything to failed ventures and gambling, she returns home burdened by debt and regret. Oh Na Ra is loved for her performances in Alchemy of Souls, Villains Everywhere, and more.
Ryu Hye Young plays Park Seok Hee, the family’s youngest, a diligent nurse and the household’s pride. Ryu is best known for Reply 1988, and currently starring in Law and The City.
The Nice Guy Trailer
The recently released character posters highlight the cast’s emotional struggles. Seok Cheol appears bruised and weary in a subway, while Mi Young gazes longingly as she sings.
The tagline, “It’s okay if my life falls apart a little,” hints at the series’ melancholic yet hopeful tone.
Production Team
The Nice Guy brings together directors Song Hae Sung and Park Hong Soo. Song Hae Sung is known for films such as Failan and Maundy Thursday, while Park Hong Soo previously directed Lost.
During a press interview, director Song Hae Sung said the show’s atmosphere is meant to feel like a throwback to the 1980s and ’90s, mixing first love with gangster life. He said, “We aimed for something subtle, like Pyongyang cold noodles — simple at first but lingering in your mind.”
The script is crafted by Kim Woon Kyung, who wrote Yoona’s Street and The Moon of Seoul in partnership with Kim Hyo Seok, the screenwriter of Yadang: The Snitch.
Produced by Hive Media Corp, SLL, and HIGROUND, this series also marks Hive Media Corp’s first step into TV drama production, following hit films like Harbin, 12.12: The Day, The Man Standing Next, Handsome Guys, and Inside Men.
The Nice Guy debuts July 18 at 8:50 p.m. KST on JTBC, don’t forget to tune in.
