JTBC's 'The Nice Guy' blends first love with gangster grit
A fresh yet nostalgic mix of romance and crime is coming to the small screen this summer in the new JTBC series 'The Nice Guy,' starring Hallyu favorites Lee Dong-wook and Lee Sung-kyung.
The story follows Seok-cheol (Lee Dong-wook), the eldest son in an organized crime family who dreams of becoming a writer, and his first love Mi-young (Lee Sung-kyung). Together, they navigate a story brimming with youthful longing and harsh realities.
Speaking at a press event in Seoul on Monday, Lee Dong-wook — celebrated for his performances in TV drama hits such as 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God' and 'A Shop for Killers' — explained why he took the role.
'For the past four to five years, I've mostly been doing fantasy-based works, and I was feeling a bit worn out,' he said. 'I wanted to do something more grounded and realistic, where I could portray a realistic character.'
Adding that he did not do a lot of special preparation for the role, he said, "You could call it everyday acting. At times, it might even feel like you're seeing the real Lee Dong-wook. I wanted to portray a more relatable, ordinary character — someone you might actually encounter in real life — by staying flexible on set and working closely with the other actors.'
Director Song Hae-sung described the show's vibe as a throwback to the 1980s and '90s, with a focus on first love and gangster life. 'We aimed for something subtle, like Pyongyang cold noodles — simple at first but lingering in your mind,' he said.
Addressing ongoing concerns about glamorizing gangsters — a frequent challenge in Korean noir storytelling — Lee spoke candidly.
'The role of a gangster might come off as old-fashioned or cliche,' he said. 'But by showing the character as somewhat pitiful and pathetic, it feels more real.' He added, 'When I spoke with the director and writers, we all agreed that there would be no glamorization. I had no intention of making the character look cool at all.'
'The Nice Guy' premieres Friday on JTBC and will stream exclusively on Disney+.
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