Kim Ji-won is confirmed to lead the upcoming Netflix series ‘Detective Park Mi-ok,’ based on the true story of South Korea’s first female homicide detective.
The ‘Queen of Tears’ star is preparing for a major career shift. After winning hearts as the emotional department store heiress Hong Hae-in, Kim Ji-won will now play a real-life police pioneer. The drama tells the story of Park Mi-ok, who broke barriers in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the police force was almost entirely male.
This marks a significant change for the actress, known for romantic roles in ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and ‘Fight for My Way.’ She will now take on a darker, more realistic crime drama. The series will have eight episodes, following the standard format for Netflix original Korean content. As of now, Kim Ji-won is the only confirmed cast member.
A True Story of Breaking Barriers
The real Park Mi-ok joined the police force at a young age due to her family’s financial struggles. She had to choose work over higher education, which made her path even harder from the start. In 1991, at age 23, she became the country’s first female homicide detective.
Her career was anything but ordinary. Park Mi-ok worked on some of South Korea’s most dangerous cases. She was part of the team that caught the infamous escaped prisoner Shin Chang-won. She also worked on the serial killer Yoo Young-cheol case and the murder of a pregnant doctor’s wife.
The drama will show how she survived in a system that did not want her. She faced harsh comments from male colleagues. One detective once asked her, “Why did the pot come here?” using a degrading term for women. Park Mi-ok quickly replied, “Please keep the kettle still,” refusing to be pushed around.
Despite the challenges, she rose through the ranks faster than anyone. She was promoted from patrol officer to lieutenant in just nine years, a process that usually takes 20 years.
Reuniting with ‘Queen of Tears’ Director
Kim Ji-won is working again with director Kim Hee-won. They previously collaborated on the massive 2024 hit ‘Queen of Tears.’ Director Kim also worked on popular shows like ‘Vincenzo’ (2021) and ‘Little Women’ (2022).
The script comes from writer Chung Seo-kyung, a frequent partner of famous director Park Chan-wook. She wrote critically praised films like ‘The Handmaiden’ and ‘Decision to Leave.’ Reports suggest Chung was already writing the script with Kim Ji-won in mind for the lead role.
This combination of a female lead, female writer, and female director has created strong interest in the project.
What to Expect from the Series
The story is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This was a time when men fully controlled homicide investigations. Park Mi-ok had to prove she belonged in a system that did not easily accept her.
“The drama will reveal what it was like to survive and grow in such an environment. Park Mi-ok is not simply solving crimes. She is also trying to prove that she belongs.”
The real Park Mi-ok had high-level skills in judo, taekwondo, and kendo. She used these to catch criminals with her own hands. She once caught a pickpocket by feeling the movement of his shoulder blade.
Her work went beyond physical strength. She had strong intuition. During an interrogation of a thief, she noticed he avoided talking about love. A DNA test later revealed he had committed a serious crime against a child five years earlier.
Release Information
‘Detective Park Mi-ok’ is scheduled to release on Netflix in 2026. An exact date has not been announced yet.
Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India will all be able to stream the series on Netflix on the same day. The show will be available with English subtitles and various dubbing options.
Before this drama, Kim Ji-won will first appear in ‘Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia,’ where she plays a freelance surgeon. That show is expected to air on SBS in 2026. She will begin filming ‘Detective Park Mi-ok’ after finishing work on ‘Doctor X.’
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The Real Park Mi-ok’s Legacy
Park Mi-ok continued to break records throughout her career. In 2000, she became the first female violent crimes team leader. In 2002, she was appointed as the first female head of the drug crime investigation team at Yangcheon Police Station.
She later served as the chief of the homicide division at Mapo Police Station in 2010. The next year, she became the first female homicide chief at Gangnam Police Station, breaking her own records.
After 30 years of service, Park Mi-ok retired honorably in 2021 from her position as head of the criminal division at Seogwipo Police Station. The media called her ‘the legend of female police officers.’ She now lives in Jeju Island, where she runs a small bookstore filled with books about human nature.
Her life has already inspired many Korean crime dramas. She served as an advisor for shows like ‘Signal’ and ‘Those Who Read the Heart of Evil.’
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