Lee Dong-wook and Lee Sung-kyung attended the production presentation for JTBC‘s upcoming drama ‘The Nice Guy‘ on July 14, 2025, at The Link Hotel in Seoul. The event introduced the emotional noir series, which blends romance, gangster life, and dreams.
They look truly beautiful together, don’t you also think so?
A Fresh Take on Melodrama and Noir
‘The Nice Guy’ tells the story of Park Seok-cheol (Lee Dong-wook), the eldest grandson of a three-generation gangster family, and his first love Kang Mi-young (Lee Sung-kyung), who dreams of becoming a singer. The drama explores themes of love, regret, and second chances.
Director Song Hae-sung, known for his work on films like ‘Failan’, described the series as a mix of old-school emotions and modern storytelling.
“Our drama is about people who are on a path they didnโt choose. Itโs a story of regret and the choices we make to overcome it. I wanted to show characters who keep moving forward despite their past.”
Lee Dong-wookโs Return to Realistic Acting
Lee Dong-wook, famous for fantasy dramas like ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’, shared why he chose this role.
“For the past four to five years, Iโve mostly done fantasy-based works. I wanted to try something more realistic. This character is flawed and humanโnot a cool gangster, but someone struggling with life.”
He also praised his co-star Lee Sung-kyung, saying:
“She has a bright energy, but her acting is very deep. We had intense discussions about the script, and it helped shape our performances.”
Lee Sung-kyungโs Role as an Aspiring Singer
Lee Sung-kyung plays Kang Mi-young, a determined woman chasing her dream despite stage fright. She shared her experience preparing for the role.
“I practiced singing and guitar for this character. I wanted viewers to feel the joy and struggle of chasing a dream.”
She also joked about her physical transformation.
“This is the first time I didnโt lose weight while filming a drama. It shows how happy and comfortable I was on set.”
Supporting Cast and Their Roles
The drama also stars:
- Park Hoon as Kang Tae-hoon, a rival businessman.
- Oh Na-ra as Park Seok-gyeong, Seok-cheolโs older sister.
- Ryu Hye-young as Park Seok-hee, the youngest sibling with a strong sense of justice.
Oh Na-ra shared her excitement:
“Iโve wanted to do a classic melodrama for a while. This script felt fresh even though it has old-school emotions.”
Avoiding Gangster Glamorization
Lee Dong-wook addressed concerns about romanticizing gangster life.
“We didnโt want to make the character look cool. Heโs flawed and sometimes pathetic, which makes him real.”
Director Song added that the drama focuses on human emotions rather than action.
“Itโs like Pyongyang cold noodlesโsimple at first, but the taste lingers.”
Release Details
‘The Nice Guy’ premieres on July 18, 2025, at 8:50 PM KST on JTBC. It will also stream on Disney+ in select regions.
Credits: News compiled from Dispatch, JTBC press event and official statements.
