"23% for 'Department Manager Kim,' not 11% for Season 1 as a rival" – 'Chaebol X Detective 2' returns with new face Jung Eun-chae alongside Ahn Bo-hyun [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Chaebol X Detective 2' is ready to surpass the success of Season 1 with an upgraded scale and teamwork. The powerful Team 1, returning amid high expectations following the massive hit of the previous work 'Department Manager Kim,' promises a cheerful and refreshing collaborative investigation.

On the 4th, the production presentation for SBS's new Saturday-Sunday drama 'Chaebol X Detective 2' (script by Kim Ba-da, directed by Kim Jae-hong) was held at Mokdong SBS in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Jae-hong and actors Ahn Bo-hyun, Jung Eun-chae, Kang Sang-joon, and Kim Shin-bi attended the event.

'Chaebol X Detective 2' is a cheerful, refreshing, and thrilling collaborative investigation drama featuring Jin Yi-soo (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), a chaebol detective who overturns stalled investigations with his wealth, and new team leader Ju Hye-ra (played by Jung Eun-chae).

Season 1, which aired in 2024, achieved a peak viewership rating of 11.0% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide), earning widespread acclaim. Returning after two years, Season 2 promises an upgraded scale and entertainment value.

Director Kim Jae-hong explained the changes in Season 2: "To begin with, the core concept is this: when an investigation stalls, ask yourself if it's because of a lack of money." He added, "The performance of Season 1 was slightly disappointing. That made me think perhaps we lacked sufficient financial resources. We've returned with Season 2, which is richer and offers more visual spectacle."

The actors also explained what has changed in this season. Ahn Bo-hyun stated, "I attended police academy. Through that experience, I have matured. You will get to see an even more impressive performance from Jin Yi-soo."

Jung Eun-chae said, "This is my first time appearing as a new face in the series. I was curious about how this lively drama would evolve. Having heard that the team chemistry is excellent, I decided to join the project."

Continuing, Jung Eun-chae explained, "In the past, Jin Yi-soo and I were teacher-student at police academy. There was a time when I played as a devilish instructor who disciplined him. Our relationship begins with that 'hate-relationship' and gradually evolves into cooperative partners."

Kang Sang-joon, who plays Park Jun-young of Team 1, said, "In the meantime, they become like brothers and their bond deepens into true friendship. I will cover for him and support him greatly." Kim Shin-bi, who plays Choi Kyung-jin of Team 1, added, "I perform dangerous driving stunts and action scenes. I believe I can show a more mature side."

The action sequences have also become larger in scale and more spectacular.

Regarding her preparation for the action scenes, Jung Eun-chae said, "I practiced at an action school and rehearsed extensively on set. Since I had experience from Season 1, most of the actors performed their own stunts. Although there were stunt doubles, they handled most action scenes very well. So I focused on staying alert and ensuring no one got hurt. I learned a lot on set and paid close attention."

Ahn Bo-hyun expressed confidence in his action skills, saying, "I'm naturally good at it." He added, "Compared to Season 1, there are many more satisfying action scenes. There are also action sequences rarely seen in dramas. Some scenes unfold like a full-length movie. Viewers will likely feel that sense of satisfaction from these parts."

Unlike his previous work 'Department Manager Kim,' Director Kim Jae-hong revealed that AI was not used for the action scenes in this drama. He explained his directorial intent: "AI is being actively utilized in action sequences, but I had doubts about whether it would deliver satisfactory results for our production. Therefore, most scenes were shot with real actors, supplemented by CG."

In 'Chaebol X Detective 2', Yoo Seung-ho appears in a special role.

Regarding Yoo Seung-ho's role, the director noted that it could be a spoiler for the latter part of the series but explained: "He plays a third-generation chaebol who possesses wealth comparable to Jin Yi-soo and is also a world-renowned sculptor."

He continued, "Yoo Seung-ho and I maintained a good relationship after working together on the drama 'Revenge Has Returned,' first as an assistant director and later as lead actors. After reading the script, I felt that no one else could fill this role except Yoo Seung-ho, so I reached out to him." He shared the casting backstory.

The director also added, "Especially, he is a mysterious character who has long been under Ju Hye-ra's suspicion. Starting from the middle to late part of the series, he plays a crucial role with high narrative density. That's why everyone carefully considered his casting."

The director remarked, "The term 'special appearance' has unfortunately come to mean 'appearing frequently.' With Yoo Seung-ho, we initially planned to hide him and reveal him later, but since he wasn't someone who should be concealed, we decided not to hold back. He appears frequently from the beginning."

Director Kim Jae-hong shared his thoughts on presenting 'Chaebol X Detective 2' as a sequel to his previous work 'Department Manager Kim.' The latter concluded last month on the 25th with an overwhelming viewership rating of 23.1%.

The director said, "If I claimed there was no pressure given that the previous work 'Department Manager Kim' achieved such unbelievable ratings and became a huge success, it would be a lie." However, he added, "Drama is ultimately judged by its quality. My consistent goal has been to create a better drama than Season 1. We prepared with the aim of surpassing Season 1's record."

Ahn Bo-hyun said, "Expectations outweighed the pressure. While it was good that 'Department Manager Kim' performed well, I couldn't have imagined such incredible numbers, so there was some pressure." He continued, "When we returned after finishing Season 1, about 90% of the staff and actors were still with us. It felt like returning from vacation with excitement." He explained, "In Season 2, many unexpected characters and episodes will appear."

Jung Eun-chae said, "Each episode features remarkable guests. The main character in each episode is truly those guests themselves, who delivered incredibly charming performances. I believe viewers will binge-watch from start to finish."

Regarding the viewership pledge, Ahn Bo-hyun stated, "We're not aiming to surpass any particular work; our rival is Season 1 itself. We want to build upon that and exceed 15% viewership." He added, "In the previous series, Yoon Kyung-ho went on a silent fast, which was nice, but if we exceed 15%, I'd like to receive comments suggesting a pledge recommendation."

Meanwhile, 'Chaebol X Detective 2' will premiere on the 7th at 9:50 PM.

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*This content was translated by AI.