Gangnam B-Side (Korean: 강남 비-사이드) is a 2024 South Korean crime thriller television series written and directed by Park Noo-ri with Joo Won-gyu, and starring Jo Woo-jin, Ji Chang-wook, Ha Yoon-kyung, and Kim Hyeong-seo.
Set in the Seoul regional district of Gangnam frequently at night, a detective, a broker, and a prosecutor team up to chase after a black connection. It was released on Disney+ from November 6 to 27, 2024.
Gangnam B-Side was invited as one of the six drama series in the On Screen section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival.
Contents
Synopsis
Kang Dong-woo, who led a police force corruption probe, is thereafter rejected by his peers and estranged from his family. After relocating to a peaceful rural outpost, he finds himself drawn once more into the shady Gangnam district of Seoul when his daughter's friend named Kim Jae-hee goes missing. Along with broker Yoon Gil-ho and prosecutor Min Seo-jin, Dong-woo will reenter the world of vice, narcotics, and corruption in an attempt to unearth a plot that might bring down some of the wealthiest elite in the city.
Cast and characters
Main
Jo Woo-jin as Kang Dong-woo
A detective who graduated from an elite police academy but was demoted overnight. He gets deeply involved in unexpected incidents due to his personality of pushing forward without hesitation when he gets fixated on something.
Ji Chang-wook as Yoon Gil-ho / Kim Min-seok
Moon Sung-hyun as young Min-seok
A mysterious broker who has control over Gangnam and lived a life at the bottom in the darkest part of the flashy city in order to survive.
Ha Yoon-kyung as Min Seo-jin
A prosecutor who graduated from a local national university and has been working her way up the ranks at the prosecutor's office with no connections.
Kim Hyeong-seo as Kim Jae-hee / Jenny
A runaway club ace.
Supporting
Oh Ye-ju as Kang Ye-seo
Dong-woo's daughter and Jaehee’s best friend.
Yoo Sun as Shin Ji-hye
Kang Dong-woo's divorced ex-wife. announcer.
Hyun Bong-sik as Kim Jang-ho
Former detective of the Gangnam West Police Station in Seoul and current president of Jeil Human Resources Total Service, a criminal investigation agency.
Choi Kwang-il as Moon Chil-sung
Former police chief and current member of the National Assembly, who called Dongwoo back to Gangnam.
Choi Seong-hyeok as Dried Squid
JHRTS employee and Jangho's subordinate.
Ryu Hye-young as Seo Ji-soo
Detective from Violent Team 1 in Gangnam Western Police Station
Jeong Jae-kwang as MD Regime
Gilho's friend and Gangnam caller.
Park Ju-won as Lee Jeong-hwa
Kim Jae-hee's friend and Gangnam call girl, who was killed by Noh Jun-seo.
Song Ji-woo as Oh Jin-young
Call girl and drug addict.
Nam Jin-bok as Gil-ho's uncle
Other characters
Jung Jae-kwang as MD Jung Kwon
Jeong Ga-ram as No Jun-seo
/ Junni.
Celebrity, who CEO of Club Hyena and Gangnam Trade mid-level manager.
Im Seong-jae as Psyche
Club Hyena MD and Junseo's manager.
Ji Seung-hyun as Lee Kang-soo
Representative of Kang Soo Entertainment and Noh Jun-seo.
Hong Si-young as MD Lemon
Club Hyena MD
Park Sung-joon as Chief Seo
Club Hyena VIP guest.
An Seong-bong as Head of Security
Colosseum security chief.
Kim Jong-soo as Choi Hak-gu
CEO of Gangnam Trade INC.
Cha Rae-hyeong as K
Lee Jae-Yong as young K
Head of Gangnam Trade Headquarters and Choi Hak-gu's security.
Yoo Seong-ju as Presidential Chief of Staff
Kim Byeong-ok as Woo Dae-sik
Gyonam Market
Lee Seo-hwan as Lee Han-pyeong :Vice Minister of Health
Production
Development
Developed under the working title Bulk (벌크; Beolkeu), Gangnam B-Side is produced by Sanai Pictures with Plus M Entertainment and Story Rooftop. Park Noo-ri, who directed Money (2019), both directed and penned it with Joo Won-gyu.
In February 2024, Disney+ announced that the series was one of the Korean originals that would be releasing in 2024.
Casting
In January 2023, Jo Woo-jin and Ha Yoon-kyung were cast and confirmed to appear as lead actors for the series while Cha Eun-woo was still in discussion. Two months later, it was confirmed by both Fantagio and Sanai Pictures officials that Cha decided not to appear. In an interview with Kim Hyeong-seo in October 2023, she revealed that she went to audition for Bulk. Ji Chang-wook was cast in November 2023, and confirmed to appear by his company in February 2024.
Filming
Principal photography began at the end of November 2023, and lasted for about six months.
Release
Disney+ announced that Gangnam B-Side was scheduled for released in the second half of 2024. It has been confirmed that the series would premiere on November 6, 2024.
The series was invited as one of the six drama series in the On Screen section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival between October 2–11, 2024, where three out of eight episodes had its world premiere.
