Sohn Hyun-joo, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Elijah sign on for new JTBC drama

10 January 13, 2020July 5, 2020

Sohn Hyun-joo, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Elijah sign on for new JTBC drama

by tccolb

Casting has been confirmed for JTBC’s upcoming crime procedural Model Detective with actors Sohn Hyun-joo (Justice), Jang Seung-jo (Chocolate), and Lee Elijah (Chief of Staff) playing leading roles.

The story takes a deeper look at the day in the life of police officers who stop at nothing in order to round up criminals and are dedicated to uncovering the truth.

Sohn Hyun-joo plays police detective Kang Do-chang, a veteran officer who’s been working in the violent crimes unit for 18 years. In investigations, he tends not to use scientific methods and his powers of deduction are decent at best. However, he has a wealth of experience that is unrivaled. He knows his way around all the city streets and back alley roads, and has a reliable network of sources. Fiercely tough and also loyal, in appearance, he gives off a friendly neighborhood ajusshi vibe.

Jang Seung-jo plays elite police detective Oh Ji-hyuk who is also in the violent crimes division. He comes from a well-off family and has been at his job for 9 years. However, having had a traumatic experience in childhood, he leads a very reserved life and shies away from connecting with other people emotionally. In contrast to Sohn Hyun-joo, he approaches cases with cool logic and is skilled at discerning people’s behavior and motives.

Lee Elijah plays reporter Jin Seo-kyung, who works for one of the top newspaper in the country, and has been in her job for 5 years. Due to her impulsive personality, she often acts without thinking and gets embroiled in many misunderstandings. However, she doesn’t stand down in confrontations and is bold about expressing her opinions.

On the production side, writer Choi Jin-won (Untouchable, Masked Prosecutor) and PD Jo Nam-gook (Untouchable, Last) will be working together again for JTBC’s new drama.

Model Detective is currently being planned to premiere in April 2020 and will be airing Mondays and Tuesdays.

Via Newsen

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1 Radily

January 13, 2020 at 11:17 AM

Argh ... I really love Jang Seung Jo and wish he had a good leading role! This is already his 5th drama as the second male lead and he has stood his ground against actors like Jang Hyuk, Ji Sung and the latest Yoon Kye Sang. (cough cough I think Park Bo Gum's leading over him is the most contentious but I'll leave it at that)

Well Sohn Hyun Joo is certainly deserving but it looks like he's going to be typecast in those unemotional brooding character archetype which he has played in 3 dramas already. He's isn't very young so hopefully he'll get his moment to shine as the main lead soon.

We also have Lee Elijah who kept on doing legal dramas in 2018 and 2019 (sans the ridiculous Empress makjang) which aren't my cup of tea. I also really like her but not to the extent where I can stomach a generic synopsis above for her. She also needs more variety in her acting roles.

The drama frankly looks to be a hard pass from me unless we get more details closer to premiere that will make this more than an uninspiring crime procedural. You know, if Black Dog could make a school drama that isn't cliche, you could too! (and then I saw the writer's previous works and went nah that ain't happening ... but one can dream)

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john

January 13, 2020 at 2:15 PM

Lee Elijah did a good job in both seasons of Chief of Staff .
She did play a former reporter, (D’oh!), who ventured into the political world as a Congressional aide .

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2 Kurama

January 13, 2020 at 11:27 AM

It looks like 2020 will be a crime/police/thriller drama year.

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3 larelle79

January 13, 2020 at 3:08 PM

Little fact I learned from watching those The Swoon videos.

Jang Seung Ho's hobby is....wait for it.....pottery.

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ys

January 14, 2020 at 10:18 AM

Love those Swoon videos of cast members playing Jenga. And the Swoon compilation videos are great--the one about Second Lead Syndrome is too funny and too painful all at once!

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4 ohduhree

January 14, 2020 at 3:39 AM

Jang Seung Jo is quickly becoming significant in my list of good actors. He has the kind of gravitas that can hold up against veteran actors. I'm sure he'll be getting offers for a leading role soon.

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larelle79

January 14, 2020 at 11:04 AM

Money Flower, Money Flower, Money Flower.

I just repeat that a lot. He is sooooooo good in that series.

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5 riverj

January 14, 2020 at 8:04 AM

So will Jang Seung Jo finally have a love line on screen, because I kid you not, I can't imagine that between Sohn Hyun Joon and Lee Elijah. Maybe it'll be something like Dr. Romantic where there is one mentor for the couple of rookies?

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6 Hero

January 14, 2020 at 8:16 PM

Sometimes second lead is the more interesting character.

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ys

January 15, 2020 at 10:49 AM

Especially when Jang Seungjo plays the second lead, whether romantic second lead or just a second lead like he is in Chocolate. I think it's what an actor brings to a secondary role that viewers root for and appreciate.