The South Korean drama landscape is set to sizzle this July with the highly anticipated release of ‘The Nice Guy’, a new romance K-drama starring the dynamic duo of Lee Sung Kyung and Lee Dong Wook. The series, premiering on July 18, 2025, on JTBC and streaming on Disney+, promises a blend of heart, humor, and dramatic tension.
Storyline
‘The Nice Guy’ (Korean: 착한 사나이) centers on Park Seok-cheol (Lee Dong Wook), the eldest grandson of a notorious three-generation gangster family. Despite his violent lineage, Seok-cheol harbors an unexpectedly pure heart and dreams of breaking away from his family’s criminal legacy to become a writer, inspired by his idol Ernest Hemingway.
His journey takes an emotional turn when he reconnects with his first love, Kang Mi-young (Lee Sung Kyung), an ambitious young woman who aspires to become a singer but struggles with stage fright. Their rekindled relationship becomes the emotional core of the series, exploring themes of love, redemption, and self-discovery.
Cast and Characters
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Lee Dong Wook as Park Seok-cheol: The conflicted eldest grandson of a gangster family, yearning for a life of his own.
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Lee Sung Kyung as Kang Mi-young: A spirited woman chasing her dreams in music, and Seok-cheol’s first love.
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Ryu Hye-young as Park Seok-hee: Seok-cheol’s upright younger sister.
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Oh Na-ra as Park Seok-gyeong: The eldest sister of the Park siblings.
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Park Hoon as Kang Tae-hun: A key figure in the unfolding drama.
Production and Release
Directed by Song Hae-sung and Park Hong-soo, and penned by Kim Woon-kyung and Kim Hyo-seok, ‘The Nice Guy’ was co-produced by SLL, Hive Media Corp, and HIGROUND. Filming wrapped up in August 2024, with the show set to air every Friday at 20:50 KST on JTBC and stream globally via Disney+.
What to Expect
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Romance & Redemption: The series explores the complexities of love, particularly when set against a backdrop of crime and family expectations.
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Star Power: Lee Dong Wook and Lee Sung Kyung bring their acclaimed acting chops and undeniable chemistry to the screen.
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Family Dynamics: With a supporting cast featuring Ryu Hye-young and Oh Na-ra, viewers can expect intricate family relationships and compelling side stories.
With its star-studded cast, heartfelt narrative, and high production values, ‘The Nice Guy’ is poised to be a standout in the 2025 K-drama lineup. Fans of romance, drama, and character-driven stories should mark their calendars for this must-watch series.
