The Korean drama Chief Detective 1958 (2024) stands out for its main cast, including Lee Jee Hoon, Lee Dong Hwi, Choi Woo Sung, and Yoon Hyun Soo, each bringing out their characters brilliantly.
During a press conference, Choi Woo Sung revealed that he had to gain 25 kilograms for his role. Additionally, Lee Je Hoon shared about the chemistry between him, Lee Dong Hwi, and Seo Eun Soo.
1. Choi Woo Sung Ate a Lot to Gain 25kg
Press conference for the Korean drama Chief Detective 1958 (doc. MBC/Chief Detective 1958)Choi Woo Sung transformed himself into the character Jo Gyeong Hwan, who has a tall, big, and sturdy body. To achieve this physique, he had to eat significantly more.
“I play Jo Gyeong Hwan, and I first needed to understand the character. When I researched the role, I realized I needed to become a bigger man,” said Choi Woo Sung.
He added, “And how do I become a big man? The first thing that came to mind was to eat a lot. So, I started eating a lot.”
In order to resemble Jo Gyeong Hwan, Choi Woo Sung had to gain 25 kilograms.
2. Yoon Hyun Soo’s Grandfather Thrilled with His Role as Seo Ho Jung
Press conference for the Korean drama Chief Detective 1958 (doc. MBC/Chief Detective 1958)Yoon Hyun Soo shared about auditioning for the character Seo Ho Jung, which brought joy to his grandfather, a fan of the original drama Chief Inspector (1971).
“The original drama aired before I was born. When I auditioned, my family was overjoyed. You see, my grandfather was a huge fan of the drama,” explained Yoon Hyun Soo enthusiastically.
He continued, “I told him I think I did well at the audition, and my grandfather immediately hugged me tightly.”
Yoon Hyun Soo, born in 1999, feels he fulfilled his duty as a grandson by realizing his grandfather’s dream, especially since his grandfather appeared in the documentary alongside Choi Bul Am, who portrays Park Yeong Han in Chief Inspector (1971).
3. Choi Woo Sung Admires Lee Je Hoon, While Yoon Hyun Soo Looks Up to Lee Dong Hwi
Press conference for the Korean drama Chief Detective 1958 (doc. MBC/Chief Detective 1958)During the press conference, when asked about their role models, Choi Woo Sung and Yoon Hyun Soo both named their seniors and co-stars in Chief Detective 1958 (2024).
“When I auditioned for the first time, I performed a role played by Lee Je Hoon in Architecture 101. So, my role model is Lee Je Hoon,” said Choi Woo Sung, causing Lee Je Hoon to blush.
On the other hand, Yoon Hyun Soo chose Lee Dong Hwi as his role model. Lee Dong Hwi was taken aback by this.
“I’m honored. You know, Lee Dong Hwi is my role model,” admitted Yoon Hyun Soo.
Lee Dong Hwi responded, “I think he should stop saying that. He was flattering me. During the documentary, he told Choi Bul Am that I’m his role model.”
According to Lee Dong Hwi, Yoon Hyun Soo should avoid self-praise in front of seasoned actors like those from Chief Inspector (1971).
4. Lee Je Hoon Relies on Lee Dong Hwi Despite Being the Oldest
Press conference for the Korean drama Chief Detective 1958 (doc. MBC/Chief Detective 1958)Lee Je Hoon’s real-life character, according to Lee Dong Hwi, resembles Park Young Han, with Lee Dong Hwi often following him on set.
“As filming neared its end, I think Woo Sung and Hyun Soo felt the same way. We were the ones following Je Hoon or Detective Park. During scenes, we always looked to Je Hoon for guidance,” explained Lee Dong Hwi.
He added, “I did many scenes while following him. And each time, I felt like I could rely on Detective Park for half of the scenes.”
On the contrary, Lee Je Hoon feels he can depend on Lee Dong Hwi, despite being the oldest among them.
“Working with him is really enjoyable. Even though I’m older, they expect me to lead, but I often rely on Dong Hwi because he’s fun to work with,” said Lee Je Hoon.
5. Lee Je Hoon Promises Great Chemistry with Seo Eun Soo
Press conference for the Korean drama Chief Detective 1958 (doc. MBC/Chief Detective 1958)Lee Je Hoon also spoke about his chemistry with Seo Eun Soo, who portrays Lee Hye Ju in Chief Detective 1958 (2024). He hopes fans anticipate their storyline, as it’s different from the original drama.
“In the original Chief Inspector, we didn’t delve much into personal lives. But I think Young Han must have fallen in love and had a family,” said Je Hoon.
The Daesang winner at the 2023 SBS Awards added, “This will make many people happy. So, my character has a love story with actress Seo Eun Soo. I believe it will be enjoyable for the audience to watch the romance unfold in this drama.”
Catch Chief Detective 1958 (2024) every Friday and Saturday on Disney+ Hotstar or MBC. What are your thoughts after watching the first two episodes?