We’ve finally got our jailbird lineup for the newest drama from PD Shin Won-ho of the Answer Me franchise, titled Smart Prison Living. In a departure from the throwback youth series that he’s known for, Shin PD’s new series will be a black comedy about the lives of inmates at a prison. Jung Kyung-ho (Missing 9, One More Happy Ending) has been confirmed in a starring role opposite stage actor Park Hae-soo, who most recently played the detective who chased Lee Min-ho and then became his friend in Legend of the Blue Sea (he was also in Six Flying Dragons, Master, The Pirates).
The script is being kept under wraps, so no character descriptions have been released for the roles. All we know so far is that the drama plans to tell the everyday stories of prisoners, and is a lighthearted human drama rather than a crime thriller, promising dark humor and pathos. Writing is Jung Bo-hoon, a junior writer from the Answer Me series.
There will probably be many new faces in the cast, but Shin PD is known for digging up little-known film and stage actors and his ensembles never disappoint. Park Hae-soo was pretty memorable as the mean-looking cop who befriended the con artist crew in Legend of the Blue Sea, and I thought he was pretty great at being funny when the role called for some deadpan humor. Jung Kyung-ho has a wide range as a leading man in dramaland from rom-coms to thrillers, which bodes well for the dark and the comedic side of things.
The supporting cast includes musical actor Lee Kyu-hyung (The Lonely Shining Goblin, Hwarang, Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River), Answer Me 1988’s teddy-bear papa Choi Moo-sung (Lookout), musical actor Kim Sung-chul (of musicals Mister Mouse, Romeo and Juliet), and character actor Kim Joon-bae (Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People, Oh My Geum-bi).
Smart Prison Living is being planned for tvN’s Wednesday-Thursday slot in October.
Lee Kyu-hyung, Choi Moo-sung
Kim Sung-chul, Kim Joon-bae