The script reading for JTBC’s upcoming drama Monster was held on December 3. Shin Ha-kyun (Soul Repairer) and Yeo Jin-gu (Hotel Del Luna) co-star as the police duo who use whatever means necessary to pursue a serial murderer, breaking laws and principles along the way. As the case unfolds and the dark sides of multifaceted individuals are unveiled, the drama explores the question of what it means to be a “monster.” Am I a monster? Are you a monster? Are we all monsters?
Shin Ha-kyun plays an eccentric veteran cop at a countryside police station. At one time, he was a rising star violent crimes detective, but now, he’s functionally an errand boy at the Manyang police station. When he partners up with Yeo Jin-gu’s character, he’s faced with the serial murder case that changed his life twenty years ago, and his peaceful existence is once again shattered.
Yeo Jin-gu plays an elite detective who comes down to Manyang police station, hiding a huge secret of his own. He comes from an influential cop family, with his father being considered to be the next Chief Police Commissioner. Yeo’s prestigious father will be played by the charismatic Choi Jin-ho (Awaken). So Yeo Jin-gu’s character has lived his life on the easy tracks until he gets sucked into a case that threatens to change everything.
Despite their simple way of life, the villagers become close-mouthed and insular as Yeo Jin-gu and Shin Ha-kyung begin to investigate the case. Of prominent figures in the village, there’s Choi Sung-eun (SF8: Joan’s Galaxy) who plays the chic owner of a butcher shop, nicknamed the “Master of the Knife.” Lee Kyu-hoe plays the good-natured owner of Manyang’s grocery store.
At the police station, Chun Ho-jin (Once Again) plays the chief officer. Other people in the Manyang police station family include Sohn Sang-kyu (Repairing Living People), Baek Seok-gwang (Mysterious Il-seung), and Nam Yoon-soo (Birthcare Center). Sohn plays a police sergeant who leaves like a bullet whenever it’s time to clock out. Baek plays an ambitious police lieutenant with his eye always on his next promotion. Finally, Nam plays Manyang station’s maknae police officer.
Shin Ha-kyun’s character also has strong ties to Munju, a nearby city. Choi Dae-hoon (Do You Like Brahms?) plays Shin Ha-kyun’s childhood friend and police lieutenant for the Munju city investigations team. He’s also the son of the leading candidate for Munju city’s mayor, played by Gil Hae-yeon (Do You Like Brahms?). Gil Hae-yeon’s character is a Munju councilwoman well-known to be an icon of ambition.
Kim Shin-rok (The Cursed) plays another person in Shin Ha-kyun’s sphere. She went to elementary, middle, and high school with him, and currently works as a violent crimes detective in Munju. Finally on the Munju side, there’s Park Ji-hoon (Tell Me What You Saw) who plays Yeo Jin-gu’s high school tutor and current Munju city prosecutor.
Directed by Shim Na-yeon (A Moment at Eighteen) and written by Kim Soo-jin (Mad Dog), Monster will begin airing in February 2024.
