Beyond Evil (TV series)

Beyond Evil
Promotional poster
Hangul
괴물
Hanja
怪物
Literal meaningMonster
Revised RomanizationGoemul
Genre
Created byJTBC
Written byKim Su-jin
Directed byShim Na-yeon
Starring
ComposerHa Geun-young
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producersPark Jae-sam
Kim Ji-woo
ProducersPark Woo-ram
Kim Bo-reum
CinematographyJang Jong-kyung
Kwon Byeong-soo
EditorJeon Mi-suk
Running time70 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkJTBC
ReleaseFebruary 19 (2021-02-19) –
April 10, 2021 (2021-04-10)

Beyond Evil (Korean: 괴물; Hanja: 怪物) is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo.[1][2] It aired on JTBC from February 19 to April 10, 2021.[3] It received seven nominations at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, winning three – Best Drama, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor for Shin Ha-kyun. It was also selected as one of the final candidates for the Baeksang Arts Award Grand Prize – Television.[4]

Synopsis

Beyond Evil follows the story of two fearless policemen from the Manyang Police Substation[a] of the Munju Police Station (located in the western part of Gyeonggi Province), Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) and Han Joo-won (Yeo Jin-goo), who break the law to catch a serial killer. In the course of uncovering the culprit's identity, they question the innocence of everyone involved in the case, including themselves. "Who is the monster?" "Is it you?" "Is it me?" "Is it us?"

Inspiration

While the plot appears to make some allusions to Korea's Hwaseong serial murders case, the show is not based on a true story, and is solely a work of fiction. The similarities can be explained by inspiration drawn from Memories of Murder (2003) by Bong Joon-ho.

Cast

Main

An impulsive and eccentric sergeant at the Manyang Police Substation. Once a capable detective, he has been demoted to doing largely menial and tedious tasks. His goal is to find a real killer of his sister Lee Yu-yeon.
An elite detective from the International Crime Investigation Team at the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency transferred to Manyang Police Substation.[a] Good-looking and capable, he has great influence due to being the son of a next-in-line Police Commissioner, Han Gi-hwan. He is determined to prove Lee Dong-sik guilty of his sisters murder.

Supporting

Manyang Butcher's Shop

Nicknamed the "Master of Knife", the owner of the Manyang Butcher Shop and Restaurant.

Manyang Police Substation

The soon-to-retire Chief of Manyang Police Substation.[a]
  • Son Sang-gyu as Cho Gil-gu
A Sargeant at Manyang Police Substation.[a]
A police officer at Manyang Police Substation.[a]
The youngest police officer at the Manyang Police Substation and the brother of Oh Ji-hwa.

Munju Police Station

The Lieutenant of the Investigation Support Team at Munju Police Station, Lee Dong-sik's best friend, and son of congresswoman Do Hae-won.
The team leader of the Dangerous Crimes Division, Lee Dong-sik's classmate from elementary to high school, and the former wife of CEO Lee Chang-jin.
An honest homicide detective at Munju Police Station whose role model is Dong-sik
Chief of Munju Police Station.
  • Seo Jeong-shik as Kwak Oh-sub
Senior detective at Munju Police Station.
Captain of the Forensic Investigation Team and Kang Do-soo's wife.
  • Yoo Byung-hoon as Lieutenant Ha

Manyang People

The current councilwoman and aspiring mayoral candidate of Munju, and mother of Park Jeong-je.
The CEO of JL Construction and the Chairperson of the Munju City Dream Town Development Committee.
  • Lee Kyu-hoi as Kang Jin-mook
    • Park Kwang-il as young Kang Jin-mook
The owner of the Manyang Supermarket, Dong-sik's adopted brother, and the father of Kang Min-jung.
She is the daughter of Kang Jin-mook, the owner of Manyang Supermarket.
  • Kim Hieora as Bang Ju-seon
  • Jung Jae-jin as Bang Ho-cheol, Bang Ju-seon's father.
  • Jun Soo-hyun as Jang Oh-bok, Do Hae-won's secretary and bodyguard.
  • Kim Jung-eun as Lee Kang-ja, Cho Gil-gu's wife.

People around Han Joo-won

Han Joo-won's father and front-runner for the next Commissioner of the National Police Agency.
A Munju City prosecutor who was once Joo-won's private high school tutor.
  • Woo Jung-won as Lee Su-yeon
Han Gi-hwan's wife and Han Joo-won's mother.

People around Lee Dong-shik

  • Moon Joo-yeon as Lee Yu-yeon
Dong-sik's fraternal twin sister.
  • Park Myung-shin as Kim Yeong-hui
Yu-yeon & Dong-shik's mother
  • Kim Jung-ho as Yu-yeon & Dong-shik's father

Others

  • Cha Chung-hwa as Lee Geum-hwa
  • Kim Bi-bi as Han Jeong-im
  • Jang Sung-bum as Lee Sang-yeob
  • Kang You-seok as Reporter Lim Gyu-seok
  • Nam Mi-jung as Fish market lady
  • Park Ji-ah as Neighborhood woman
  • Jo Ji-seung as Yoon Mi-hye, Kang Min-jung's mother

Production

Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo previously appeared in the film No Mercy for the Rude (2006) where Yeo played the younger version of Shin's character.[14]

Original soundtrack

Beyond Evil OST
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Released
  • 2021
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label

Part 1

Released on February 27, 2021 (2021-02-27)[15]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."The Night"
  • Kim Hyun-ah (lalasweet)
  • Park Tae-jin
  • Ban Kwang-ok
  • Jeon Yong-joon
  • Kim Hyun-ah (lalasweet)
  • Park Tae-jin
  • Ban Kwang-ok
  • Jeon Yong-joon
Choi Baek-ho3:53
2."The Night" (inst.) 
  • Kim Hyun-ah (lalasweet)
  • Park Tae-jin
  • Ban Kwang-ok
  • Jeon Yong-joon
 3:53
Total length:7:46

Part 2

Released on March 6, 2021 (2021-03-06)[16]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Timeless"
  • Ha Geun-young
  • Choi Min-ji (Chansline)
  • Kim Sung-min (Chansline)
  • Kim Si-won (Chansline)
  • Choi Min-ji (Chansline)
  • Kim Sung-min (Chansline)
  • Kim Si-won (Chansline)
Bibi3:21
2."Timeless" (inst.) 
  • Choi Min-ji (Chansline)
  • Kim Sung-min (Chansline)
  • Kim Si-won (Chansline)
 3:21
Total length:6:42

Part 3

Released on March 13, 2021 (2021-03-13)[17]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Empty"
  • Ha Geun-young
  • Lee Soo-yeon
  • Ha Geun-young
  • Lee Soo-yeon
Car, the Garden4:00
2."Empty" (inst.) 
  • Ha Geun-young
  • Lee Soo-yeon
 4:00
Total length:8:00

Viewership

Beyond Evil : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
12345678910111213141516
11027105110101003828110010111343115713521066103911421327126513581130
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea[18]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Title Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[18]
Nationwide Seoul
1 February 19, 2021 Appear (나타나다) 4.451% (5th) 5.232% (4th)
2 February 20, 2021 Disappear (사라지다) 3.948% (6th) 4.854% (6th)
3 February 26, 2021 Smile (웃다) 4.330% (4th) 4.920% (4th)
4 February 27, 2021 Cry (울다) 4.204% (7th) 5.179% (6th)
5 March 5, 2021 Deceived (속다) 3.765% (7th) 4.237% (4th)
6 March 6, 2021 Deceive (속이다) 4.442% (6th) 4.881% (5th)
7 March 12, 2021 Catch (낚다) 4.172% (7th) 4.721% (4th)
8 March 13, 2021 Caught (낚이다) 5.356% (5th) 6.490% (2nd)
9 March 19, 2021 Float (떠오르대) 4.651% (4th) 5.498% (4th)
10 March 20, 2021 Sink (가라앉다) 5.502% (4th) 6.311% (1st)
11 March 26, 2021 Tighten (조이다) 4.682% (4th) 5.385% (4th)
12 March 27, 2021 Loosen (풀다) 4.279% (5th) 5.118% (1st)
13 April 2, 2021 Ask (묻다) 5.021% (4th) 5.840% (4th)
14 April 3, 2021 Answer (답하다) 5.302% (2nd) 6.317% (1st)
15 April 9, 2021 Letting Go (놓다) 5.355% (4th) 6.351% (4th)
16 April 10, 2021 Catch (잡다) 5.991% (1st) 6.666% (1st)
Average 4.716% 5.500%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
APAN Star Awards 2022 Best New Actress Choi Sung-eun Nominated [19]
Baeksang Arts Awards 2021 Grand Prize Beyond Evil Nominated [4]
Best Drama Beyond Evil Won [20]
Best Director Shim Na-yeon Nominated [21]
Best Screenplay Kim Su-jin Won [20]
Best Actor Shin Ha-kyun Won
Best Supporting Actor Choi Dae-hoon Nominated [21]
Best New Actress Choi Sung-eun Nominated
Technical Award (Cinematography) Jang Jong-kyung Nominated

Listicle

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
NME 2021 The 10 best Korean dramas of 2021 9th [22]

Remake

Beyond Evil has recently landed the J-drama adaptation, with no further news on which broadcasters nor the airing date was publicly announced.[23]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e It can be seen as a branch office of the police station. In this case, Manyang Police Substation is under Munju Police Station.

References

  1. ^ Lee, Gyu-lee (January 12, 2021). "Shin Ha-kyun, Yeo Jin-goo's thriller series 'Beyond Evil' unveils posters". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo Confirm to Star in "Beyond Evil"". HanCinema. August 10, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021년 JTBC 드라마 포문 여는 '괴물'…대본 리딩 현장 공개!". JTBC News (in Korean). December 3, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Kim, Jin-seok. [57회 백상]치열했던 TV 부문 수상 결과 어떻게 결정됐나 [[57th Baeksang] How was the fierce TV category determined?]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved May 18, 2021 – via Naver.
  5. ^ "[괴물] 등장인물 소개 - 이동식". JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  6. ^ Hong Se-young (February 17, 2021). "이도현 '괴물' 특별출연 [공식]". sports.donga (in Korean). Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  7. ^ "[괴물] 등장인물 소개 - 한주원". JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  8. ^ "Choi Sung-eun to Star in "Beyond Evil" With Shin Ha-kyun and Yeo Jin-goo". HanCinema. August 11, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Chun Ho-jin to Star in JTBC Drama "Beyond Evil"". HanCinema. September 17, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "[괴물] 등장인물 소개 - 박정제". JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  11. ^ "[괴물] 등장인물 소개 - 오지화". JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  12. ^ "Heo Sung-tae to Star in "Beyond Evil"". HanCinema. August 24, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Mihwa Kim (February 11, 2021). "강민아, JTBC '괴물' 캐스팅..신하균X여진구와 호흡 [공식]" [Kang Min-ah, JTBC's'Monster' casting... Breathing with Shin Ha-gyun X Yeo Jin-gu [Official]]. Star News. Naver. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  14. ^ Lee, Gyu-lee (February 19, 2021). "Yeo Jin-gu, Shin Ha-kyun team up for 'Beyond Evil,' reminiscent of retro thriller 'Memories of Murder'". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "괴물 OST Part.1" [Beyond Evil OST Part.1]. Melon. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  16. ^ "괴물 OST Part.2" [Beyond Evil OST Part.2]. Melon. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  17. ^ "괴물 OST Part.3" [Beyond Evil OST Part.3]. Melon. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Nielsen Korea Cable Daily -TOP 10 LIST FOR TV PROGRAMS". Nielsen Korea. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Lee, Seul-bi (August 31, 2022). "김혜수→이준호 '2022 APAN STAR AWARDS' 수상 후보 공개" [Kim Hye-soo → Lee Jun-ho’s ‘2022 APAN STAR AWARDS’ nominees revealed] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved August 31, 2022 – via Naver.
  20. ^ a b Hicap, Jonathan (May 18, 2021). "Winners at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Kim, Ji-hye. 제57회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 부문 최종 후보 발표..13일 생방송[공식] [The 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, finalists announced in the TV·Film·Drama category.. Live broadcast on the 13th]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Naver.
  22. ^ "The 10 best Korean dramas of 2021". NME. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  23. ^ Chakraborty, Moumita (February 14, 2024). "King the Land, Reborn Rich, Strong Woman Bong Soon and more SLL K-dramas to be remade in various languages". Pinkvilla. Retrieved February 23, 2024.