Gangnam B-Side

Gangnam B-Side
Promotional poster
Also known asBulk
Hangul
강남 비-사이드
Revised RomanizationGangnam bi-saideu
McCune–ReischauerKangnam pi-saidŭ
GenreCrime thriller
Written by
Directed byPark Noo-ri [ko]
Starring
Music byHwang Sang-Jun[1]
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time50 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkDisney+
ReleaseNovember 6 (2024-11-06) –
November 27, 2024 (2024-11-27)

Gangnam B-Side (Korean: 강남 비-사이드) is a 2024 South Korean crime thriller television series written and directed by Park Noo-ri [ko] with Joo Won-gyu, and starring Jo Woo-jin, Ji Chang-wook, Ha Yoon-kyung, and Kim Hyeong-seo. Set in the Seoul regional district of Gangnam frequently at night, a detective, a broker, and a prosecutor team up to chase after a black connection. It was released on Disney+ from November 6 to 27, 2024.

Gangnam B-Side was invited as one of the six drama series in the On Screen section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival.

Synopsis

Kang Dong-woo, who led a police force corruption probe, is thereafter rejected by his peers and estranged from his family. After relocating to a peaceful rural outpost, he finds himself drawn once more into the shady Gangnam district of Seoul when his daughter's friend named Kim Jae-hee goes missing. Along with broker Yoon Gil-ho and prosecutor Min Seo-jin, Dong-won will reenter the world of vice, narcotics, and corruption in an attempt to unearth a plot that might bring down some of the wealthiest elite in the city.

Cast and characters

Main

A detective who graduated from an elite police academy but was demoted overnight. He gets deeply involved in unexpected incidents due to his personality of pushing forward without hesitation when he gets fixated on something.
A mysterious broker who has control over Gangnam who has lived a life at the bottom in the darkest part of the flashy city in order to survive.
A prosecutor who graduated from a local national university and has been working her way up the ranks at the prosecutor's office with no connections.
A runaway club ace.

Supporting

Dong-won's daughter.

Episodes

No.Directed byWritten byOriginal release date
1Park Noo-ri [ko]Joo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 6, 2024 (2024-11-06)
2Park Noo-riJoo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 6, 2024 (2024-11-06)
3Park Noo-riJoo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 13, 2024 (2024-11-13)
4Park Noo-riJoo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 13, 2024 (2024-11-13)
5Park Noo-riJoo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 20, 2024 (2024-11-20)
6Park Noo-riJoo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 20, 2024 (2024-11-20)
7Park Noo-riJoo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 27, 2024 (2024-11-27)
8Park Noo-riJoo Won-gyu & Park Noo-riNovember 27, 2024 (2024-11-27)

Production

Development

Developed under the working title Bulk (Korean: 벌크; RR: Beolkeu), Gangnam B-Side is produced by Sanai Pictures [ko] with Plus M Entertainment and Story Rooftop. Park Noo-ri [ko], who directed Money (2019), both directed and penned it with Joo Won-gyu.[5][6]

In February 2024, Disney+ announced that the series was one of the Korean originals that would be releasing in 2024.[7]

Casting

In January 2023, Jo Woo-jin and Ha Yoon-kyung were cast and confirmed to appear as lead actors for the series while Cha Eun-woo was still in discussion.[8][9][10] Two months later, it was confirmed by both Fantagio and Sanai Pictures officials that Cha decided not to appear.[11][12] In an interview with Kim Hyeong-seo in October 2023, she revealed that she went to audition for Bulk.[13] Ji Chang-wook was cast in November 2023,[14] and confirmed to appear by his company in February 2024.[15]

Filming

Principal photography began at the end of November 2023, and lasted for about six months.[14]

Release

Disney+ announced that Gangnam B-Side was scheduled for released in the second half of 2024.[6] It has been confirmed that the series would premiere on November 6, 2024.[16]

The series was invited as one of the six drama series in the On Screen section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival between October 2–11, 2024, where three out of eight episodes would have its world premiere.[17]

References

  1. ^ @hwang_sang_jun (October 2, 2024). 강남비사이드 11월 06일 오픈 [Gangnam B-side opens on November 6th] (in Korean). Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ a b c Ahn, Tae-hyun (February 29, 2024). 조우진·지창욱·하윤경, '강남 비-사이드'로 뭉친다…올 하반기 공개 [Jo Woo-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and Ha Yoon-kyung to unite for 'Gangnam B-side'...to be released in the second half of this year] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  3. ^ Kim, Na-ra (October 1, 2024). 다시 뭉친 지창욱·비비..'강남 비-사이드', 가장 강렬한 추격 범죄 [Ji Chang-wook and Vivi reunite again..'Gangnam B-side', the most intense chase crime] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Son, Bong-suk (October 1, 2024). 신예 오예주, ‘강남 비-사이드’ 캐스팅···지창욱 X 조우진 X 하윤경 연기호흡 [Newcomer Oh Ye-ju, Cast in 'Gangnam B-Side'···Ji Chang-Wook X Jo Woo-Jin X Ha Yoon-Kyung Acting Collaboration] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Jo, Yeon-kyung (January 19, 2023). [단독] "신선한 조합" 조우진·하윤경 '벌크'로 뭉친다(종합) [[Exclusive] "Fresh Combination" Jo Woo-jin and Ha Yoon-kyung Unite as 'Bulk' (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  6. ^ a b Kim, Tae-hyung (March 3, 2024). 조우진-지창욱-하윤경 ‘강남 비-사이드’, 2024년 하반기 공개 확정 [Jo Woo-jin-Ji Chang-wook-Ha Yoon-kyung 'Gangnam B-side' confirmed for release in the second half of 2024] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (February 18, 2024). "Disney+ Unveils Expanded Korean Originals Slate for 2024". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Jo, Yeon-kyung (January 19, 2023). [단독] 믿보배 조우진 '벌크' 출연 확정…OTT 시리즈 이끈다 [[Exclusive] Trusted Treasure Jo Woo-jin Confirmed to Appear in 'Bulk'…Leading the OTT Series] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  9. ^ Jo, Yeon-kyung (January 19, 2024). [단독] 차은우 '벌크' 파격 캐스팅…지하세계 해결사 변신 [[Exclusive] Cha Eun-woo's Unconventional Casting in 'Bulk'...Transformation into an Underworld Troubleshooter] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  10. ^ Jo, Yeon-kyung (January 19, 2024). [단독] '우영우' 하윤경, 단숨에 주연으로…'벌크' 검사 합류 [[Exclusive] 'Woo Young-woo' Ha Yoon-kyung, a lead role in one breath...Joins 'Bulk' as a prosecutor] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  11. ^ Kim, Hyun-sik (March 28, 2024). [단독]아스트로 차은우, '벌크' 하차 [[Exclusive] Astro Cha Eun-woo, leaving 'Bulk'] (in Korean). Edaily. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  12. ^ Hong, Se-young (March 28, 2024). 차은우 ‘벌크’ 출연 무산 “검토 끝에 출연하지 않기로” [공식] [Cha Eun-woo's Appearance on 'Bulk' Cancelled "After Review, Decided Not to Appear" [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Dong-a. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  13. ^ Kim, Na-yeon (October 15, 2023). 가수 비비, 배우 김형서.."매 순간 연기하며 살아요" [★FULL인터뷰] [Singer Bibi, Actor Kim Hyeong-seo.."I live every moment acting" [★FULL Interview]] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  14. ^ a b Ha, Soo-jung (November 14, 2023). [단독] 차은우 하차 '벌크', 지창욱 새 주인공 됐다..11월 첫 촬영 [[Exclusive] Cha Eun-woo leaves 'Bulk', Ji Chang-wook becomes the new lead..First filming in November] (in Korean). Osen – via Naver.
  15. ^ Bhattacharya, Trisha (February 29, 2024). "Ji Chang-wook to headline upcoming K-drama 'Gangnam B-side'". India Today. New Delhi. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Yeo, Gladys (September 27, 2024). "Disney+ K-drama 'Gangnam B-Side' to premiere in November". NME. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "[BIFF Press Release] The 29th BIFF Announces Selections for 'Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere' & 'On Screen'!" (Press release). South Korea: BIFF. August 26, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.