K-Drama ‘The Good Detective’ Asks What It Takes To Be A Good Detective

Some of the detectives featured in the JTBC series The Good Detective are not very good at what they do. Their lack of skills may have led to a flawed investigation and false arrest. Five years ago, an investigation led to the arrest of Lee Dae-cheol, played by Jo Jae-yun. Accused of two murders, Dae-cheol insists that he did not commit the crimes.

One of the arresting detectives was Kang Do-chang, played by Son Hyun-joo. Do-chang has been solving cases, not always logically or completely ethically, for 18 years. Set in his ways, he’s annoyed when he’s partnered with Oh Ji-hyeok, a younger detective who relies on more scientific methods of investigation. 

Ji Hyeok, played by Jang Seung-jo, not only has the skills needed to solve crimes, but, thanks to a family inheritance, plenty of money to accomplish what ordinary law officers can’t. He spends a fortune bidding on a rare watch that may be connected to Dae-cheol’s case, a watch that may have been dropped at the crime scene five years ago.

As the final paperwork is processed for Dae-cheol’s execution, the police station receives mysterious calls reporting murders at the locations Dae-cheol supposedly buried his bodies. There’s also a report of a missing girl who turns out to be Dae-cheol’s daughter. Meanwhile reporter Jin Seo-kyung is assigned to interview the families of the victims Dae-cheol allegedly killed and must write up their stories in a hurry. The timing seems suspect. Is this all happening because Dae-cheol’s execution is waiting for one more signature from an official who might need convincing? And if Dae-cheol is innocent, who really committed those murders?

Uncovering the truth will require some first-rate detective work and more effort than the Seobu Police Station staff has so far exerted. Do-chang would rather avoid reopening the case as he’s in line for a promotion. Although Ji-hyeok has the passion, plus the skills and funds, to pursue the truth, he seems to be hiding something from his fellow officers. It’s hard to say which man will turn out to be the better detective or the one with the purest motives.

Son may be known to drama viewers for recently playing Park Seo-joon’s forgiving father in the hit drama Itaewon Class, and he also appeared in Justice, Criminal Minds and Signal. He can be seen this year in the film The Golden Holiday. 

Jang appeared in the dramas Chocolate, Encounter and Familiar Wife, as well as the film Secret Zoo. Lee recently had roles in the dramas The Last Empress, Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff 2, plus the 2019 film My Bossy Girl.

The drama aired in Korea from July 6 to Aug. 25, 2020, but first aired on Netflix in the U.S. on Nov. 1.