The Player (2018 South Korean TV Series)

The Player is a South Korean television series that aired on the OCN network in 2018. The crime drama follows a specialized team of four individuals who collaborate to recover assets hidden by criminals. The series premiered on September 29, 2018, and concluded on November 11, 2018, spanning 14 episodes.

Promotional poster for the drama series The Player.

Production

The series was directed by Ko Jae-Hyun and written by Shin Jae-Hyung. During its development phase, the project was known by the working titles Hustle and Pan. Principal photography for the series commenced in June 2018. The show occupied the Saturday and Sunday 22:20 time slot on OCN, succeeding the series Voice 2 and preceding the series Priest.

Premise

The narrative centers on a "crime proceeds redemption team" composed of a swindler, a fighter, a hacker, and a driver. The team focuses on tracking down and reclaiming wealth that has been illicitly hidden by criminals. Central characters include Kang Ha-Ri, a skilled swindler, and Cha A-Ryeong, a driver who was abandoned by her parents during her childhood.

Cast

The main cast includes:

Song Seung-Heon as Kang Ha-Ri
Krystal as Cha A-Ryeong
Lee Si-Un as Im Byung-Min
Tae Won-Seock as Do Jin-Woong

Actor Song Seung-Heon — Song Seung-Heon, who portrays the swindler Kang Ha-Ri.

Actress Krystal — Krystal, who portrays the driver Cha A-Ryeong.

Sequel

A follow-up series titled The Player 2: Master of Swindlers (Korean: Player2: Ggundeului Jeonjaeng) was released in 2024 on the tvN network.