Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard promises to be a riveting exploration of a complex character caught between his past and his aspirations.
Seo Dongjae, played by Lee Joon Hyuk, is a prosecutor haunted by his time as a sponsored prosecutor. He’s desperate to break free from this stigma and establish himself as a respected professional.
But what will he choose when faced with a dilemma?
The production team of the TVING original series Dongjae, The Good or The Bastard revealed a new poster on the 30th, highlighting the two contrasting sides of Seo Dong-jae.
A spin-off of the Secret Forest series, Dongjae, The Good or The Bastard follows the intense survival story of prosecutor Seo Dong-jae as he tries to leave behind his past as a corrupt prosecutor and earn respect in the present. After returning from a living nightmare, Dong-jae finds himself entangled with Nam Wan-seong (Park Sung Woong), CEO of Lee Hong Construction, who dredges up memories Dong-jae would rather forget. The show promises thrilling tension as the two lock horns.
The newly released “dilemma” poster, which pays homage to Secret Forest 1, draws attention to Dong-jae’s conflicting nature. Seo Dong-jae’s duality intrigues the viewer, showcasing his sharp instincts and social acumen, contrasted with a tense internal conflict.
His piercing gaze and calm demeanor hint at his skill as a prosecutor, but underneath, his anxious struggle with his past—marked by his former corruption—leads him to walk a dangerous line again. The tagline, “Should I cover up the truth or resign?” highlights his ongoing struggle between justice and personal desire.
The dark presence of Nam Wan-seong, connected to Dong-jae’s past, adds another layer of tension. His role in the unfolding drama is bound to challenge Dong-jae’s attempt to reinvent himself as a respectable prosecutor. The writers, Hwang Ha-jeong and Kim Sang-won, reveal that Dong-jae will be tested with multiple choices, moving back and forth between “good” and “bad” throughout the story. They also mention that viewers will discover a hidden side of Seo Dong-jae that wasn’t seen in Secret Forest.
Director Park Geon-ho commented that the fun lies in seeing whether Seo Dong-jae is progressing or stuck in his past, while the chemistry between Lee Joon Hyuk and Park Sung Woong is set to captivate audiences. Lee Joon-hyuk describes his character as having a unique vitality, encouraging viewers to experience the character’s journey however they like—whether they root for him, pity him, or laugh at his predicament.
Park Sung-woong added that the long-standing tension between Dong-jae and Wan-seong is crucial to the plot, teasing that their intertwined fates must end with one of them falling.
Dongjae, The Good or The Bastard will be released on TVING on October 10 and will air on tvN starting October 14.
