Park Seo-joon × Uhm Tae-goo × Jo Hye-joo “I, the Criminal” Confirmed for Disney+ Release!

Disney+ has confirmed the production of a series based on the popular Kakao Webtoon 〈I, the Criminal〉, and announced a powerful starring lineup featuring Park Seo-joon, Uhm Tae-goo, and Jo Hye-joo. Set against a lawless city in the 1980s, it sets off a brutal run of desperate characters as the line between good and evil has blurred.

Park Seo-joon’s shocking transformation as the notorious villain “Pang-i”… Dangerous collaboration with Uhm Tae-goo & Jo Hye-joo

〈I, the Criminal〉 is a crime action noir about two survival-minded underlings—“Pang-i,” a devil who goes berserk for his goals, and “Saeng-dak,” an organization operative—who plunge into a life-or-death gamble aiming to completely flip their lives. Based on the webtoon of the same name by Lee Mu-gi, the series has already secured a loyal fanbase with its tightly woven storytelling and plot developments that poke at human instincts.

Park Seo-joon takes on the role of “Pang-i,” a villain reflecting the desires of the era, as he seeks an acting transformation. Appearing in a region struck by a redevelopment frenzy on the eve of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he leads the drug business and shakes up the whole scene. Uhm Tae-goo will play “Saeng-dak,” a member of the Buk-gu gang who betrays his organization and accepts Pang-i’s dangerous offer—showcasing his trademark heavy presence. Jo Hye-joo will portray “Bok-hee,” both a drug supplier and Pang-i’s first love, coordinating the drama’s tension through unpredictable choices.

“A project I want as an actor”… Unleashing overwhelming energy from the script reading

At the script reading held ahead of filming, insiders say the actors fully immersed themselves in their characters and overwhelmed the set—even though it was their first time working together. Park Seo-joon shared his confidence, saying, “It was a character and a story I had been waiting for. I’ll be able to show you a new side.” Uhm Tae-goo and Jo Hye-joo also said they were captivated by the fun of the script and the appeal of the characters, and added that they plan to do their best on set.

Hong Won-chan’s first series challenge after Deliver Us from Evil… Promising the essence of stylish action

The director is Hong Won-chan, who showcased the pinnacle of stylish action through the film 〈Deliver Us from Evil〉. Attention is already on how he’ll unpack the noir rules where betrayal, greed, and schemes come at you relentlessly in his first series project. The production is handled by New Point and Plus Media Entertainment to raise the overall quality.

A Disney+ original series, 〈I, the Criminal〉, will capture ruthless action and raw human desires—and is set to meet viewers around the world exclusively through Disney+.