[Photo &] “Jang Bu-jang” sequel carries the weight of up to 23%

Carrying the daunting title as the follow-up to the mega hit 'Jang Bu-jang' that reached a high viewership rating of 23%, actor 'Ahn Bo-hyun' returns to the living room on July 7 with SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama 'Jae-bol X Detective 2'.

The legacy of the previous installment and the heavy responsibility of a season lead

At a press conference for the series held on April 4 at the SBS building in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, actor 'Ahn Bo-hyun' admitted both the glory of being the lead in a season and the weight that comes with it. The drama 'Jae-bol X Detective', in which a chaebol heir turned detective—armed with overwhelming capital and connections—cracks down on a criminal cartel, sparked a frenzy in its first season aired in 2024, when it recorded a peak viewership rating of 11%. Returning after two years, this new season is scheduled as a follow-up to 'Jang Bu-jang' (peak viewership 23%), a show that dominated the home viewing market in the first half of this year, and industry attention is focused on it from all sides. In response, Ahn Bo-hyun said, “The burden from the previous installment’s incredible numbers isn’t insignificant,” but also added, “Our true rival is not other works, but Season 1,” showing firm confidence in the well-made sequel. Director 'Kim Jae-hong' likewise insisted that, with the post-production work now completed, the series has achieved a level of completion that surpasses the previous installment.

Capitalist action that ups the ante, and the arrival of a new partner

Season 2, set to reveal itself on July 7, unfolds around a cooperative investigation between the chaebol heir detective 'Jin Yi-soo' and the newly appointed detective team leader 'Joo Hye-ra', who previously served as a police academy instructor. After Ahn Bo-hyun, who will portray Jin Yi-soo, a character expected to showcase further evolved wealth and infrastructure, actor 'Jeong Eun-chae' joins the cast as Joo Hye-ra, injecting sharper tension into the story. Key performers from the first hit, including Kang Sang-joon, Kim Shin-bi, and Jeong Ga-hee, are also set to return. Jeong Eun-chae said, “As an ardent fan of Season 1, I did have worries about joining, but I was able to play freely on a perfectly arranged acting stage.” In particular, this season is set to preview a blockbuster-scale scope that is hard to come by on a typical TV screen, including car chases, helicopters, and even private jets. Director Kim said, “We will show a polished sensibility that differs from other investigative dramas through high-end case composition,” and asked viewers to look forward to it.

The birth of an audacious villain and a narrative designed to trigger dopamine

The season’s hidden card is, above all, actor 'Yoo Seung-ho', who makes a striking transformation into an antagonist. Coming in as a special appearance as 'Yoo Sung-won', a chaebol and sculptor, he takes on a central role in the storyline in the middle-to-late portion of the drama. Director Kim said, “It was an irreplaceable casting,” adding, “We originally set him up as a hidden character, but because of his presence that couldn’t be concealed, he started appearing frequently from the early stages.” Ahn Bo-hyun emphasized the catharsis this work will provide, saying he hopes viewers can forget the fatigue of reality through a fast, “satisfying” kind of progression. He also showed strong attachment, saying, “It will be a work that goes beyond a successful wrap-up of Season 2 and builds the hunger for producing Season 3.”

The kickoff of a thrilling roller-coaster that overwhelms the TV screen

Jeong Eun-chae likened the series to a “roller-coaster,” previewing the creation of a well-made investigative drama where unpredictable twists and exhilarating thrills coexist. With 'Jae-bol X Detective 2' delivering both a breezy pace and a weighty emotional impact, attention is on whether it can set a new milestone for SBS’s Friday-Saturday universe that surpasses the record of its previous installment’s popularity.