Kang Hoon, Lee Yi-dam’s tvN ‘Hot Goodbye’ gets six-week run — three unknowns seek a future after 10 years

Strong source material and trusted creative team join forces

tvN is raising viewers’ expectations for high-quality content by confirming a six-week special run for its Friday-Saturday drama lineup.

tvN officially announced on the 8th that its new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Hot Goodbye’, starring ‘Kang Hoon’, ‘Jo Hyun-chul’ and ‘Kim Jung-jin’, will premiere at 10:30 p.m. on the 6th of next month.

The series is based on ‘The Conte Begins,’ a popular Japanese drama that aired on NTV in 2021 and earned widespread acclaim. It will offer a deeply moving coming-of-age story about three comedians who have spent 10 years in obscurity chasing their dreams, yet continue searching for their own futures amid failure and setbacks.

‘Kang Hoon’ plays Kang Tae-goo, the leader of the comedy trio Asura, who has endured years of obscurity through sheer passion and responsibility. He will deliver a nuanced performance as the character. ‘Jo Hyun-chul,’ known for his singular ability to inhabit distinctive characters, plays Kim Nam-il, Asura’s quick-witted charmer. Rising actor ‘Kim Jung-jin’ takes on Han Jun-seo, the team’s practical backbone who handles all the difficult jobs. Together, they promise a standout ensemble.

The creative team is equally impressive. Writer Yang Hee-seung, who helped create major hits including tvN’s ‘Oh My Ghost’ and ‘Crash Course in Romance,’ is joining the project as creator to add polish to the series. Writer ‘Ahn Ah-reum,’ who co-wrote KBS 2TV’s ‘Once Again’ with Yang and earned recognition for her warm, assured writing, will handle the script. Director ‘Jung Ji-hyun,’ who has demonstrated a sophisticated visual style through tvN’s ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ and ENA’s ‘Dear Hyeri,’ will direct, setting the stage for another polished drama.

Meanwhile, tvN temporarily suspended its regular Friday-Saturday drama lineup after the 2023 run of the TVING original ‘Work Later, Drink Now 2.’ Since then, the network has operated the lineup flexibly as it rolls out trend-conscious, varied content. The six-week special run of ‘Hot Goodbye’ is also part of a strategy to strengthen the channel’s competitiveness.