Jung Hae-In has officially been confirmed as the lead of Lucky Seoul, a new tvN revenge thriller drama produced by Studio Dragon. According to a report by My Daily on July 7, the actor will take on the role of Kwon Yi-an, a sharp and ambitious character whose journey begins in the slums and leads him into the high-stakes world of luxury real estate. Filming is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
Who Is Kwon Yi-an in ‘Lucky Seoul’?
In Lucky Seoul, Jung Hae-In will portray Kwon Yi-an, the youngest operator of a slum who eventually reinvents himself as an agent specializing in luxury VIP housing. He’s calculating, street-smart, and carries just the right blend of shrewdness and cynicism that makes him effective in a cutthroat business. For Kwon Yi-an, money isn’t just currency — it’s identity. The size of his commission is his pride, his reputation, and essentially his calling card.
This is a significant departure from the warm, romantic characters that propelled Jung Hae-In to stardom in dramas like Something in the Rain, Snowdrop, and Love Next Door. Fans have long expressed a desire to see the actor tackle darker, more intense material, and Lucky Seoul appears to be exactly that opportunity.
What Is ‘Lucky Seoul’ About?
The drama follows the story of Kwon Yi-an as he chases down a landlord responsible for an unprecedented Jeonse fraud — a massive lump-sum deposit scam — who then vanished without a trace. For those unfamiliar, Jeonse is a uniquely South Korean rental system where tenants pay a large upfront deposit instead of monthly rent, with the full amount supposedly returned when the lease ends. In recent years, Jeonse fraud has devastated thousands of Korean renters, making it one of the country’s most urgent social crises.
Lucky Seoul uses this real-world issue as its backbone, weaving it into a thrilling revenge narrative. Childhood friends reunite to track down and punish the landlord who destroyed their lives. The drama serves as an allegory for the contradictions and tragedies embedded in modern capitalist society — a theme that gives it serious weight beyond the typical revenge genre.
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The Creative Team Behind ‘Lucky Seoul’
The project brings together a strong creative lineup. Writer Park Joo-yeon, best known for the critically acclaimed tvN series Black Dog: Being A Teacher (2019), is penning the script. That drama earned praise for its raw, grounded portrayal of the struggles faced by contract teachers in South Korea’s private school system, and Park’s ability to tackle social issues with nuance bodes well for Lucky Seoul.
Directing duties fall to PD Jo Woong, whose resume includes JTBC’s A Virtuous Business (also known as The Silent Sales) and the Coupang Play variety show UDT: Heroes Next Door. With Studio Dragon handling production, the drama has major infrastructure behind it.
Jung Hae-In’s Packed Schedule Ahead
The casting confirmation adds Lucky Seoul to what is shaping up to be an extraordinarily busy stretch for Jung Hae-In. The actor’s Netflix original Our Sticky Love — a romantic comedy where he plays a former boxer turned gang member who pretends to be a prosecutor’s boyfriend — is set for release in the third quarter of 2026. Before Lucky Seoul begins filming, he will also shoot Love Virus, a romantic drama directed by Kim Seok-yoon (My Liberation Notes), opposite Shin Se-kyung.
Three vastly different projects back to back — rom-com, romance, and now a gritty revenge thriller — signal an actor deliberately diversifying his portfolio and pushing into new territory.
Why ‘Lucky Seoul’ Matters
South Korea’s Jeonse fraud crisis has left thousands of tenants financially ruined, and it remains a deeply emotional subject for Korean audiences. By grounding a revenge thriller in this reality, Lucky Seoul has the potential to resonate the way Squid Game did with economic desperation or Parasite did with class division. It taps into genuine public anger and channels it through a genre that keeps viewers glued to the screen.
With Jung Hae-In’s star power, a socially relevant premise, and a proven creative team, Lucky Seoul is already one of the most anticipated K-dramas heading into 2027. Keep this one on your watchlist.
