The Innocent Man () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Song Joong-ki, Moon Chae-won, and Park Si-yeon. It aired on KBS2 from September 12 to November 15, 2012, every Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 time slot for 20 episodes. It is known on Netflix as Nice Guy.
It is a dark melodrama involving betrayal and romance.
Synopsis Smart and promising medical student Kang Ma-ru (Song Joong-ki) is deeply in love with his slightly older neighbor Han Jae-hee (Park Si-yeon), a television reporter. But when her situation takes a turn for the worse and Jae-hee becomes desperate to escape poverty, she meets a man who changes everything—a rich CEO who introduces her to a life of comfort. So she turns her back on Ma-ru, choosing money over love.
The brutal betrayal leaves Ma-ru fractured—not just angry, but a completely changed man. A few years later, Ma-ru is now 30 years old and works as a bartender and gigolo, no longer a "nice guy." He then meets Seo Eun-gi (Moon Chae-won), a young chaebol heiress who's being groomed to take over her father's conglomerate. Eun-gi is cold and calculating, business-savvy, and raised by her father to never show emotion to anyone.
Ma-ru decides to take revenge on his ex Jae-hee and bring her down from her position after his sister, Kang Cho-co (Lee Yu-bi) is rushed to the hospital because of Jae-hee. Ma-ru, though initially had no plans as such, uses Eun-gi to take revenge on Jae-hee Just when Ma-ru is beginning to love Eun-gi, she finds out the real reason why he approached her and they break up. But a car accident causes Eun-gi to lose her memory, and she enters Ma-ru's life again.
Cast Main Song Joong-ki as Kang Ma-ru Kang Chan-hee as young Ma-ru A smart but poor medical student who has to look after his little sister without any parents. He was in love Jae-hee but she left him for a rich CEO as she always dreamt of being rich, but she always loved Ma-ru and still harbours feelings for him. Six years after Jae-hee left he became arrogant and a playboy who works as a bartender. He approached Eun-gi as part of his revenge plan against Jae-hee but he started to care for her and eventually fell in love. Moon Chae-won as Seo Eun-gi A rich and arrogant girl but also has a kind-hearted side who does everything to protect her mother's memories who has a troubled relationship with her father and step-mother as she blames them for her mother leaving and her death. She falls for Ma-ru without knowing the real reason he approached her and she suffers a memory loss after landing in a car accident. After her memory loss, she is a much nicer person who searches for clues in order to get her memory returned. Park Si-yeon as Han Jae-hee Park So-young as young Jae-hee Although she is stone-hearted and loves Ma-ru, she loved money more than Ma-Ru and she left Ma-ru and became the mistress of a CEO and had his son. She and Eun-gi don't get along and she also doesn't care for her and tries to hurt her in many ways. She plans to take over Taesan Company after killing her husband.
Supporting Lee Kwang-soo as Park Jae-gil Ma-ru's best friend and Choco's lover. Lee Yu-bi as Kang Choco Han Seo-jin as young Kang Choco Ma-ru's younger sister and Jae-gil's lover. Lee Sang-yeob as Park Joon-ha Eun-gi's secretary and helper who loves and respects her. Kim Tae-hoon as Ahn Min-young The secretary of the CEO who likes Jae-hee. Yang Ik-june as Han Jae-sik Jae-hee's older brother who was abusive towards her. Kim Yeong-cheol as CEO Seo Jung-gyu Eun-gi and Eun-seok's father, who found Jae-hee and took her as his mistress. Although good hearted, he sides with Jae-hee rather than his daughter as Eun-gi is stubborn and acts childish at times. He dies later in the season and gives his property and estate to Eun-gi but before she could be in charge, she lands in a car accident and suffers a memory loss. Jin Kyung as Hyun Jung-hwa Eun-gi's assistant. After the car accident which caused Eun-gi's memory loss, she took her away and cared for her for a year where nobody could find her. Oh Yong as Jo Young-bae Jo Hwi-joon as Seo Eun-seok Jae-hee and Jung-gyu's son, Eun-gi's 4 year old half-brother. He loves his step-sister despite her rudeness and hatred toward him but after her memory loss, she is unable to remember her hatred for him and instead grows closer to him. Kim Ye-won as Kim Yoo-ra Oh Hee-joon as Han Jae-shik Jo Sung-ha as Dr. Seok Min-hyuk (cameo, ep 1, 12, 20) Danny Ahn as Kim Jung-hoon (cameo, ep 2 & 15)
Production The series is written by Lee Kyung-hee, who previously wrote Will It Snow for Christmas?, Thank You, A Love to Kill, I'm Sorry, I Love You, and Sang Doo! Let's Go to School.
Kim Jin-won was the director of Drama Special episodes Just an Ordinary Love Story, Crossing the Young-do Bridge, Guardian Angel Kim Yeong-goo, Snail Gosiwon, and The Last Flashman.
The series features real-life friends and former Running Man co-stars Song Joong-ki and Lee Kwang-soo for the first time since Song left the variety show.
Soundtrack
Part 1 사랑은 눈꽃처럼 (Love Is Like a Snowflake) - Junsu 착한 여자 (Nice Girl) - Lee Soo-young 좋은 사람입니다 (No One Is Better Than You) - Cho Eun Lonely Jae-hee and Ma-ru (with Empty Heart & Change) Bueno Hombre Waltz in Sorrow Eun-gi and Ma-ru (with Late Autumn) Melancholy Blue Moon Eun-gi (with Magnolia) Late Autumn Empty Heart Broken Heart Water Lily Magnolia
Part 2 정말 (Really) - Song Joong-ki 너만을 원했다 (I Only Wanted You) - Son Hoyoung (narration by Song Joong-ki) 사랑해요 (I Love You) - Yoon Bitnara Change Here to Stay 차칸남자 (Complicación) Waltz in Sorrow (Guitar) Beautiful Love Nobody Sees Me Despedida Laberinto Lonely Street Collision De Frente Before Winter Comes
Ratings Beginning episode 5, the series ranked number one in its timeslot for eight consecutive weeks until its finale.
Original broadcast dateAverage audience shareAGB NielsenTNmSNationwideSeoulNationwideSeoul 1 September 12, 2012 10.5% 11.5%10.7% 10.9% 2 September 13, 20129.9%11.3% 11.4% 11.6% 3 September 19, 2012 13.8% 14.5% 13.9% 14.6% 4 September 20, 2012 13.3% 14.2% 13.8% 15.4% 5 September 26, 2012 14.0% 15.7% 14.5% 14.8% 6 September 27, 2012 16.0% 18.1% 16.0% 17.8% 7 October 3, 2012 17.3% 18.6% 17.9% 18.6% 8 October 4, 2012 15.1% 16.6% 15.0% 14.4% 9 October 10, 2012 15.3% 17.3% 15.8% 17.3% 10 October 11, 2012 14.9% 15.7% 16.2% 17.3% 11 October 17, 2012 14.3% 15.3% 15.0% 16.5% 12 October 18, 2012 15.1% 15.7% 16.4% 17.0% 13 October 24, 2012 17.1% 18.8% 18.2% 18.7% 14 October 25, 2012 16.7% 18.4% 18.5% 19.6% 15 October 31, 201218.3%20.6% 17.1% 17.6% 16 November 1, 2012 17.1% 18.8% 18.8% 19.8% 17 November 7, 2012 16.2% 16.4% 18.2% 19.6% 18 November 8, 2012 18.2% 19.7% 16.8% 18.1% 19 November 14, 2012 17.9% 19.3% 18.5% 19.9% 20 November 15, 2012 18.0% 19.4% 18.6%20.2% Average
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.2012 20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Song Joong-ki Top Excellence Award, Actor Song Joong-ki Excellence Award, Actress Moon Chae-won Best Couple Award Song Joong-ki and Moon Chae-won Netizens' Award Song Joong-ki Moon Chae-won Best New Actress Lee Yu-bi Best Supporting Actor Lee Kwang-soo Lee Sang-yeob Best Supporting Actress Jin Kyung Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Song Joong-ki Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama Moon Chae-won Park Si-yeon Top Excellence Award, Actor Song Joong-ki Top Excellence Award, Actress Moon Chae-won 2013 Best New Actress (TV) Lee Yu-bi 20's Booming Star - Female Lee Yu-bi 8th Seoul International Drama AwardsOutstanding Korean Drama OST "Love Is Like a Snowflake" - Junsu "Really" - Song Joong-ki Outstanding Korean Actor Song Joong-ki Outstanding Korean Actress Moon Chae-won Outstanding Korean Drama The Innocent Man
Remakes
Günahkar (transl. "Sinner"), starring Seçkin Özdemir, Gülcan Arslan, Hazal Filiz Küçükköse, and Korel Cezayirli, is a Turkish remake that aired on Fox TV beginning November 5, 2014. However, it ended with its 7th episode due to low ratings, causing in an unfinished and unresolved ending.
References
External links