Prison Playbook () is a 2017 South Korean television series directed by Shin Won-ho and starring Park Hae-soo and Jung Kyung-ho. The series marks Park's first-ever lead role. It aired on tvN from November 22, 2017 to January 18, 2018, every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:10 (KST) for 16 episodes.
The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest-rated series in Korean cable television history.
Plot Kim Je-Hyuk is an ace baseball pitcher, who is slated to join Boston Red Sox and play the major league. His life changes overnight when he assaults a man who tries to sexually assault his sister Kim Je-Hee. He is sentenced to one year in prison due to excessive violence that resulted in the assailant's brain death.
In the detention center, he is disliked by a gangster and is stabbed in his left shoulder by his henchman Dong-ho. Since Je-Hyuk is a left-handed pitcher, his baseball career is seemingly ruined. However, with his relentless hard-work, he switches to right hand and trains diligently once he's transferred to Seobu Penitentiary. His childhood friend Lee Joon-ho stays by his side and helps him navigate prison life.
The show also tells the tales of Kim Je-Hyuk's cellmates and other people he befriends in Seobu Penitentiary:
Kim Min-chul was sentenced to life two decades ago for gang violence and murder of a person. Min-chul is a model prisoner who admits to and regrets his crime. He is released after serving 22 years in prison on a Christmas Special Pardon. A few weeks before his release, a young college student visits him for her thesis. Min-chul later recognizes her necklace and learns that she is his daughter. His wife has kept his imprisonment a secret, though she appreciates him for his character. Once released, he reunites with his daughter and Jean Veljean, his former cellmate whom he treats as his son.
Kang Chul-doo is a con-man. He is skilled, good with hands and nicknamed KAIST. He has been married six times and has a son Geon-U from whom he is estranged with since he hates him for being in jail and abandoning his mother and him for a rich woman. Chul-doo donates his liver to Geon-U when he suffers liver failure. He is abruptly transferred to another penitentiary for better medical facilities after the surgery.
Captain Yoo/ Yoo Jung-woo is imprisoned for brutally assaulting and killing his subordinate Private Park Jun-young. It is later revealed that he was unfairly framed by the politically connected Sergeant Oh. Jung-woo was actually a compassionate leader whom the soldiers liked, especially Jun-young who idolized him. Jung-woo is initially angry and aloof and later warms up to the cellmates. His brother, a professor, relentlessly prepares for his retrial at the cost of his own job. Jung-woo's retrial is approved and awaits his acquittal.
Yoo Han-Yang, a pharmacist from a rich family is sentenced for the use of illegal drugs. He is constantly drowsy and weak due to withdrawal. Han-yang was neglected as a child by his mother, who was busy running their restaurant. He grew up to be aloof until a boy from his class, Seong Ji-won befriends him. He later confesses his feelings to Ji-won and they start dating. He refrains from using any medicine or drugs during his imprisonment. He tragically relapses immediately after his release and is arrested again for drug abuse.
Dong-ho is a threat again to Je-Hyeok since he is transferred to Seobu Penitentiary and he attempts to murder Je-Hyeok. Je-Hyeok decides to keep him close and eventually becomes his "boss". Dong-ho helps him with his training as a catcher and remains fiercely loyal and protective of Je-Hyeok since he treats him with respect and dignity, unlike his other bosses.
Prison Guards:
Lieutenant Paeng is a compassionate corrections officer who wishes well for the prisoners, though he speaks in a disrespectful tone. He was once in a fire accident in a different jail and successfully saved all but one prisoner from his wing.
Lee Joon-Ho is Je-Hyeok's childhood friend. When Je-Hyeok and he were in an accident that also killed their coach, he gives up baseball despite his minor injuries, while Je-Hyeok rehabs from his major injuries. He also was a confounder to a major company, but quit before they became big. He admits that he constantly feels the need to move jobs. He is in a relationship with Kim Je-Hee, Je-Hyeok's sister.
Officer Song also works in the wing that holds Je-Hyeok's cell. He is fond of Captain Yoo since he saved his life when he choked on his food.
Cast Main Park Hae-soo as Kim Je-hyuk Lee Tae-sun as young Kim Je-hyuk
Jung Kyung-ho as Lee Joon-ho Lee Do-hyun as young Lee Joon-ho Supporting People around Je-hyuk Krystal Jung as Kim Ji-ho Shin Rin-ah as child Kim Ji-ho Lee Chae-yoon as teenage Kim Ji-ho Je-hyuk's girlfriend who is a traditional Korean medicine student. Lim Hwa-young as Kim Je-hee, Je-Hyeok's younger sister
Ye Soo-jung as Je-hyuk's mother Kim Kyung-nam as Lee Joon-dol Joon-ho's younger brother who is a reporter and an avid fan of Je-hyuk.
Seobu Detention Center Sung Dong-il as Chief Jo Ji-ho A veteran chief prison guard who is quick and flexible when it comes to resolving incidents that take place inside the prison, but is known for being corrupt and easily swayed by money or other material goods that inmates can provide him. Jung Jae-sung as Professor Myung as Gal Dae-bong (a.k.a. "Seagull")
Seobu Penitentiary Choi Moo-sung as Kim Min-chul (a.k.a. "Long-term Prisoner")
Park Ho-san as Kang Chul-doo (a.k.a. "KAIST")
Lee Kyu-hyung as Yoo Han-yang (a.k.a. "Second-generation Chaebol" or "Looney")
Jung Hae-in as Yoo Jeong-woo (a.k.a. "Captain Yoo")
as Go Park-sa (a.k.a. "Doctor Go")
Kang Seung-yoon as Lee Joo-hyung (a.k.a. "Jean Valjean") Kang Seung-yoon as Lee Jong-won, Min-chul's fellow gang member who strongly resembles Joo-hyung. He, Min-chul and three others were found guilty of the murders of two rival gang members, but unlike Min-chul and two of their fellow co-accused, Jong-won (together with their gang leader) was sentenced to death and executed on 6 January 1996.
Kim Sung-cheol as Kim Young-cheol (a.k.a. "Jailbird"), A man who frequently goes in and out of prison and the first person in the prison Je-hyuk befriends. Je-Hyeok pays for Young-cheol's mother's surgery. He is recruited by Je-Hyeok after his prison term. Ahn Chang-hwan as Dong-ho (a.k.a. "Croney") Jung Woong-in as Assistant Chief Paeng Se-yoon Others
Shin Jae-ha as Kim Min-sung A friendly and bright prisoner who works in the prison's wood workshop with Je-hyuk and Park-sa. He was sentenced to prison after a fatal car accident. Lee Jung-hyuk as Nexen Team GM Asst Choi Sung-won as Jo Ki-cheol a.k.a. "Spot" A prisoner who works in the prison's wood workshop with Je-hyuk, Park-sa, and Min-sung. He becomes the chief of operations in the workshop, replacing Yeom. Lee Hoon-jin as "Soji" (goods carrier) as operations chief Yeom Sang-jae The wood workshop's operations chief. He always takes the other workers' overtime pay for himself. He is sexually attracted to Je-hyuk. Ahn Sang-woo as Warden Kim Yong-chul The prison's warden who is obsessed with the prison having a good reputation to the public, especially during Je-hyuk's imprisonment. Park Hyung-soo as Department Chief Na Hyung-soo The strict prison guard who sticks to the rules Kim Han-jong as "Daehyungsoji" (heavy goods carrier) Prisoner who is assigned as helper in section 2 of the prison. He loves the bright and lively atmosphere of Je-hyuk's cell. Kang Ki-doong as Prison Guard Song Gi-dong A prison guard who is very talkative. He is drawn to Captain Yoo because he was once saved by him. Choi Yeon-dong as Vice Chief Lee Jung-jae as Choi Hyun-woo (prisoner) Lee Do-gyeom as Park Do-gyeom (prison guard) as Director Kim Hyuk-kwon as Kim Ji-ho's mother as Lee Joon-ho's mother
Lee Moo-saeng as Captain Yoo's lawyer
Jang Hyuk-jin as Yoo Han-yang's father Yeom Hye-ran as Yoo Han-yang's mother Seo Ji-hoon as Min-sik Han Duk-soo as News anchor Kim Kyung-rae as News anchor Ki Eun-ryung as News anchor
as Chief Shim Woo-kyung (prisoner)
as Baseball coach Bae Ho-geun as Jang Yoon-hwan as big prisoner Kim Tae-soo as Woodworking workshop inmate Lee Kyu-sung
as a car thief Kim Jun-han as Song Ji-won Boyfriend of Yoo Han-yang who wants Han-yang to stop using drugs Yang Dae-hyuk as Corporal Choi
as Doctor Jung Dae-hyun Ye In
as Challenge Golden Bell MC
Lee Sang-yi as Sergeant Oh Dong-hwan The real murderer in Captain Yoo's case as Lim Sun-soo Jung Moon-sung as Yoo Jung-min Shin Won-ho as Joo Jung-hoon Kim Mo-beom as Park Joon-young
Lee Do-yeop as Director Doh
as CEO Nam Kim Jung-pal as Director Ji Lee Yoon-sang Yoo Su-bin as Yang Jung-suk Ji Min-hyuk as Kang Gun-woo Kim Ka-young Kwon Da-ham Son Kyung-won Shin Hee-kuk Jung Dong-hoon Seo Sang-won as a rapist as Lee Suk-eun Kang Duk-jung Jung Kyung-cheol Lee Jae-woo Lee Do-kuk as Professor Kim Jin-sung as a baseball teammate Son Kang-kuk as Taxi driver as Jin Woong Jo Joon Lee Ki-hyuk as Junior guard Sung Hyun-joon Ahn Ji-hyun as Ji-ho's friend Choi Myung-bin as Soo-bin, Chief Paeng's daughter
Special appearance Yoo Jae-myung as Je-hyuk's lawyer Kim Sun-young as Kang Chul-doo's ex-wife
Production Prison Playbook is directed by Shin Won-ho, the award-winning director of Reply anthology series, and written by one of the series' junior writers, Jung Bo-hoon. The first script reading of the cast was held on July 17, 2017, at CJ E&M Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul. The filming wrapped up on January 16, 2018.
Original soundtrack
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Commercial performance
Title Year Peak Sales Remarks GaonGaon Digital Chart: "The Door" 2017 —KOR: 18,521+Cumulative sales for "The Door": Part 2 "Would Be Better" 22KOR: 122,393+Cumulative sales for "Would Be Better": Part 5 "Nostalgia" 93KOR: 20,066+Cumulative sales for "Nostalgia": Part 6 "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Viewership
+ Average TV viewership ratings Original broadcast date Average audience share Nielsen Korea TNmS Nationwide Seoul Nationwide 1 November 22, 2017 5.1% 2 November 23, 2017 5.381% 5.900% 5.1% 3 November 29, 2017 4.698% 5.336% 4 November 30, 2017 5.468% 6.644% 5.3% 5 December 6, 2017 5.612% 6.518% 5.7% 6 December 7, 2017 5.847% 6.260% 6.2% 7 December 13, 2017 6.388% 6.942% 7.1% 8 December 14, 2017 6.774% 7.409% 7.0% 9 December 20, 2017 7.313% 8.376% 7.4% 10 December 21, 2017 7.910% 8.809% 7.7% 11 January 3, 2018 9.095% 10.139% 8.7% 12 January 4, 2018 9.393% 10.511% 9.6% 13 January 10, 2018 10.142% 11.077% 10.2% 14 January 11, 2018 10.615% 11.531% 15 January 17, 2018 10.477% 11.620% 10.9% 16 January 18, 2018 10.9% Average Special December 27, 2017 5.110% 5.658% 5.3% In the table above, the represent the lowest ratings and the represent the highest ratings. This series aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.201822nd Asian Television AwardsBest Drama SeriesPrison Playbook12th Korean Cable TV Awards Best Drama 54th Baeksang Arts Awards Best DirectorShin Won-ho Best Supporting Actor Park Ho-san Best New ActorPark Hae-sooBest ScreenplayJung Bo-hoon Most Popular ActorJung Hae-in 6th APAN Star AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesPark Hae-soo Best Supporting Actor Park Ho-san2nd The Seoul AwardsBest New ActorPark Hae-soo
Notes
References
External links