'Good Boy' writer Lee Dae Il on who this story is actually about

Writer Lee Dae II of Good Boy shares what it took to bring the K-drama to life. 

Good Boy is an action comedy drama where medalists turned police officers, wearing police badges instead of medals around their necks, fight against injustice.

The star-studded cast features Park Bo Gum, Kim So Hyun, Lee Sang Yi, Heo Sung Tae, Oh Jung Se, and Tae Won Seok.

Ahead of the premiere, writer Lee Dae Il shared his insights on the making and message of Good Boy.

What kind of drama is Good Boy?

Good Boy is a comical action youth investigative drama about former medalist athletes who become police officers. Above all, just like the title suggests, it's a story about "good people" and "those who strive to become good people." I hope you enjoy the story of passionate people who stand up and fight against shameless criminals in a world full of all kinds of foul play. 

How is Good Boy different from the detective dramas we see nowadays? 

The very premise of former medalist athletes becoming police officers is a unique and distinguishing element in itself. The action scenes, where the athletes' specialties from their sports careers are incorporated into criminal investigations, and the emotions of these once-glamorous athletes as they navigate life after retirement, offer a fresh perspective. I hope viewers will feel the protagonists' sense of accomplishment — their blood, sweat, and tears — as if they were watching a fierce competition.

How did the setting of a special violent crimes unit made up of sports medalists come about? 

I once watched a documentary about a special police recruitment program for martial arts medalists. It made me want to tell a story about a special police unit made up of such individuals. I referenced numerous sources — martial arts special recruitment program, interviews with athletes, various materials, and real-life incidents — and added imagination to create the world of Good Boy. In reality, there is no such police unit. Rather than focusing on that kind of uniqueness, we placed more emphasis on each character living with realistic struggles. We aimed to tell the story of all of us — stressing, suffering, and striving — "ordinary yet extraordinary" in our own way. 

Why did you choose the five sports of boxing, shooting, fencing, wrestling, and discus throw [as the characters' specialties]? 

Since Good Boy is a story about standing up to injustice and prejudice, I envisioned exhilarating and cathartic action from the beginning. I considered how each character could showcase their own unique action style. I chose boxing for its raw, gritty struggle; shooting for its quiet but powerful precision; fencing for its sharp, piercing strikes; wrestling for the endurance and resilience [it demands]; and discus throw for its emphasis on strength and balance. It is also important to consider that all these are individual sports. I felt they were well-suited for portraying characters with different personalities coming together as a team, learning to trust one another, and growing together. 

You've once again set your drama in the fictional city of "Inseong City," following your previous works. Why is that?

I've been using "Inseong City" since Bring It On, Ghost. There's no particularly special reason, but you could say it's my own fictional city, infused with nostalgic memories of my childhood hometown. Wondering how the Inseong of the 1980s from Life on Mars might look today, I found the idea intriguing and decided to bring it back as the setting for Good Boy.

Park Bo Gum, Kim So Hyun, Lee Sang Yi, Heo Sung Tae, and Tae Won Seok star as the "Good Boys," while Oh Jung Se as the "Bad Boy." How did you feel when you heard about this casting? 

I was honestly amazed that such great actors were coming together for the project. After the casting, the characters that had only existed in my imagination began to vividly come to life. It even felt as though the actors were leading the characters, not the script. I was happy and excited. Just the fact that I get to see all these actors together on screen fills me with gratitude and happiness.

Director Shim Na Yeon, known for her work on Beyond Evil and The Good Bad Mother, is one of the most acclaimed directors today. What was it like working with her? 

What I admire about the director's work is how each frame is filled with thoughtful direction and unwavering conviction. Good Boy is a multi-genre project with a considerable scale, which brought many challenges. But thanks to the director trusting me and believing in me, I was able to write without worries, and I'm really grateful for that.

More than anything, I'm looking forward — both as a writer and as a viewer — to seeing how her strong points and keenness have been woven into the series. Working with such an outstanding director and cast, I'm filled with expectation and hope that, just like when the Avengers make a dramatic entrance to face a villain in a moment of crisis, our "Goodvengers" will be able to overcome any hardship as well.

What message do you hope to convey through Good Boy? 

There's a dialogue from the character Yoon Dong Joo (Park Bo Gum) that goes, "Who is ever born good? We try to be good because we don't want to live with regret." I believe everyone who endures the monotony and frustrations of life, pushing forward day by day, is a "Good Boy."

I worked on this drama, hoping that it would be a kind of gift for all those good boys. I hope that when you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or want to just give up, this drama can be that small spark that reignites the passion still lingering in your heart, reminding you of the fire of that day you had forgotten, and giving you the strength to take one more step forward.

Lastly, what "Good" points should viewers especially look out for?

I'd say it's the chemistry between Dong Joo and the members of the Special Violent Crime Unit. They bicker and clash, yet move forward together, along with their unique and dynamic action. Each of them starts out as a bit rough around the edges, but they come together to take down crime. So, please look forward to their synergy.

Good Boy will premiere on May 31. The K-drama will be streaming on Prime Video.

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