Prison Playbook

Prison Playbook
Promotional poster
Hangul
슬기로운 감빵생활
Hanja
슬기로운 監房生活
Lit.Wise Prison Life
RRSeulgiroun gamppangsaenghwal
MRSŭlgiroun kamppangsaenghwal
GenreBlack comedy[1]
Created byLee Woo-jung
Written byJung Bo-hoon
Directed byShin Won-ho
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producerPark Sung-jae
ProducerPark Soo-woo
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time90 minutes
Production companytvN
Original release
NetworktvN
ReleaseNovember 22, 2017 (2017-11-22) –
January 18, 2018 (2018-01-18)

Prison Playbook[2] (Korean: 슬기로운 감빵생활) 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.[3][4]

The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest-rated series in Korean cable television history.[5]

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

Supporting

People around Je-hyuk

Je-hyuk's girlfriend who is a traditional Korean medicine student.
Joon-ho's younger brother who is a reporter and an avid fan of Je-hyuk.

Seobu Detention Center

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.[6]
  • Jung Jae-sung as Professor Myung
  • Lee Ho-chul as Gal Dae-bong (a.k.a. "Seagull")

Seobu Penitentiary

  • Jung Min-sung 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

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.
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)
  • Joo Seok-tae 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.
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.
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
  • Kim Ki-nam as Choi Hyun-woo (prisoner)
  • Lee Do-gyeom as Park Do-gyeom (prison guard)
  • Lim Cheol-hyung as Director Kim Hyuk-kwon
  • Kong Sang-a as Kim Ji-ho's mother
  • Park Hye-jin as Lee Joon-ho's mother
  • Jung Jin
  • Lee Moo-saeng as Captain Yoo's lawyer
  • Kim Jae-geon
  • 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
  • Lee Young-suk
  • Yoo Hyung-kwan as Chief Shim Woo-kyung (prisoner)
  • Park Young-soo
  • Jang Joon-nyung as Baseball coach
  • Bae Ho-geun as Jang Yoon-hwan
  • Kim Yong-un as big prisoner
  • Kim Tae-soo as Woodworking workshop inmate
  • Lee Kyu-sung
  • Choi Kwang-il
  • Park Koo-yoon
  • Kim Dong-chan
  • Kwak Han-goo 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
  • Choi Young
  • Kang Hyun-jung
  • Ko Young-bin as Doctor Jung Dae-hyun
  • Ye In
  • Jang Joon-ho
  • Hong Seung-beom as Challenge Golden Bell MC
  • Lee Kyu-seob
  • Lee Sang-yi as Sergeant Oh Dong-hwan
The real murderer in Captain Yoo's case
  • Ahn Tae-young 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
  • Jo Kyung-hoon
  • Lee Do-yeop as Director Doh
  • Tae Won-suk
  • Park Kun-rak
  • Song Young-hak
  • Lee Shin-sung 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
  • Kim Ki-moo as a rapist
  • Lee Seok as Lee Suk-eun
  • Kang Duk-jung
  • Jung Kyung-cheol
  • Lee Jae-woo
  • Lee Do-kuk as Professor Kim Jin-sung
  • Ko I-geon as a baseball teammate
  • Son Kang-kuk as Taxi driver
  • Bae-Jin-woong 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

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.[7][8]
  • The first script reading of the cast was held on July 17, 2017, at CJ E&M Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul.[9]
  • The filming wrapped up on January 16, 2018.[10]

Original soundtrack

Prison Playbook
Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
GenreSoundtrack
LanguagesKorean, English
Labels
ProducerKim Han-jo (executive)

Part 1

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."OK"BewhyGray, DAX, BewhyBewhy03:12
2."OK" (Inst.) Gray, DAX, Bewhy 03:12
Total length:06:24

Part 2

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."The Door (Prod. By Zico)" (문)Mino, ZicoZico, PoptimeKang Seung-yoon, Mino (Winner)03:21
2."The Door (Prod. By Zico)" (Inst.) Zico, Poptime 03:21
Total length:06:42

Part 3

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Like A Dream" (꿈만 같아)DGGDGGPark Bo-ram03:02
2."Like A Dream" (Inst.) DGG 03:02
Total length:06:04

Part 4

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Bravo, My Life!"Jong-jin KimJong-jin KimEric Nam04:05
2."Bravo, My Life!" (Inst.) Jong-jin Kim 04:05
Total length:08:10

Part 5

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Would Be Better" (좋았을걸)HeizeHeize, DAVIIHeize03:40
2."Would Be Better" (Inst.) Heize, DAVII 03:40
Total length:07:20

Part 6

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Nostalgia (Prod. by Woogie)" (향수)Woo Won-jaeWoogieWoo Won-jae03:21
2."Nostalgia (Prod. by Woogie)" (Inst.) Woogie 03:21
Total length:06:42

Part 7

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."No Problem" (괜찮아)Shim Jae-hee, PrimeboiPrimeboiCNU, Baro (B1A4)03:33
2."No Problem" (Inst.) Primeboi 03:33
Total length:07:06

Part 8

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."That's The Way It Goes (ft. Kim Min-jae (REAL.BE))" (다이런거지뭐)DAVIIDAVIIDAVII03:49
2."That's The Way It Goes" (Inst.) DAVII 03:49
Total length:07:38

Part 9

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Those Days (Without You)" (하루일과)Zion.TZion.T, Slom, PeejayZion.T03:05
2."Those Days (Without You)" (Inst.) Zion.T, Slom, Peejay 03:05
Total length:06:10

Part 10

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."How Strange" (희한하네)Rhythm PowerTopic Of ChanganRhythm Power03:23
2."How Strange" (Inst.) Topic Of Changan 03:23
Total length:06:46

Commercial performance

Chart performance
Title Year Peak Sales Remarks
Gaon
[11]
"The Door" (문) 2017 — Part 2
"Would Be Better" (좋았을걸) 22 Part 5
"Nostalgia" (향수) 93 Part 6
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Viewership

Prison Playbook : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode number
12345678910111213141516
1N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A2.3242.4692.7132.8802.8773.063
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[15][note 1]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
Nielsen Korea[16] TNmS
NationwideSeoulNationwide
1 November 22, 2017 4.638% 4.816% 5.1%
2 November 23, 2017 5.381% 5.900% 5.1%
3 November 29, 2017 4.698% 5.336% 4.9%
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% 11.3%
15 January 17, 2018 10.477% 11.620% 10.9%
16 January 18, 2018 11.195% 12.299% 10.9%
Average 7.559% 8.387% 7.7%
Special December 27, 2017 5.110% 5.658% 5.3%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers 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.
2018 22nd Asian Television Awards Best Drama Series Prison PlaybookNominated
12th Korean Cable TV Awards Best Drama Won [17]
54th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest DirectorShin Won-hoNominated[18][19]
Best Supporting ActorPark Ho-sanWon
Best New ActorPark Hae-sooNominated
Best ScreenplayJung Bo-hoonNominated
Most Popular ActorJung Hae-inWon
6th APAN Star Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Park Hae-soo Nominated [20]
Best Supporting Actor Park Ho-san Won
2nd The Seoul Awards Nominated [21]
Best New Actor Park Hae-soo Won

Notes

  1. ↑ The number of viewers was released on Nielsen Korea starting January 2018.

References

  1. ↑ Kim, Yoon-ji. "신원호PD "'감옥', 이우정 작가 참여+블랙코미디 될것" (인터뷰)". Naver (in Korean). Edaily. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  2. ↑ Prison Playbook '응답하라' 슬기로운 감빵생활! 171122 EP.0. YouTube (in Korean). tvN Drama. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  3. ↑ Kim, Jin-seok. "[단독]정경호·박해수, tvN '슬기로운 감빵생활' 주인공". Naver (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ Baek, Sol-mi. "tvN '슬기로운 감빵생활', 슬기롭지 않은 대본 보안". Naver (in Korean). Sports Dong-a. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ "[M+TV시청률] 종영 '슬기로운 감빵생활', 11% 최고 시청률…유종의 미". Naver (in Korean). Maeil Broadcasting Network. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  6. ↑ Choi, Hye Won (November 8, 2017). <슬기로운 감빵생활> 압도적인 24人 캐릭터포스터 공개! (in Korean). MBC News. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ Moon, Wan-sik. "신원호PD "'감옥' 드라마 가을 첫선..'응답' 내년 이후"(일문일답)". Naver (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  8. ↑ Jo, Hyeon-joo. 신원호 PD "감옥 소재 신작, 페이소스 있는 블랙코미디" (인터뷰). Tenasia (in Korean). Korea Entertainment Media. Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ Kim, Ji-ho. 크리스탈, '감빵생활' 합류…17일 대본리딩 완료. Naver (in Korean). Dispatch. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  10. ↑ Kim, Yoon-ji. "어떻게 헤어져"…'슬기로운 감빵생활', 촬영 종료. Naver (in Korean). Edaily. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  11. ↑ Gaon Digital Chart:
  12. ↑ Cumulative sales for "The Door":
  13. ↑ Cumulative sales for "Would Be Better":
  14. ↑ Cumulative sales for "Nostalgia":
  15. ↑ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Winners Of The 2018 Korea Cable TV Awards". Soompi. 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "[2018 백상예술대상 종합] tvN '비밀의 숲'·영화 '1987' 대상 영예+3·4관왕". OSEN (in Korean). May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  19. ↑ 제54회 백상예술대상, TV·영화 각 부문별 수상 후보자 공개. JTBC (in Korean). April 6, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  20. ↑ "이병헌·손예진·아이유 APAN스타어워즈 노미네이트". Star News (in Korean). September 27, 2018. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  21. ↑ '제2회 더 서울어워즈' 10월27일 개최, 드라마-영화 각 부문별 후보공개. MBC News (in Korean). September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
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