Player (Korean플레이어) is a South Korean television series starring Song Seung-heon, Krystal Jung, Lee Si-eon, Tae Won-suk [ko], Oh Yeon-seo, and Jang Gyu-ri. The first season aired on OCN from September 29, to November 11, 2018, every Saturday and Sunday at 22:20 (KST).[7] The second season aired on tvN from June 3, to July 9, 2024, every Monday and Tuesday at 20:50 (KST).[8][9]

Player
Promotional poster for season two
Also known as
  • The Player[1]
  • Player 2: War of Gamblers[2]
  • The Player 2: Master of Swindlers[3]
Hangul
플레이어
Revised RomanizationPeulleieo
McCune–ReischauerP'ŭlleiŏ
Genre
Developed byStudio Dragon (planning; season 2)[2]
Written by
  • Shin Jae-hyung (season 1)[4]
  • Park Sang-moon (season 2)[2]
  • Choi Seul-gi (season 2)[2]
Directed by
  • Go Jae-hyun (season 1)[4]
  • So Jae-hyun (season 2)[2]
Starring
Music by
  • Si Seong-won (season 1)
  • Jeong Seung-hyun (season 1)
  • Kim Joon-seok (season 2)[5]
  • Jeong Se-rin (season 2)[5]
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producerKim Gin-hong
Producers
  • Lee Geun-jang
  • Jang Si-woo
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkOCN (season 1)
ReleaseSeptember 29 (2018-09-29) –
November 11, 2018 (2018-11-11)
NetworktvN (season 2)
ReleaseJune 3 (2024-06-03) –
July 9, 2024 (2024-07-09)

Synopsis

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Season 1

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The story about the four talented individuals in their respective fields who create an elite team to solve crimes in partnership with a righteous prosecutor. Together, they confiscate black money and make sure that those who earn money through crimes will be arrested.[10]

Season 2

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedAirtime
First airedLast airedNetwork
114September 29, 2018 (2018-09-29)November 11, 2018 (2018-11-11)OCNSaturday and Sunday at 22:20 (KST)
212June 3, 2024 (2024-06-03)July 9, 2024 (2024-07-09)tvNMonday and Tuesday at 20:50 (KST)

Cast and characters

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Main

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A veteran conman from a family of investigators who was born bold and gifted with words.
A skilled driver who grew up in an orphanage after being abandoned by her parents.[11]
A talented hacker who had a past with Chairman Chun.[4]
  • Tae Won-suk as Do Jin-woong
A powerful fighter who had accidentally worked for "that person".[12]
An assistant to Ha-ri and the team's watcher.
Ah-ryung's younger sister who is also a skilled driver. Her real name is Cha Hae-ryung.

Supporting

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Public Prosecutors' Office

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The prosecutor who teamed up with Ha-ri and his team.
  • Ahn Se-ho as Investigator Maeng Ji-hoon[15]
  • Lee Hwang-ui as Yoo Ki-hoon[16]

Target

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  • Kim Jong-tae as "that person" (real name: Yeon Je-seok)
A consultant and power broker for politicians.
  • Kwak Ja-hyung as Cheon Dong-seob

People around Ha-ri

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Ha-ri's father and former team leader of Special Corruption Division.
A doctor and the only person who knows Ha-ri's past.[17]

Others

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  • Min Joon-hyun as Team Leader Shim Dal-soo[18]
  • Kang Min-tae as gangster
  • Kim Hyung-mook as Na Won-hak[19]
the corrupt president director

Special appearances

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Production

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Early working titles of the series were Hustle (허슬; Heoseul) and Round (; Pan).[27][28]

On July 12, 2022, it was announced that the series would return with second season in the second half of 2023, under the title Player: War of Gamblers (플레이어: 꾼들의 전쟁; Peulleieo: Kkundeur-ui Jeonjaeng).[8] On January 27, 2023, it was reported that filming was scheduled to begin in March 2023, and actresses Oh Yeon-seo and Jang Gyu-ri were in talks for the main roles.[29][14] In January 2024, it was officially announced that the second season is included on tvN's 2024 drama line-up.[2]

Original soundtrack

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Player OST
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Recorded2018
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label
  • Blending
  • Music Buddy

Part 1

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Released on October 6, 2018 (2018-10-06)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Player" (플레이어)
  • Dok2
  • Jinsil
  • Lee Jung-ha
  • Lee Jong-soo
  • Yang Sung-woo
Dok2 feat. Jinsil (Mad Soul Child)03:05
2."Player" (Inst.) 
  • Lee Jong-soo
  • Yang Sung-woo
 03:05
Total length:06:10

Part 2

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Released on October 14, 2018 (2018-10-14)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Changer"Kim Ho-kyung1601The Vane03:15
2."Changer" (Inst.) 1601 03:15
Total length:06:30

Part 3

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Released on October 21, 2018 (2018-10-21)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Yesterday"Min Yeon-jae1601JK Kim Dong-wook04:00
2."Yesterday" (Inst.) 1601 04:00
Total length:08:00

Part 4

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Released on October 28, 2018 (2018-10-28)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Bluffing"Min Yeon-jae1601Luna (f(x))03:07
2."Bluffing" (Inst.) 1601 03:07
Total length:06:14

Part 5

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Released on November 4, 2018 (2018-11-04)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Born to Be a Player"Jung Min-wook
  • Lee Jong-soo
  • Yang Sung-woo
Hey Men03:01
2."Born to Be a Player" (Inst.) 
  • Lee Jong-soo
  • Yang Sung-woo
 03:01
Total length:06:02

Part 6

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Released on November 4, 2018 (2018-11-04)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Anyone"
  • Lee Jong-soo
  • Yang Sung-woo
Nam Tae-hyun03:57
2."Anyone" (Inst.) 
  • Lee Jong-soo
  • Yang Sung-woo
 03:57
Total length:07:54

Viewership

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Player : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
1234567891011121314
11.2171.3811.1361.1651.0031.1711.1221.2211.2001.1690.9280.9581.1171.5151.165
20.9400.9110.9050.6710.8050.7570.8660.9130.7780.8600.9200.9520.857
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[30]
Average TV viewership ratings (season 1)
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share[31]
Nielsen Korea[32] TNmS[33]
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide
1 September 29, 2018 4.474% 5.226% 4.3%
2 September 30, 2018 4.876% 5.638% 4.9%
3 October 6, 2018 4.092% 4.433% 4.8%
4 October 7, 2018 4.186% 4.180% 5.5%
5 October 13, 2018 3.720% 4.196% N/A
6 October 14, 2018 4.573% 5.097%
7 October 20, 2018 4.415% 5.393%
8 October 21, 2018 4.904% 5.302%
9 October 27, 2018 4.723% 5.531%
10 October 28, 2018 4.640% 4.928%
11 November 3, 2018 3.993% 4.425%
12 November 4, 2018 3.879% 4.116%
13 November 10, 2018 4.553% 4.780%
14 November 11, 2018 5.803% 6.249%
Average 4.488% 4.964% [a]
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest published ratings and the red numbers represent the highest published ratings.
  • N/A denotes ratings that were not published.
  • 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).
Average TV viewership ratings (season 2)
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
Nielsen Korea[34]
Nationwide Seoul
1 June 3, 2024 4.185% (2nd) 4.658% (2nd)
2 June 4, 2024 3.966% (2nd) 4.065% (2nd)
3 June 10, 2024 4.188% (2nd) 4.310% (2nd)
4 June 11, 2024 3.537% (2nd) 3.594% (3rd)
5 June 17, 2024 3.531% (2nd) 3.722% (2nd)
6 June 18, 2024 3.570% (2nd) 3.519% (3rd)
7 June 24, 2024 3.810% (1st) 4.178% (1st)
8 June 25, 2024 3.789% (1st) 3.752% (1st)
9 July 1, 2024 3.681% (1st) 3.785% (1st)
10 July 2, 2024 3.929% (1st) 4.302% (1st)
11 July 8, 2024 4.096% (1st) 3.953% (1st)
12 July 9, 2024 4.344% (1st) 4.446% (1st)
Average 3.886% 4.024%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest published ratings and the red numbers represent the highest published ratings.
  • This series airs 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).

Notes

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  1. ^ Due to some unpublished ratings, the exact average rating is unknown.

References

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  1. ^ "The Player (2018)". CJ ENM. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Lee, Kyung-ho (January 10, 2024). "김수현X김지원 '눈물의 여왕', 3월 방송 확정 [공식]" (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024 – via Naver.
  3. ^ "The Player 2: Master of Swindlers (2024)". CJ ENM. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "대배우의 열일 행보…이시언, OCN '플레이어' 출연 확정 [공식]". Naver (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. June 4, 2018. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  5. ^ a b ""티빙 오리지널 "러닝메이트" tvn 드라마 "플레이어2" sbs 드라마 "7인의 부활" ost DK strings(정덕근스트링) 가 함께 했습니다" ["TVING Original" Running Mate dkstrings_official tvn drama "Player 2" sbs drama "Resurrection of the Seven" OST]. instagram. DK strings. April 2, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-04-11. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  6. ^ a b Park, Jae-hwan. 송승헌-정수정-이시언, 새 드라마 '플레이어'. Naver (in Korean). KBS News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  7. ^ Kang, Nae-ri. "[단독]송승헌X정수정 '플레이어', 9월 29일 첫 방송…14회 편성". Naver (in Korean). YTN Star. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Lee, Hyun-ah (July 12, 2022). "[단독] 드라마 '플레이어' 시즌2 송승헌과 돌아온다". Naver (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Shin, Young-eun (April 24, 2024). 송승헌→장규리 ‘플레이어2’, 6월 3일 첫방송 확정 [공식] [Song Seung-heon → Jang Gyu-ri ‘Player 2’, first broadcast confirmed on June 3 [Official]] (in Korean). Maeil Gyeongje. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Naver.
  10. ^ Baek, Ji-eun. [단독] 에프엑스 크리스탈, '허슬' 여주인공…연기 활동 박차. Naver (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  11. ^ "Krystal Jung set to return to TV with new drama, 'Player'". TenAsia. September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "태원석, OCN '플레이어'로 첫 주연 도전...'대세 예약'". Naver (in Korean). Osen. June 5, 2018. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  13. ^ Kim, Ga-young (January 27, 2023). "[단독] 장규리, 대세 배우로 우뚝…'플레이어2' 주인공 꿰찼다". Naver (in Korean). E Daily. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Moon, Ji-yeon (January 27, 2023). "[단독] 돌아오는 '플레이어2' 주인공=오연서..송승헌·장규리 이끈다". Naver (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  15. ^ "안세호, OCN '플레이어' 출연 확정 "새로운 도전"". Naver (in Korean). Sports Dong-a. July 13, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  16. ^ 이황의, '플레이어' 출연 확정…대검차장 役으로 '부드러운 카리스마' 발산 예고. Hankooki (in Korean). June 21, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  17. ^ Kim, Na-rae (September 26, 2018). 유예빈, '플레이어' 출연 확정! '뛰어난 미모+무한한 잠재력' 시너지 '기대'. dspdaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  18. ^ 민준현, '플레이어' 합류…송승헌·정수정과 호흡. OBS News (in Korean). June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "김형묵, OCN '플레이어' 출연…송승헌·크리스탈과 호흡". Naver (in Korean). TenAsia. June 14, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "이화룡, '예쁜누나' 변태 공차장→검사 '변신'...OCN '플레이어' 합류". Naver (in Korean). TenAsia. June 12, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "'플레이어' 김성철, 우정출연만으로도 이 정도 임팩트라니". MSN. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
  22. ^ 유승호, '플레이어' 첫회 특별출연…"활약 방송 통해서" [공식입장]. Sports Dong-a (in Korean). September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  23. ^ "[★해시태그]"'플레이어' 촬영중"…홍석천, 크리스탈과 함께 인증샷" (in Korean). June 17, 2018. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  24. ^ "압도적 분위기"… '플레이어' 또 다른 악역 왕지혜 등장 (in Korean). October 20, 2018. Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  25. ^ "'플레이어2' PD "기안84→이수혁 특별출연, 인맥에 읍소…깜짝 놀랄 사람 더 많아"" ['Player 2' PD "Kian 84 → Lee Soo-hyuk makes a special appearance, I'm in a relationship... There are more people who will be surprised."]. SPOTVnews (in Korean). May 28, 2024. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  26. ^ '플레이어2' 송승헌X오연서, 최종악 김경남 상대로 승리..시즌3 빌런은 이성경?(종합) (in Korean). heraldpop. July 9, 2024. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024 – via Naver.
  27. ^ Moon, Ji-yeon. [단독] 송승헌 '허슬' 출연..장르물 한번 더. Naver (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  28. ^ Yoo, Su-ah. ""기대되는 조합"…송승헌X크리스탈X이시언, '판'으로 뭉치나". Naver (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  29. ^ Kim, Ga-young (January 27, 2023). "[단독] 장규리, 대세 배우로 우뚝…'플레이어2' 주인공 꿰찼다". Naver (in Korean). E Daily. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  30. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  31. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  32. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  33. ^ "TNMS 홈페이지에 오신 것을 환영합니다". TNmS (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  34. ^ Nielsen Korea ratings (season 2):
    • "Ep. 1" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 3, 2024. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
    • "Ep. 2" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 4, 2024. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
    • "Ep. 3" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 10, 2024. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
    • "Ep. 4" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
    • "Ep. 5" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 17, 2024. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
    • "Ep. 6" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 18, 2024. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
    • "Ep. 7" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 24, 2024. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
    • "Ep. 8" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. June 25, 2024. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
    • "Ep. 9" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. July 1, 2024. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
    • "Ep. 10" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. July 2, 2024. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
    • "Ep. 11" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. July 8, 2024. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
    • "Ep. 12" (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. July 9, 2024. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
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