Disney+ cop comedy series 'Seoul Busters' guns for big laughs

The crime comedy series directed by Ahn Jong-yeon that centers on poorly performing violent crime police unit is sure to have viewers laughing, hopefully as much as the cast and crew did during filming.

From left, actors Kim Dong-wook, Park Ji-hwan, Seo Hyun-woo, Park Se-wan and Lee Seung-woo pose for a photo during a press conference for the upcoming Disney+ series ″Seoul Busters″ held in Guro District, western Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Disney+ crime comedy series “Seoul Busters” promises to deliver plenty of laughs as the cast themselves had a hard time holding back laughs while shooting.

“I think my back teeth have cracked quite a bit from all the clenching in order to hold back from laughing,” actor Seo Hyun-woo said during the series’ press conference held in Guro District, western Seoul, on Thursday.

“There were also people who silently started bowing their heads during shoots to hold back their laughs as well, which made it even harder for me to suppress,” he added.

The crime comedy series, slated for release on Sept. 11, follows the journey of Korea’s lowest-performing violent crime police unit, joined by a new elite leader that transforms them into an ultimate team.

The crime comedy series is directed by Ahn Jong-yeon, who was behind SBS’s TV series “Racket Boys” (2021), and features actors Kim Dong-wook, who plays the new elite leader Dongbang Yu-bin, as well as Park Ji-hwan as Moo Joong-ryeok, Seo as Jung Jung-hwan, Park Se-wan as Seo Min-seo and Lee Seung-woo as Jang Tan-sik.

A still from upcoming Disney+ comedy series ″Seoul Busters″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

It is also cowritten by Lee Young-chul, who wrote MBC’s hit sitcom “High Kick!” series (2006-12), and Lee Kwang-jae, who scripted tvN’s sitcom “Potato Star 2013QR3” (2013-14).

As with any team, working together is essential. Even though the actors were performing, it appeared that they had developed genuine team chemistry, as they all adhered to the same dress code without any prior discussions.

“We didn’t even discuss it, but look at our teamwork,” Kim said with a proud face.

Park Se-wan also emphasized that their team’s chemistry was at another level, saying, “If we have to describe our team’s chemistry in one phrase, ‘off the chart,’ would be it.”

A still from upcoming Disney+ comedy series ″Seoul Busters″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Each character has their own charm, along with an unexpected one, according to director Ahn, which he considered during casting.

“As for Kim, I cast him because he looks normal but actually is not, which perfectly fits with his character,” Ahn said. “Like, he seems smart, but he also holds some clumsiness, and he looks serious, but he is actually really funny. I thought these traits of him would help build Yu-bin’s characteristics.”

While each character has a unique charm, they also possess distinct personalities or abilities, such as Park Se-wan’s Min-seo being hot-tempered and Lee’s Tan-sik possessing an acute sense of smell.

Park Se-wan admitted to feeling a sense of satisfaction while portraying anger, saying, “That excitement sometimes kept me up at night when I got home.”

A still from upcoming Disney+ comedy series ″Seoul Busters″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

A still from upcoming Disney+ comedy series ″Seoul Busters″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Kim jokingly added, “I was worried about the next day [after seeing her act angry].”

Lee revealed that he studied how dogs smell stuff and how they react to incorporate it into his acting.

“I thought that if I simply expressed him sniffing, it wouldn’t show the character’s exceptional sense of smell,” Lee said. “So instead, I either tried to make the sound more intense and rapid or even mimic how dogs move their noses and ears when they sniff to show it visually.”

The actor also teased that he battles against a drug detection dog in the series, saying, “If you’re curious who wins, then watch the series.”

A still from upcoming Disney+ comedy series ″Seoul Busters″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

“Seoul Busters” is also Kim’s first comedy series in five years since the MBC drama “Special Labor Inspector, Mr. Jo” in 2019, which the actor said he had long waited for.

"Comedy is a genre that I always look forward to and anticipate,” Kim said. “It’s a genre that I personally love as well. So ever since ‘Special Labor Inspector Mr. Jo,’ I’ve been waiting and wondering when I’d get a truly attractive project I’d be eager to take on.”

For actor Park Ji-hwan, who recently released the comedy film “Handsome Guys” in June, the series has its own “sophisticated humor” apart from what he had done in his previous comedy works.

The actor also complimented Park Se-wan’s comedic acting, referring to her as a northern snakehead, a large freshwater fish species that is on the top of the food chain.

A still from upcoming Disney+ comedy series ″Seoul Busters″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

“She truly has incredible and explosive talent. While working with her, I thought that even the northern snakehead couldn’t move as lively as her,” said Park Ji-hwan, adding that he was deeply impressed by the movement of the fish in the past.

The actors and director expressed confidence in the series, emphasizing that the drama is not just a simple comedy but a work created with deep thoughts.

"Although it’s a comedy, we approached it with the same precision as craftworking with glass or metal, carefully researching and filming every detail,” Seo said.

“The series won’t betray the delivery of cheerful and enjoyable laughter,” Kim said.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]