''Squad 38'' () is a
South Korean television series starring
Ma Dong-seok
Ma Dong-seok (born Lee Dong-seok on March 1, 1971), also known as Don Lee, is a South Korean–American actor. With his breakout performance in ''Train to Busan'' and subsequent leading roles, he has become one of South Korea's most successful a ...
,
Seo In-guk
Seo In-guk (; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show ''Superstar K'' in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in ''Reply 1997'' (2012). Since ...
and
Choi Soo-young
Choi Soo-young (; born February 10, 1990), professionally known as Sooyoung, is a South Korean singer, actress and songwriter. She was a member of the short-lived Korean-Japanese singing duo Route 0 during 2002 in Japan. After returning to Sou ...
. It aired on cable network
OCN on Fridays and Saturdays at 23:00 (
KST) for 16 episodes from June 17, 2016 to August 6, 2016.
Synopsis
The story is about civil servant Baek Sung-il and his team who collect taxes from habitual tax evaders as well as delinquent taxpayers in cooperation with the fraud Yang Jeong-do.
Origin of title
''Squad 38'' is motivated and received advice from "38 Tax Collection Division" (aka 38기동대: Task force 38) in Seoul Metropolitan Government.
The number 38 is derived from Article 38 of
Constitution of South Korea
The Constitution of the Republic of Korea () is the supreme law of South Korea. It was promulgated on July 17, 1948, and last revised on October 29, 1987.
Background The Provisional Charter of Korea
The preamble of the Constitution of South ...
, which stipulates the duty to pay taxes:
모든 국민은 법률이 정하는 바에 의하여 납세의 의무를 진다.
All citizens shall have the duty to pay taxes under the conditions as prescribed by Act.
The Korean title "사기동대 (sagidongdae)" is the combination of the words 사기 (sagi: fraud) and 기동대 (gidongdae: task force). In the logo of this series, letter of 사기 is written in blue and underlined to emphasize.
The motto of the drama, "끝까지 사기쳐서 반드시 징수한다" (Swindle to the end, must be collected.) is parody of, the motto of 38 Tax Collection Division, "끝까지 추적하여 반드시 징수한다" (Trace to the end, must be collected.)
Cast
Main cast
*
Ma Dong-seok
Ma Dong-seok (born Lee Dong-seok on March 1, 1971), also known as Don Lee, is a South Korean–American actor. With his breakout performance in ''Train to Busan'' and subsequent leading roles, he has become one of South Korea's most successful a ...
as Baek Sung-il/Park Woong-cheol – manager of Tax Collection Bureau's section 3
*
Seo In-guk
Seo In-guk (; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show ''Superstar K'' in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in ''Reply 1997'' (2012). Since ...
as Yang Jeong-do – professional swindler
*
Choi Soo-young
Choi Soo-young (; born February 10, 1990), professionally known as Sooyoung, is a South Korean singer, actress and songwriter. She was a member of the short-lived Korean-Japanese singing duo Route 0 during 2002 in Japan. After returning to Sou ...
as Cheon Sung-hee – Tax Collection Bureau's officer
Supporting cast
38 Revenue Collection Unit
*
Song Ok-sook
Song Ok-sook (born August 14, 1960) is a South Korean actress. She has appeared in supporting roles in numerous television dramas, including ''Winter Sonata'', ''Beethoven Virus'', ''More Charming by the Day'', and '' Missing You''.
Song is al ...
as Noh Bang-shil – nickname "Wallet"
* as Jang Hak-joo – nickname "Cannon"
*
Ko Kyu-pil
Ko Kyu-pil (born May 2, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He debuted in the 1993 South Korean children's film
A children's film, or family film, is a film genre that contains children or relates to them in the context of home and family. Child ...
as Jung Ja-wang – nickname "Keyboard"
*
Lee Sun-bin
Lee Jin-kyung (; born January 7, 1994), professionally known as Lee Sun-bin (), is a South Korean actress and singer. She is known for starring in '' Squad 38'' (2016), '' Missing 9'' (2017), and ''Criminal Minds'' (2017). She is a former memb ...
as Jo Mi-joo – nickname "Kkotbaem" = flower-snake (literally) = seductive girl (meaning)
*
Kim Joo-ri
Kim Joo-ri (, born May 21, 1988) is a Korean model and beauty queen who was the winner of Miss Korea 2009, and actress. For the first time ever, the Miss Korea winner represented Korea in Miss World 2009, and competed in Miss Universe 2010. She ...
as Choi Ji-yeon
Seowon Town Hall
*
Ahn Nae-sang
Ahn Nae-sang (born December 25, 1964) is a South Korean actor. He began his career on the stage, and in 1994 made his film debut in the Bong Joon-ho short film ''Baeksekin'' ("White Man" or "White-collar worker"), followed by Jang Sun-woo's ''B ...
as Cheon Gap-soo – Seowon Mayor
*
Jo Woo-jin as Ahn Tae-wook – director of Tax Collection Bureau
* as Kang Noh-seung – manager of Tax Collection Bureau's section 1
* as Ahn Chang-ho – young employee of Tax Collection Bureau
*
Kim Joo-hun
Kim Joo-hun (; born March 1, 1980) is a South Korean theater, television and movie actor. He debuted in 2009 in Korean adaptation of stage play Marat Sade and become member of Alleyway Theater Company until 2014.
He is best known for his role ...
as examiner Park – examiner of Tax Collection Bureau's section 3
*Jung Do-won as examiner Kim – examiner of Tax Collection Bureau's section 3
Extended cast
*
Jung In-gi
Jung In-gi (born September 12, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Jung made his acting debut in 1990, and has remained active in mainstream and independent film as well as television, notably in ''Jury'' (2013), '' The Five'' (2013) and ''Gap-dong
...
as Sa Jae-sung – detective
*
Lee Ho-jae
Lee Ho-jae (born January 3, 1973) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Lee debuted with the crime thriller ''The Scam (2009 film), The Scam'' (2009). It won Best New Director at the 46th Grand Bell Awards, 46th Grand Bell Awards i ...
as Choi Cheol-woo – former representative of Woohyang Group
* as Bang Pil-gyu – Choi Cheol-woo's right arm
*
Oh Dae-hwan
Oh Dae-hwan (born July 5, 1979) is a South Korean actor. He appeared in TV series such as '' Squad 38'' (2016), ''Shopaholic Louis'' (2016), ''Radiant Office'' (2017), and ''The Red Sleeve
''The Red Sleeve'' () is a South Korean television ...
as Ma Jin-seok
*
Lee Deok-hwa
Lee Deok-hwa (born May 8, 1952) is a South Korean actor.
Career
Lee Deok-hwa studied theater and film at Dongguk University, and made his acting debut in 1972. He and his father, movie star Lee Ye-chun starred together in the 1975 horror film '' ...
as chairman Wang
Others
* as taxation officer
*Oh Yoo-jin as Baek Ah-jeong – Baek Sung-il's daughter
*Jo Seon-joo as Baek Sung-il's wife
* as Kim Gyu-sik
*
Lee Seung-hyung
Lee Seung-hyung is a South Korean actor. He is best known as a supporting actor in television dramas, notably in '' Brilliant Legacy'' (2009) and ''Prosecutor Princess
''Prosecutor Princess'' () is a 2010 South Korean television series starri ...
as Cheon Gap-soo's secretary
* as section chief Shim Yong-jae
* as Bang Ho-seok
*Ji Sung-geun
*
Kim Eung-soo
Kim Eung-soo (; born February 12, 1961) is a South Korean actor. Kim lived in Japan for seven years, where he studied filmmaking at the Japan Institute of the Moving Image
The , formerly known as the Yokohama Broadcasting Technical School, is a ...
as Jo Sang-jin
* as Yang Jae-taek
* as Noh Deok-gi
*
Jo Yeon-hee
Jo Seon-joo is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as ''One Thousand Won Lawyer'', '' Mr. Queen'', ''One the Woman'' and '' Black Dog: Being A Teacher''. She also appeared in movies ''The Houseguest and My Mother'', ...
as Baek Sung-il's wife
*Kang Min-tae as Jang Hak-joo band's member
*Geum Gwang-san as Jang Hak-joo band's member
*
*
*Lee Seon-goo
*
*Kwon Ban-seok
*
*Lee Gyu-tae
*Hwang Tae-ho
*Gong Min-gyu
*
*Kim Ji-sung as Bang Mi-na
* as police chief Jin Seon-hwan
*Lee Cho-ah
*Kim Bo-bae
*Park Byung-wook
*Kim Ki-nam
*Baek Seung-cheol
*
*Lee Dong-jin
*Jung Ae-hwa
*Seo Min-kyung
*Ha Soo-yeon
*
*
*Kim Hae-gon
*Yoon Man-dal as Park Sang-ho
*Hong Dae-sung
*Moon Hak-jin
*Kim Jong-doo
*Kim Sung-il
*Jo Gi-tae
*Park Do-joon
*Jung Jae-sung
*Lee Shi-yoo as Choi Mi-sook
Cameo appearances
*
Oh Man-seok
Oh Man-seok (born January 30, 1975) is a South Korean actor. Best known for playing the titular transgender singer in rock musical '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', Oh's acting career spans theater, television and film.
Career
Theater beginnings ...
as Park Deok-bae
* as Cha Myung-soo
*
Lee Se-young
Lee Se-young (; born December 20, 1992) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a child actress in 1997 and was best known for her roles in ''Dae Jang Geum'' (2003), '' When I Turned Nine'' (2004), ''Lovely Rivals'' (2004), and ''The Wonder ...
(Ep. 3)
*
Park Sung-woong
Park Sung-woong (born January 9, 1973) is a South Korean actor. Following his acting debut in '' No. 3'' in 1997, Park has starred in several movies and television series, notably as a gangster in ''New World'' (2013) and a serial killer in '' T ...
(Ep. 2)
*
Kim Sung-oh
Kim Sung-oh (born September 15, 1978) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his supporting roles
''Supporting Roles'' ( es, Papeles secundarios) is a 1989 Cuban drama film directed by Orlando Rojas. The film was selected as the Cub ...
(Ep. 2)
Production
The series' main cast lineup was unveiled on March 3, 2016.
The first script reading was held on March 19, 2016 at the CJ E&M Centre in
Sangam-dong
Sangam-dong is a legal '' dong'' (neighborhood) of the Mapo District in Seoul, South Korea. In the wake of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a large apartment complex and DMC business district have been created and developed into the center of western Seou ...
,
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
,
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
.
Ratings
In the table below,
the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and
the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
Original soundtracks
OST Part 1
OST Part 2
International broadcast
The broadcasting rights to the series were sold to 11 countries, China, Cambodia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
''Squad 38''at
Studio Dragon
Studio Dragon Corporation () is a South Korean drama production, marketing and distribution company under CJ ENM's E&M division. It was established on May 3, 2016, as a spin-off from E&M Media Content.
The company joined the KOSDAQ index of Ko ...
''Squad 38''at
SM C&C
SM Culture & Contents ( ko, 에스엠컬처앤콘텐츠; SM C&C) is a South Korean advertising, production, travel and talent company under SM Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SM Entertainment. The company operates as a talent agency, televi ...
*
*
{{Works by Studio Dragon
OCN television dramas
Korean-language television shows
2016 South Korean television series debuts
2016 South Korean television series endings
South Korean crime television series
Television series by Studio Dragon
Television series by SM C&C