# Bloodhounds (South Korean TV series)

Bloodhounds (Korean: 사냥개들) is a South Korean action drama television series directed by Kim Joo-hwan, and starring Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Park Sung-woong, Huh Joon-ho, and Rain. Based on the Naver Webtoon of the same name by Jeong Chan, the series follows the story of a young boxer who teams up with a delinquent and a moneylender to fight against a loan shark organization. The first season was released on Netflix on June 9, 2023. A second season has been confirmed in production.

## Plot

Kim Geon-woo, a promising young boxer, dreams of providing a better life for his single mother. However, his mother falls prey to Smile Capital, a ruthless loan shark organization led by Kim Myeong-gil. Desperate to save his mother from their clutches, Geon-woo reluctantly accepts help from Choi Tae-ho, a benevolent moneylender with his own complex history. Geon-woo crosses paths with Hong Woo-jin, a troubled delinquent who finds solace in boxing. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, they form an unlikely and powerful bond, driven by a shared desire for justice and a need to protect those they love. Together with Tae-ho, Geon-woo and Woo-jin embark on a dangerous mission to bring down Smile Capital. They delve into the murky underworld of debt collection, facing off against ruthless enforcers and navigating the moral gray areas of their chosen path. As they confront Myeong-gil and his formidable organization, Geon-woo and Woo-jin grapple with their own internal struggles. They confront their pasts, confront the harsh realities of the world, and ultimately discover the true meaning of friendship, loyalty, and the price of freedom.

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Woo Do-hwan as Kim Geon-woo
    A sincere and considerate boxing prospect and a former Marine.
* Lee Sang-yi as Hong Woo-jin
    Geon-woo's partner in action and a former Marine.
* Park Sung-woong as Kim Myeong-gil (season 1)
    The CEO of Smile Capital, and a notorious illegal loan shark who reigns above the law.
* Huh Joon-ho as Choi Tae-ho (season 1)
    Formerly a legend of the private loan industry, he currently provides loans with no interest to people who have no money for medical treatment.
* Rain as Baek-jeong (season 2)

### Supporting

* Kim Sae-ron as Cha Hyun-joo
    Tae-ho's successor and foster granddaughter.
* Yoon Yoo-sun as Yoon So-yeon
    Geon-woo's mother.
* Lee Hae-yeong as Hwang Yang-jung
    Tae-ho's right-hand man, who runs a Japanese restaurant.
* Min Kyung-jin as Oh In-mook
    Tae-ho's driver, who was originally the security guard for Tae-ho's building.
* Choi Young-joon as Min Kang-yong
    The leader of the Serious Crime Investigation Division of the National Investigation Headquarters, and Min-beom's older cousin.
* Park Ye-ni as Kang Tae-young
    The leader of the Cyber Crimes Investigation Division.
* Tae Won-seok as Kang In-beom
    Myeong-gil's underling whom he met in prison.
* Cheon Dong-bin as Cheon Dong-woo
* Ha Soo-ho as Im Jang-do
    The strategy management director of Smile Capital, who has connections with the police.
* Jo Wan-gi as Kim Jun-min
    A sales manager of Smile Capital.
* Bae Jae-gi as Yang Jae-myeong
    Myeong-gil's underling, who pretends to be a homeless man in order to steal identification cards for loan purposes.
* Hong Jun-young as Captain Jung
    A service representative of Smile Capital, and a former fighter.
* Park Min-jung as Madame Im
    A business partner and Myeong-gil's lover.
* Jung Da-eun as Oh Da-min
    The granddaughter of In-mook, and an archer.

### Special appearances

* Lee Joong-ok as a drunkard
* Choi Si-won as Hong Min-beom
    The third-generation conglomerate of I'll Corporation, and Kang-yong's younger cousin.
* Park Hoon as Moon Kwang-moo
    A private loan shark who formerly worked under Tae-ho, and a former Marine.
* Ryu Soo-young as Lee Doo-young
    Tae-ho's left arm who is loyal to him.
* Lim Hwa-young as Min-ji
    Doo-young's wife.
* Kim Min-jae as Kim Jae-min
    A corrupt officer of the Serious Crime Investigation Division Unit 1, and a junior of Kang-yong.

## Production
### Season 1

Actress Kim Sae-ron played the role of Cha Hyun-joo. On June 2, 2022, Netflix Korea announced Kim would be removed from the series following a DUI incident.

### Season 2

On January 16, 2024, Netflix Korea confirmed the production of the series' second season with Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi reprising their respective roles. In addition, Rain joined the cast to play a villain role, a first in his 20-year acting career.

## Accolades
### Awards and nominations

| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2023 | Excellence Award, Actor | Lee Sang-yi | Won | |

### Listicle

| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Time | 2023 | The 10 Best Korean Dramas of 2023 on Netflix | Included | |