Actor Choi Hyun-wook perfectly embraced his first 'Director' role after his debut.
The tvN Monday-Tuesday drama ‘That Guy is a Black Dragon’ (directed by Lee Soo-hyun/written by Kim Soo-yeon/produced by Studio N/planned by Studio Dragon), which premiered on the 17th, depicts the office romance of 'Director Killer' team leader Baek Soo-jung (played by Moon Ga-young), who suffers from a first love that has become a dark history, and the third-generation conglomerate director Ban Joo-yeon, who lives while hiding his otaku self, the Black Dragon. Choi Hyun-wook plays the role of Ban Joo-yeon, the strategic planning director of Yongseong Department Store, who thoroughly conceals his inner otaku.
In the first episode, Ban Joo-yeon made a strong impression from his first appearance as the 'Black Dragon' character in the online game 'Legend of the Dragon.' Wearing a mask and hiding his face, he saved the endangered Strawberry (played by Moon Ga-young), exuding a reliable older brother vibe, and evoked nostalgic feelings in viewers with the youthful and thrilling emotions of that time through in-game chat.
Sixteen years later, Ban Joo-yeon took office as the strategic planning director of Yongseong Department Store with the goal of doubling sales. Inside the company, he showcased a chic and cold charm in an all-black suit, while outside the company, he revealed his true self by enjoying rock concerts in a leather jacket, bandana, and sunglasses, which brought laughter. After a chance encounter with Baek Soo-jung, Ban Joo-yeon hinted at a complicated relationship ahead when his dragon tattoo on his back was discovered by her.
In the second episode, after Baek Soo-jung discovered his dragon tattoo, Ban Joo-yeon treated her sharply and coldly to make her come to the company on her own, but he eventually found himself in a crisis of almost revealing his otaku hobby. To make matters worse, during a company dinner, his cute drinking habit was exposed, leading him to take measures to silence Baek Soo-jung, which escalated into a tense confrontation filled with raised voices due to his excessive sensitivity.
However, after Baek Soo-jung, who had been following him, discovered his true self after work, he began to keep her close as a target of close surveillance. For a party of third-generation conglomerates, Ban Joo-yeon went shopping for clothes with Baek Soo-jung, showcasing his unique youthful charm with a quirky and sloppy fashion show, and delivered a powerful ending at the party with the line, "Hey baby, let's go," while helping Baek Soo-jung out of a predicament.
Choi Hyun-wook, who challenged the role of 'Director' for the first time after his debut, exuded a prickly and cold atmosphere while embodying the perfect director with fierce eyes, a restrained tone, and fluent Spanish. With a blend of cold charm and adorable youthful appeal, he expressed his own version of 'Director,' and added vibrancy to the viewing experience with flashy and dynamic action scenes for the online game segment in the first episode.
‘That Guy is a Black Dragon,’ featuring Choi Hyun-wook, airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 PM on tvN.
