'Heroes Next Door' turns reservists into neighborhood defenders

From left, actors Lee Jung-ha, Jin Sun-kyu, director Jo Woong, actors Yoon Kye-sang, Kim Ji-hyun and Ko Kyu-pil pose during a press conference for their upcoming series “Heroes Next Door” at a hotel in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Coupang Play, Genie TV Original Series

Upcoming action-comedy series "Heroes Next Door" brings together former special forces soldiers who set out to protect their own neighborhood.

"The scope of the incident is grand, but the way they solve it is rooted in protecting their community," director Jo Woong said during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. "That is why I believe viewers will be able to empathize."

The 10-episode series, which starts airing Monday, follows a group of reservist special forces members who unite not for ambitious goals like defending the entire nation, but purely for their families and neighborhood.

"It's not just about following the incident as it unfolds. It’s a drama that generates tension and humor as the characters clash and interact," the director explained.

Signer-turned-actor Yoon Kye-sang plays Choi Kang, a former special operations unit agent and current insurance investigator.

"My character is a dual personality. The image he presents in daily life is different from his true self that emerges during a crisis. That aspect was very appealing to me," Yoon said, highlighting the duality of his character.

Co-star Jin Sun-kyu portrays Kwak Byeong-nam, a former anti-terror unit member and the head of the local youth association.

Jin expressed his joy at reuniting with Yoon, eight years after they starred together in the 2017 hit movie "The Outlaws."

"It feels like we were destined to work together," Jin said. "For this series, just like we did with 'The Outlaws,' we gathered and practiced together. Because we practiced with each other, filming on set went incredibly smoothly."

A poster for new drama "Heroes Next Door" / Courtesy of Coupang Play, Genie TV Original Series

In response, Jo revealed that the actors’ established chemistry was a factor in his casting decision, anticipating a positive impact on the drama.

"I thought Yoon Kye-sang was suitable for the role of Choi Kang because he possesses a certain coldness behind a warm smile. With Jin Sun-kyu, when we worked together on past projects, his warmth and sense of humor were just excellent," Jo noted.

Alongside Yoon and Jin, Kim Ji-hyun performs Jung Nam-yeon, a neighborhood supermarket owner and former special force unit instructor, while Ko Kyu-pil plays Lee Yong-hee, a former cyber operations soldier. Lee Jung-ha plays Park Jung-hwan, a college student and former mortarman.

The series drops new episodes on ENA on Monday and Tuesday and is simultaneously available on the Korean streaming platform Coupang Play. The international distribution platform for the series has yet to be finalized.