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In 1958, a passionate detective known for having the highest arrest rate for cattle thieves in his small town, transfers to Seoul.  But crime fighting in the big city is not exactly what he expects.  And if he is going to put a stop to the wide-spread corruption the police force has become known for, he will have to put together a team of like-minded individuals who aren’t afraid to row against the tide.

Park Young Han has the highest arrest record for cow theives in his small town police department.  But when he tranfers to Seoul, he is shocked to find so much crime and corruption both on the streets and inside the walls of the Police Station itself.  After meeting his new supervisor and leader of Team 1, Yoo Dae Cheon, he realizes his new boss shares his passion for justice.  The pair set out to recruit a fresh team of new officers who will help them stand against the lazy work and dishonest practices of his fellow detectives.  Along the way, Young Han will make plenty of powerful enemies, but thankfully he also makes lots of unlikely allies.  

Park Young Han is honest and determined.  His biggest ambition is to create a community where the citizens are safe and protected from evil in all its forms.  I love Lee Je Hoon’s passion for the roles he plays and this one is no different.  While Park Young Han can be goofy and over-the-top at times, I felt like it fit this country bumpkin turned hero.  

Kim Sang Soon, known in the department as Mad Dog, is an outcast in Team 2.  He has made enemies of his teammates with his habit of biting any bad guy that crosses him and refusing to turn the other way and take pay offs.  When Young Han meets him hiding in a closet of the station, he recruits Sang Soon to join Team 1 and help him.  The pair quickly form a close friendship and partnership that extends beyond their work.

Kim Sang Soon’s personal history growing up in an orphanage gives him a soft spot for underdogs in all forms.  He understands how cruel the world can be to those who are defenseless.  I find Lee Dong Hwi to be such a multi-faceted actor and I loved him in this role.  His chemistry with Lee Je Hoon gives them a natural repartee that is engaging and fun to watch.  

Love Story

I loved the way this drama handled the romantic relationship between Young Han and Hae Joon.  While it was never a major plot that overshadowed the main theme of the show, it gave just the right touch of romance.  And I enjoyed watching her support Young Han and all the members of Team 1.

Meet the Team

This drama did a nice job of introducing each of the team members individually as part of the story rather than just having them already working at the station.  This introduction gave us time to get to know them in the same way Young Han did, and it also made me care about each of them because I could understand their backstory.

Choi Bool Am

I am so glad that they chose to honor Choi Bool Am for the 18 years he played Chief Inspector Park in the original series by giving him a cameo.  This was a classy move that showed the writer’s respect.  It also makes the ending scene even more beautiful, since Choi Bool Am, like his character, is the last remaining member of the team.  This gives double meaning to the scene in the cemetery as the actor is given a chance to honor his co-stars.  

2. Ho Jeong’s Crush:

I didn’t feel like there was much point in having Ho Jeong have a secret crush on Hae Joon at the beginning.  They introduced the idea and then pretty much dropped it with no follow up other than a few subtle, wistful glances where she first starts dating Young Han.  

3.  Sung Chil:

I loved Sung Chil’s character and his friendships with both Young Han and Nan Sil were so sweet.  It really broke my heart when they killed him off.  I get that it brought more weight to the case as a whole, but I really wish they could have achieved that another way.  

‘Chief Detective 1958’ ends with the closure of the case against the rich kid gang who have been kidnapping the factory workers.  The 2 who are still alive end up in prison and we see Superintendent Baek being executed for his role in covering it all up.  This leaves his position open for Team Leader Yoo to move up and give his position to Young Han.  The final scene shows Young Han, an old man and played by Choi Bool Am, sitting in a cemetery “catching up” with his old teammates.  As he salutes them and waves good bye, we see a short but heartfelt montage of each of the members from the last 10 episodes.    

Watching the detectives find ways to expose the criminals with indisputable evidence is the real key. Lee Je Hoon has a knack for cheesy drama, and this does get extremely silly at times.  It also has some pretty far-fetched storylines.  But rather than give us a smooth, modern style prequel with fancy sets and solid, realistic storylines, this one embraces the retro, and has a lot of fun with it.   I give ‘Chief Detective 1958’  a solid 9 out of 10.

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