Yoo Seung Ho Returns to Acting After 3 Years

SBS has revealed its drama lineup for the second half of 2024, with significant attention being paid to the news of season 2 of 'The Rich Detective,' which achieved double-digit viewership ratings and was a hit when it aired in early 2024. The drama, for which a sequel was confirmed immediately after the conclusion of season 1, will return to television screens after a two-year hiatus. The buzz has been building even before its premiere with the addition of Jung Eun-chae as a new partner and Yoo Seung-ho's return to the small screen after three years.

'The Rich Detective' tells the story of a spoiled third-generation chaebol who is deployed as a parachute detective to the violent crimes unit. Under the concept of "money for money, connections for connections," it gained popularity as a "young and rich cider investigation" that eradicates criminals by mobilizing the immense wealth, connections, sharp intellect, and various activity skills of a chaebol family. Starting with a nationwide viewership rating of 5.7% for its first episode, it rose to a peak of over 11%. The combination of SBS Friday-Saturday drama's signature "cider" plot development and comedic action resonated strongly with viewers in their 30s to 50s.

One of the reasons for season 1's positive reception was its clear character development. The fantastical setting of a third-generation chaebol was contained within the realistic framework of a crime procedural, capturing both empathy and amusement. The scenes where criminals were apprehended using the chaebol family's resources were exhilarating and comical, serving as a key device to retain viewers. Even after its conclusion, clips of memorable scenes were consistently discussed in drama communities, and many viewers discovered the show later through OTT platforms.

SBS has been steadily expanding its "SBS Friday-Saturday Cider Universe," which has been loved for its humorous character play and good-triumphs-over-evil plots, with dramas like 'The Fiery Priest,' 'Taxi Driver,' and 'One Dollar Lawyer.' Recently, 'Taxi Driver 3