Suspicious Partner

Suspicious Partner
Promotional poster
Also known as	Love in Trouble[1] Destiny Lovers Beware of This Woman Be Careful of This Woman Watch Out for This Woman Suspicious Romance
Hangul	수상한 파트너
Genre	Legal Crime Romantic-comedy
Written by	Kwon Ki-young
Directed by	Park Sun-ho
Starring	Ji Chang-wook Nam Ji-hyun Choi Tae-joon Kwon Nara
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	20[a]
Production
Executive producer	Park Young-soo
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	30 mins[a]
Production company	The Story Works
Original release
Network	SBS
Release	May 10 (2017-05-10) – July 13, 2017 (2017-07-13)

Suspicious Partner^[4] (Korean: 수상한 파트너; RR: Susanghan Pateuneo) is a 2017 South Korean television series starring Ji Chang-wook and Nam Ji-hyun, with Choi Tae-joon and Kwon Nara. It aired on Seoul Broadcasting System from May 10 to July 13, 2017, at 22:00 (KST) on Wednesdays and Thursdays for 20 episodes.^[5][6]

While the show, during some weeks, managed to outperform its competitor in some categories, such as the 20-49 year old demographic, as well as streaming, popularity and brand reputation charts, it enjoyed modest viewership, while its competitor topped the ratings in its time slot.^[7][8]

Synopsis

The series is about Noh Ji-wook (Ji Chang-wook), a prosecutor, and Eun Bong-hee (Nam Ji-hyun), a prosecutor trainee. When a murderer strikes, Bong-hee suddenly finds herself as a suspect, and Noh Ji-wook then changes jobs to become a private attorney due to circumstances. The two work together on the case, finding out how deeply connected they are by their past.^[9]

Cast

Main

• Ji Chang-wook as Noh Ji-wook^[10]
  • Oh Han-gyeol and Son Sang-yeon as young Ji-wook

A prosecutor in the Sunho District Prosecutors' Office who ends up switching professions to a private attorney in the aftermath of defending Eun Bong-hee. He was scarred by an event in his childhood involving his parents. He then went through a traumatic betrayal involving his former best friend and his ex girlfriend. Bong-hee falls for him, though he does not initially return her feelings. He eventually does and tries to pursue her, however he starts to be swayed again by the fact that Bong-hee's father could have been the arsonist who set the fire in which his parents died.

• Nam Ji-hyun as Eun Bong-hee
  • Choi Myung-bin as young Bong-hee

A prosecutor trainee at Ji-wook's office, later lawyer who was a Taekwondo athlete in her youth. One day, she becomes a murder suspect as her ex-boyfriend's dead body was found in her house in which she had no alibi, causing District Attorney Jang Moo-young to keep coming after her and blame her for his son's death. She eventually falls for Ji-wook after he defended her. He eventually pursues her as he realizes his feelings for her.

• Choi Tae-joon as Ji Eun-hyuk^[11]
  • Kwon Bin and Moon Woo-jin as young Eun-hyuk

A lawyer, once best friends with Ji-wook, who is now despised by him because he had an affair with Yoo-jung.

• Kwon Nara as Cha Yoo-jung^[12]
  • Ryu Han-bi as young Yoo-jung

A prosecutor, Noh Ji-wook's ex-girlfriend.

Supporting

People around Noh Ji-wook

• Lee Deok-hwa as Byun Young-hee

Ji-wook's adoptive father. The representative of a big law firm who later joins Ji-wook's newly opened firm.

• Nam Gi-ae as Hong Bok-ja

Ji-wook's adoptive mom. She is a good friend of Ji-wook's real mom and owns a pizza shop. She is also the archenemy of Bong-hee's mother.

• Jo Seung-yeon as Noh Young-suk

Ji-wook's late father who was also a prosecutor.

• Jang Hyuk-jin as Bang Eun-ho

Ji-wook's prosecutor-turned-lawyer's paralegal. He considers himself to be the 'mother' of the group.

People around Eun Bong-hee

• Yoon Bok-in as Park Young-soon

Bong-hee's mother who loves her daughter. She works at a massage parlor where she befriends Ji-wook's mom and later ends up working for Ji-wook's mom. The two are frequently indulge in semi-friendly banter.

• Lee Do-yeop as Eun Man-su

Bong-hee's father who died while trying to save Ji-wook. He was earlier accused of murdering Ji-wook's parents until it was discovered that he was innocent.

• Hwang Chan-sung as Jang Hee-joon^[13]

Bong-hee's cheating ex-boyfriend. He died in Bong-hee's house which pointed her as the prime suspect.

People at the Training Center

• Kim Ye-won as Na Ji-hae^[14]

Bong-hee's classmate. She later becomes a prosecutor.

• Heo Joon-seok as Woo Hee-kyu
• Shim Eun-woo as Hong Cha-eun

Extended

• Dong Ha as Jung Hyun-soo^[15]

A victim who was accused of murder which has similar vibe to Bong-hee's case, but has a mysterious identity that lies in him. He was in fact a serial killer who had earlier, out of revenge, murdered five of the six gang-rapists (including the victim of a murder he was accused of and first appeared in the show for) of his high school crush Park So-young, who committed suicide after this incident. He was also the real culprit who murdered Jang Hee-joon; in fact, his real target was Bong-hee, who unknowingly witnessed him killing two of the rapists but ended up killing Hee-joon, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time when he tried to make amends with Bong-hee for cheating her. Hyun-soo was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders he committed.

• Kim Hong-fa as Jang Moo-young

Jang Hee-joon's father and the District Attorney of Sunho District. He believes in upholding the might of the prosecution even if it meant defaming common people, as shown when he falsely incriminated Bong-hee's father as the arsonist who caused the fire that killed Ji-wook's parents and also himself, releasing the gang-rapists of Park So-young after dismissing their rape charges on the bribery of the parents and forcing Ji-wook to indict and convict Bong-hee (who was actually innocent) for murdering his son. Upon discovering Hyun-soo's guilt of his son's murder, he tried to kill him unsuccessfully and this led to his downfall as he was dismissed from his post and arrested for attempted murder (and possibly his pre-existing corruption prior to his arrest).

• Jin Ju-hyung as Go Chan-ho

A forensic investigator who went missing after being falsely incriminated for murder. He was actually one of the gang-rapists who raped Park So-young and was shown to be plagued with remorse (possibly) for the crime. He disappeared before he could meet up with Ji-wook to reveal something related to Hyun-soo, and was confirmed to be murdered by Hyun-soo when his body was discovered nearing the finale of the series. Four of his five accomplices - Lee Jae-ho, Yang Jin-woo, Kim Min-goo and Sung Jae-hyun - were earlier murdered by Hyun-soo while the final accomplice Min Young-hoon eventually surrendered and went to jail for the crime around the same time Hyun-soo was indicted the second time and finally sentenced.

• Park Gyu-young as Park So-young

A girl from Jung Hyun-soo's past who committed suicide after a tragedy which traumatized her.

• Park Ji-a as Park Seong-eun
• Kim Kyung-jin as The guy who disturbed Bong-hee while drinking (Ep. 1)
• Jung Yeon
• Choi Hong-il as Vice-chief of Prosecutor (Ep. 1–4)
• Kim Ki-nam as Prosecutor who works with Jung Moo-young (Ep. 8)
• Seo Jin-wook as Forensic expert who testified in court (Ep. 4)
• Jo Won-hee as Judge
• Choi Ji-hoo
• Lee Da-jin

Special appearances

• Jang Won-young as Ji Ha-cheol, pervert (Ep. 1–2, 21)
• Hong Seok-cheon as Monk (Ep. 3)
• Park Sung-geun as Flasher (Ep. 4)
• Jo Jung-sik as News Anchor
• Lee Si-a as Lee Na-eun, stalking victim (Ep. 6)
• Ji Il-joo as Jeon Sung-ho, stalker (Ep. 6)
• Seo Dong-won as So Jung-ha (Ep. 21–22)
• Jo Ah-ra as So Jung-ha's girlfriend (Ep. 22)
• Kim Ye-jun as Kim Jae-hong (Ep. 32–33)

Production

The early working titles for the drama were Beware This Woman and Suspicious Romance.^[16] The first script reading took place April 4, 2017 at SBS Ilsan Production Center in Tanhyun, South Korea.^[17][18]

Both lead actors Ji Chang-wook and Nam Ji-hyun starred in Warrior Baek Dong-soo in 2011.

Original soundtrack

Suspicious Partner OST Album
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	2017
Genre	Soundtrack
Language	Korean, English
Label	SBS Contents Hub Vlending Co., Ltd.

Part 1

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Why You?" (너는 왜)	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Seenroot	03:36
2.	"Why You?" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee		03:36
Total length:					07:02

Part 2

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"How Do I Say It?" (어떻게 말할까)	Nam Hye-seung MIYO O.WHEN	Nam Hye-seung MIYO	O.WHEN	04:27
2.	"How Do I Say It?" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung MIYO		04:27
Total length:					08:54

Part 3

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"The Same Day" (똑같은 날)	Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho	Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho	Ra.D	04:01
2.	"The Same Day" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho		04:01
Total length:					08:02

Part 4

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artists	Length
1.	"How About You" (어떨까 넌)	Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho	1601	Cheeze	04:47
2.	"How About You" (Inst.)

Part 5

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Eye Contact" (눈맞춤 (Acoustic Ver.))	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Kim E-Z (Ggot Jam Project)	03:30
2.	"Eye Contact" (Full Ver.)	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Kim E-Z (Ggot Jam Project)	03:46
3.	"Eye Contact" (Acoustic Ver. (Inst.))		Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee		03:30
4.	"Eye Contact" (Full Ver. (Inst.))		Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee		03:46
Total length:					14:32

Part 6

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Breathing All Day" (숨쉬는 모든 날)	Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho	Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho	Bumkey	04:26
2.	"Breathing All Day" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho		04:26
Total length:					08:52

Part 7

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"I've Got a Feeling" (정이 들어버렸어)	Park Jin-ho Nam Hye-seung	Park Jin-ho Nam Hye-seung	Kihyun (Monsta X)	04:52
2.	"I've Got a Feeling" (Inst.)		Park Jin-ho Nam Hye-seung		04:52
Total length:					09:44

Part 8

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"The Memory Of That Day" (그날의 기억)	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Kim Jong-wan (Nell)	03:36
2.	"The Memory Of That Day" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee		03:36
Total length:					07:12

Part 9

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Silly Love"	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee Jello Ann	Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee	Yoo Ha-jung	03:47
2.	"Silly Love" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung Park Sang-hee		03:47
Total length:					07:34

Part 10

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"101 Reasons Why I Like You" (네가 좋은 백 한가지 이유)	Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho	Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho	Ji Chang-wook	03:43
2.	"101 Reasons Why I Like You" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung Park Jin-ho		03:43
Total length:					07:26

Chart performance

Songs

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Remarks
		KOR Gaon
"How About You" (Cheeze)	2017	48	KOR: 48,205+[19]	Part 4
"Breathing All Day" (Bumkey)		93	KOR: 17,997+[20]	Part 6
"—" denotes that the song did not chart in that region.

Ratings

Ep.	Original broadcast date	Title	Average audience share
			Nielsen Korea[21]		TNmS[22]
			Nationwide	Seoul	Nationwide	Seoul
1	May 10, 2017	Hope for the Future	6.3% (17th)	6.5% (14th)	6.1% (19th)	7.4% (14th)
2			6.8% (13th)	6.9% (12th)	6.8% (15th)	8.2% (8th)
3	May 11, 2017	Take It	6.1% (NR)	5.8% (NR)	6.3% (NR)	7.0% (NR)
4			7.2% (18th)	7.7% (14th)	7.0% (NR)	7.9% (18th)
5	May 17, 2017	Restraining Order	6.6% (NR)	6.8% (NR)	6.9% (NR)	8.5% (12th)
6			8.0% (13th)	8.5% (9th)	7.4% (18th)	8.2% (15th)
7	May 18, 2017	Reunion and Reunion	6.8% (19th)	6.9% (18th)	6.0% (NR)	6.6% (20th)
8			7.4% (14th)	7.8% (12th)		6.4% (NR)
9	May 24, 2017	Humanity Becomes Hostage	6.8% (20th)	7.2% (18th)	6.5% (NR)	6.9% (NR)
10			8.3% (11th)	8.7% (10th)	7.4% (17th)	8.2% (14th)
11	May 25, 2017	The Beginning That Hasn't Begun	7.1% (17th)	7.9% (13th)	6.1% (NR)	6.8% (NR)
12			7.8% (14th)	8.5% (11th)	6.5% (NR)	6.6% (20th)
13	May 31, 2017	Alibi	7.5% (16th)	8.2% (13th)	6.9% (18th)	7.7% (15th)
14			9.3% (8th)	10.0% (8th)	7.9% (15th)	9.0% (10th)
15	June 1, 2017	Untruthful Truth Game	8.4% (13th)	8.6% (11th)	7.2% (17th)	8.3% (14th)
16			9.3% (11th)	9.6% (8th)	7.8% (16th)	8.9% (12th)
17	June 7, 2017	Eun Bong-hee's Prime	8.4% (13th)	9.1% (10th)	7.3% (17th)	7.5% (13th)
18			9.8% (8th)	10.2% (7th)	7.7% (NR)	8.1% (NR)
19	June 8, 2017	Truth vs. Secret	8.0% (12th)	8.5% (10th)	7.3% (17th)	7.3% (16th)
20			9.6% (9th)	10.2% (8th)	8.3% (11th)	8.4% (10th)
21	June 14, 2017	In This Limited World	7.7% (14th)	8.3% (9th)	7.0% (NR)	8.2% (13th)
22			9.1% (7th)	9.8% (6th)	7.8% (16th)	8.7% (9th)
23	June 15, 2017	48 Hours Later	7.8% (14th)	8.2% (10th)	6.9% (19th)	7.6% (13th)
24			9.4% (7th)	9.8% (6th)	7.6% (16th)	8.1% (10th)
25	June 21, 2017	Attributable Reasons	9.0% (9th)	10.3% (8th)	6.6% (20th)	6.7% (16th)
26			10.5% (7th)	11.7% (5th)	7.8% (15th)	8.5% (9th)
27	June 22, 2017	The Memory of That Day	8.4% (11th)	8.8% (10th)	7.5% (16th)	7.9% (13th)
28			9.7% (8th)	10.4% (8th)	8.0% (15th)	8.1% (12th)
29	June 28, 2017	Postponement	6.7% (17th)	7.2% (13th)	6.1% (NR)	7.9% (13th)
30			8.6% (9th)	9.5% (7th)	6.7% (17th)	8.0% (10th)
31	June 29, 2017	The Discovery of a Memory	7.7% (14th)	8.4% (9th)	6.3% (NR)	7.3% (14th)
32			8.6% (10th)	9.1% (8th)	6.8% (17th)	7.8% (11th)
33	July 5, 2017	Testing the Waters	7.2% (17th)	7.8% (13th)	6.9% (NR)	7.5% (16th)
34			9.2% (7th)	9.8% (7th)	7.2% (20th)	7.4% (17th)
35	July 6, 2017	Return	8.0% (17th)	8.5% (9th)	7.3% (19th)	8.8% (13th)
36			9.2% (9th)	9.9% (7th)	7.9% (17th)	9.4% (10th)
37	July 12, 2017	In Court	7.2% (16th)	7.4% (15th)	6.9% (20th)	7.7% (19th)
38			9.2% (8th)	9.4% (7th)	8.0% (17th)	8.7% (13th)
39	July 13, 2017	Return to the Daily Life	8.5% (12th)	9.0% (9th)	8.6% (15th)	9.5% (10th)
40			9.5% (8th)	10.2% (6th)	8.7% (14th)	8.9% (13th)
Average			7.2%	7.9%	8.2%	8.7%
In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. NR denotes that the drama did not rank in the top 20 daily programs on that date.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2017	Korea Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress (Drama)	Nam Ji-hyun	Nominated
	25th SBS Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday–Thursday Drama	Ji Chang-wook	Nominated	[23]
		Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday–Thursday Drama	Choi Tae-joon	Nominated
		Excellence Award, Actress in a Wednesday–Thursday Drama	Nam Ji-hyun	Won
		Best New Actress	Kwon Nara	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Kim Ye-won	Nominated
		Best Couple Award	Ji Chang-wook and Nam Ji-hyun	Nominated

Adaptation

The series got the dorama adaptation, which was aired on MBS and TBS across Japan, with Disney+ streamed the series globally.^[24]

Notes

1. The series was originally packaged as twenty 60-minute episodes. In In order to circumvent Korean laws that prevent commercial breaks in the middle of an episode, what would previously have been aired as single 60 minute episodes are now being repackaged as two 30 minute episodes, with two episodes being shown each night with a commercial break between the two.^[2] This, following a fall in ratings and eventual 2-episode cut in the preceding drama serial Saimdang, Memoir of Colors.^[3]

References

1. "Love in Trouble". SBS International. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
2. Park, Jin-hai (2017-05-16). "Drama viewers angry over commercial breaks". The Korean Times. Archived from the original on 2020-08-19. Retrieved 2017-05-27 – via PressReader.
3. "'Saimdang' to end series earlier than planned". Korea JoongAng Daily. 14 April 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-04-14. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
4. 지창욱, 남지현에 프러포즈 "널 평생 사랑할게" 《Suspicious Partner》 수상한 파트너 EP40. YouTube. SBS Drama. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
5. "[단독] 이성경, '이 여자를 조심하세요' 여주인공". 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
6. 윤고은 (2017-03-30). "지창욱·남지현 주연 SBS '수상한 파트너' 5월 방송". 연합뉴스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
7. "'수상한 파트너', 6월 1주차 드라마 부문 TV화제성 1위 기록…'2위는 군주'". Topstar News. 2017-06-16.
8. "The Irony of Suspicious Partner". Newsen. 30 June 2017. 그러나 전체 시청률을 제외한 TV 화제성, 브랜드 평판, 2049 시청률 등에서는 '수트너'가 압도적으로 1위다. 전체 가구 시청률에서 20세에서 49세까지의 시청률을 별도로 산정한 '2049 시청률'은 '수트너'가 6연속 1위를 차지했고, TV 화제성에서는 3주 연속 1위를 유지했다. '수트너'의 주인공인 지창욱은 5주 연속 TV 드라마 출연자 화제성 1위에 이름을 올렸다.
9. ""청량美 뿜뿜"..'수상한 파트너' 지창욱X남지현 '심쿵 케미': 스포츠조선". sports.chosun.com. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
10. "지창욱, SBS 새 수목 '이 여자를 조심하세요' 출연 확정 (공식입장)". Xports News. 16 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
11. "[단독]최태준, '절친' 지창욱과 SBS 드라마 주연 "브로맨스"". JoongAng Ilbo. 22 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
12. '수상한파트너' 지창욱·남지현·최태준·나라 확정, 4일 대본리딩[종합] (in Korean). 30 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
13. '수상한 파트너' 측 "황찬성, 남지현 구남친으로 특별 출연" (공식입장) (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
14. "[단독] JYP 김예원, '수상한파트너' 합류..남지현과 호흡" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-04-12.
15. "동하, '수상한 파트너' 현수 役 캐스팅…제2의 '동하 신드롬' 기대 – 뉴스 – enews24". enews24.tving.com/ (in Korean). 2017-04-06. Archived from the original on 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
16. [단독]헬비 나라, 데뷔 후 첫 드라마 주연 "지창욱 전 애인役" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-03-30.
17. "<수상한 파트너> 지창욱-남지현, 대본리딩 공개! '봄햇살 같은 미모' | MBC 연예 스포츠". MBC 연예 (in Korean). 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
18. "Ji Chang-wook confirms role in 'Be Careful of This Woman'". Retrieved 2017-03-17.
19. Cumulative sales for "How About You":
    • "2017 Gaon Download Chart – Week 22". Archived from the original on 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
    • "2017 Gaon Download Chart – Week 23". Archived from the original on 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
20. "2017 Gaon Download Chart – Week 23". Archived from the original on 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
21. "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
22. "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
23. Ji Min-kyung (December 31, 2017). "[2017 SBS 연기대상 종합] '피고인' 지성, 이변 없는 대상..."사랑하는 아내 감사"". OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
24. "Ji Chang-wook & Nam Ji-hyun's 'Suspicious Partner' Set for Japanese Remake". SBS Star. March 24, 2025. Retrieved May 9, 2025.

External links

• Official website (in Korean)
• Suspicious Partner at IMDb
• Suspicious Partner at HanCinema