An Bo-hyun Returns for Chaebol X Detective 2, Facing the Shadow of a 23% Ratings Giant

An Bo-hyun walked into the press conference for Chaebol X Detective 2 on August 4 carrying a specific kind of pressure: the show he is following scored a 23% peak rating, the highest of any Korean drama in the first half of 2026. "I knew Kim Bu-jang would do well," he told the audience at SBS's Mok-dong headquarters in Seoul, "but I never imagined numbers like that. There is some pressure."

He was quick to reframe it, though. "Our rival is not another show. It is Season 1."

Chaebol X Detective follows Jin Yi-su, a third-generation chaebol heir who ends up working as a detective, solving crimes through sheer wealth and connections rather than conventional police work. Season 1, which aired in 2024, peaked at 11% and built enough of an audience to warrant a return two years later. Season 2 premieres on August 7 and pairs Jin Yi-su with a new partner: Joo Hye-ra, a former police academy instructor now serving as detective team leader, played by Jung Eun-chae, the sole major addition to an otherwise intact cast.

Jung Eun-chae said she came into the production as a fan of the first season. "I was curious how Season 2 would expand on it," she said. "Being the only new face did make me a little nervous, but the cast and crew welcomed me with open arms and gave me the space to act freely."

Director Kim Jae-hong, who helmed both seasons, was candid about the weight of following Kim Bu-jang. "It would be a lie to say there is no pressure. I am carrying a hundred times the pressure," he said. He then set his own terms for success: "I think of drama as an absolute standard, not a relative one. Our goal is to make Season 2 better than Season 1. We have nearly finished post-production, and I believe we have achieved that."

The production is leaning into scale to make the case. An Bo-hyun described action sequences involving car chases, helicopters, and private jets. "There are scenes you rarely see in a drama," he said. "It will feel like watching a film."

Kim framed Jin Yi-su's particular brand of justice as the show's key differentiator: a chaebol who uses money as his primary weapon against wrongdoers, with cases designed from start to finish at what he called a "high-end" level of polish. "It will be a more refined series than anything else out there," he said.

Yoo Seung-ho joins in a special appearance as Yoo Seong-won, a chaebol and sculptor who serves as a villain. Kim said he originally planned to hold the character back for the latter half of the season, but changed his mind during filming. "This is not a face you can hide," he said. "He ended up appearing from the beginning."

Returning cast members include Kang Sang-joon, Kim Shin-bi, and Jung Ga-hee, with roughly 90% of the Season 1 crew back as well. An Bo-hyun noted that continuity on set. "It felt like coming back to school after winter break," he said. "Exciting in a way you did not expect."

He also said he shot the season with the intention of giving it a proper conclusion, but hopes it has the opposite effect on viewers. "I want people to finish Season 2 and want a Season 3," he said. "And I hope the show lets them forget, for a little while, how difficult things can be out in the world."

Jung Eun-chae compared the experience of watching it to a roller coaster: something to give yourself over to, with a payoff at the end. Chaebol X Detective 2 airs Fridays and Saturdays on SBS.