Ji Chang-wook & Nam Ji-hyun's 'Suspicious Partner' Set for Japanese Remake

The popular SBS drama 'Suspicious Partner,' starring Ji Chang-wook and Nam Ji-hyun, is set to be remade in Japan.

The Japanese version of 'Suspicious Partner' will premiere on April 29th (Tuesday) on Japan's terrestrial channels MBS and TBS. It will also be available for streaming across Asia, including Korea and Japan, on the global OTT platform Disney+.

Originally aired in 2017 on SBS, 'Suspicious Partner' is a romantic comedy that follows the story of an unbeatable genius prosecutor, Noh Ji-wook (played by Ji Chang-wook), and an endlessly optimistic outsider lawyer, Eun Bong-hee (played by Nam Ji-hyun), as they solve a mysterious case together and fall in love. The show was a hit, thanks to the incredible chemistry between Ji Chang-wook and Nam Ji-hyun, its heart-fluttering romance, and thrilling suspense. It was so popular that it even coined the term "Suitner Addicts" among fans.

'Suspicious Partner' also gained a strong following in Japan, especially among Korean drama enthusiasts. It won several awards, including the 'Excellence Award for Acting' at the 2017 SBS Drama Awards and the 'Best Kiss Award' at the 2018 Soompi Awards, proving both its quality and popularity. There is much anticipation about how the remake will bring a fresh take to the story in Japan.

The leads for the Japanese remake, titled 'あやしいパパトナナ,' are Yusei Yagi from the popular dance and vocal group FANTASTICS and Kyoko Saito, a former member of the female idol group Hinatazaka46. The remake will be directed by Yuka Yasukawa, with a script by Yosuke Masaike. C&I Entertainment, known for the Netflix original 'First Love Hatsukoi,' will handle production.

Studio S is continuing to strengthen its production and business collaboration with Japan, following last year's push for a Japanese remake of the drama 'Hot Stove League,' by now introducing the remake of 'Suspicious Partner.'

Reporter Kang Sun-ae sakang@sbs.co.kr 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)