What happens when the most feared No. 2 man in a legendary gang ends up behind a convenience store counter, fighting off drowsiness while smiling through difficult customers? That is the glorious premise at the heart of MBC’s upcoming action-comedy Fifties Professionals — and the newly released character stills of Heo Sung Tae suggest this drama is going to deliver something genuinely special.
Table of Contents
Fifties Professionals Drama Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Drama | Fifties Professionals |
| Network | MBC |
| Genre | Action Comedy |
| Premiere Date | May 22, 2026 at 9:50 p.m. KST |
| Broadcast Slot | Friday–Saturday |
| Setting | Remote island of Yeongseon |
Fifties Professionals: Cast & characters
| Actor | Character | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Heo Sung Tae | Kang Beom Ryong | Former No. 2 of the Hwasan Gang, now a convenience store owner |
| Shin Ha Kyun | Ho Myung | One of the three middle-aged men brought back into action |
| Kim Byung Ok | Hwang Hwa San | Former gang boss, wrongfully imprisoned |
What is Fifties Professionals about?
At its core, Fifties Professionals is a love letter to the idea that it is never too late for a second act — or a dangerous third one. The drama follows three seemingly ordinary middle-aged men who were once at the very top of their respective fields. After a mysterious incident a decade ago, all three ended up exiled to the remote island of Yeongseon, where they have been living quiet, unremarkable lives ever since.
But destiny — and a stubborn 10-year-old mystery — has other plans. The drama follows their bittersweet, often hilarious quest to uncover the truth about the fateful day that derailed everything, in the spirit of the classic action comedy genre at its most entertaining.
Heo Sung Tae’s character: the funniest contrast in K-drama this year?
The real hook right now is Heo Sung Tae’s character Kang Beom Ryong. In his prime, he was the No. 2 figure in the fearsome Hwasan Gang — rough, intimidating, with a reputation as the last true wild man. The kind of person who walked into a room and made everyone quietly reconsider their life choices.
Today? He runs a convenience store that barely breaks even. The new character stills capture this contrast brilliantly — the same imposing face, the same physicality, now dressed in a convenience store uniform and pushing through dizzy spells just to keep his obligatory smile going for customers. The bittersweet humour is built right into his daily existence.
His mission is still very much alive, though. With his former boss Hwang Hwa San wrongfully imprisoned, Kang Beom Ryong is quietly searching for a mysterious “item” that could restore the Hwasan Gang’s lost glory and clear his boss’s name. Every inconvenient customer interaction is just cover for a man with much bigger unfinished business.
Why this is worth your time in May?
Fifties Professionals occupies a sweet spot that Korean drama does particularly well — blending genuine action credibility with warm, self-aware comedy. Heo Sung Tae built his reputation playing menacing characters (most memorably in Squid Game), so watching him lean into comedic vulnerability while maintaining that underlying danger is going to be a genuine delight. Shin Ha Kyun is one of Korea’s most dependable leading men, and Kim Byung Ok is always commanding on screen. Together, the three make a trio that feels both unlikely and perfectly assembled.
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FAQs
Q: When does Fifties Professionals premiere on MBC?
A: Fifties Professionals premieres on May 22, 2026 at 9:50 p.m. KST on MBC, airing on Friday and Saturday slots.
Q: Who does Heo Sung Tae play in Fifties Professionals?
A: Heo Sung Tae plays Kang Beom Ryong, a once-legendary gangster who served as the No. 2 figure in the Hwasan Gang and now runs a barely profitable convenience store on Yeongseon Island, while secretly searching for a mysterious item to restore his imprisoned boss’s name.
