Squad 38 () is a South Korean television series starring Ma Dong-seok, Seo In-guk and Choi Soo-young. It aired on cable network OCN on Fridays and Saturdays at 23:00 (KST) for 16 episodes from June 17, 2016 to August 6, 2016.
Synopsis
The story is about civil servant Baek Sung-il and his team who collect taxes from habitual tax evaders as well as delinquent taxpayers in cooperation with the fraudster Yang Jeong-do.
Origin of title
Squad 38 is motivated and received advice from "38 Tax Collection Division" (aka 38기ëÂÂëÂÂ: Task force 38) in Seoul Metropolitan Government.
The number 38 is derived from Article 38 of Constitution of South Korea, which stipulates the duty to pay taxes: <blockquote>모ë êµÂ민ì ë²Â률ì´ ì ÂÃÂÂë ë°Âì ìÂÂÃÂÂì¬ ë©ì¸ì ìÂÂ무를 ì§Âë¤.<br/>All citizens shall have the duty to pay taxes under the conditions as prescribed by Act.</blockquote>
The Korean title "ì¬기ëÂÂë (sagidongdae)" is the combination of the words ì¬기 (sagi: fraud) and 기ëÂÂë (gidongdae: task force). In the logo of this series, letter of ì¬기 is written in blue and underlined to emphasize.
The motto of the drama, "ëÂÂê¹Â짠ì¬기ì³Âì ë°ÂëÂÂì ì§ÂìÂÂÃÂÂë¤" (Swindle to the end, must be collected.) is parody of, the motto of 38 Tax Collection Division, "ëÂÂê¹Â짠ì¶Âì ÂÃÂÂì¬ ë°ÂëÂÂì ì§ÂìÂÂÃÂÂë¤" (Trace to the end, must be collected.)
Cast
Main cast
- Ma Dong-seok as Baek Sung-il/Park Woong-cheol â manager of Tax Collection Bureau's section 3
- Seo In-guk as Yang Jeong-do â professional swindler
- Choi Soo-young as Cheon Sung-hee â Tax Collection Bureau's officer
Supporting cast
38 Revenue Collection Unit
- Song Ok-sook as Noh Bang-shil â nickname "Wallet"
- as Jang Hak-joo â nickname "Cannon"
- Ko Kyu-pil as Jung Ja-wang â nickname "Keyboard"
- Lee Sun-bin as Jo Mi-joo â nickname "Kkotbaem" = flower-snake (literally) = seductive girl (meaning)
- Kim Joo-ri as Choi Ji-yeon
Seowon Town Hall
- Ahn Nae-sang as Cheon Gap-soo â mayor of Seowon
- Jo Woo-jin as Ahn Tae-wook â director of Tax Collection Bureau
- as Kang Noh-seung â manager of Tax Collection Bureau's section 1
- as Ahn Chang-ho â young employee of Tax Collection Bureau
- Kim Joo-hun as Investigator Park â investigator of Tax Collection Bureau's section 3
- Jung Do-won as Investigator Kim â investigator of Tax Collection Bureau's section 3
Extended cast
Others
- Song Young-gyu as Taxation officer
- Oh Yoo-jin as Baek Ah-jeong â Baek Sung-il's daughter
- Jo Seon-joo as Baek Sung-il's wife
- as Kim Gyu-sik
- Lee Seung-hyung as Cheon Gap-soo's secretary
- as Section chief Shim Yong-jae
- as Bang Ho-seok
- Ji Sung-geun
- Kim Eung-soo as Jo Sang-jin
- as Yang Jae-taek
- as Noh Deok-gi
- Jo Yeon-hee as Baek Sung-il's wife
- Kang Min-tae as Jang Hak-joo band's member
- Geum Gwang-san as Jang Hak-joo band's member
- Lee Seon-goo
- Kwon Ban-seok
- Lee Gyu-tae
- Hwang Tae-ho
- Gong Min-gyu
- Kim Ji-sung as Bang Mi-na
- as Police chief Jin Seon-hwan
- Lee Cho-ah
- Kim Bo-bae
- Park Byung-wook
- Kim Ki-nam
- Baek Seung-cheol
- Lee Dong-jin
- Jung Ae-hwa
- Seo Min-kyung
- Ha Soo-yeon
- Kim Hae-gon
- Yoon Man-dal as Park Sang-ho
- Hong Dae-sung
- Moon Hak-jin
- Kim Jong-doo
- Kim Sung-il
- Jo Gi-tae
- Park Do-joon
- Jung Jae-sung
- Lee Shi-yoo as Choi Mi-sook
Cameo appearances
Production
The series' main cast lineup was unveiled on March 3, 2016.
The first script reading was held on March 19, 2016 at the CJ E&M Centre in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.
Ratings
Original soundtracks
OST Part 1
OST Part 2
International broadcast
The broadcasting rights to the series were sold to 11 countries, China, Cambodia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
Awards and nominations
References
External links