Meet the Crew Stealing the Show in ‘Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area’

The Korean version of the popular Spanish crime series La Casa de Papel, Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area brings the high stakes right into the heart of South Korea. The story follows an unprecedented heist in the chaotic dystopian peninsula of North and South Korea as they go on the verge of peaceful yet sudden unification. Meet the crew and cast who will not only execute, but fuel the ultimate heist to come.

Yoo Ji-tae as the Professor

Where you’ve seen him: Old Boy (2003), Mad Dog (2017), Healer (2014), The Swindlers (2017)
Who he is in the show: Yoo Ji-tae is the Professor, a.k.a. the mastermind behind the heist. The Professor plays a vital role in this series from the beginning, since he is responsible for organizing details and recruiting the thieves from North and South Korea. “To me, the Professor is a genius strategist who plans the heist through his principles and visions,” Yoo Ji-tae said about his character.

Park Hae-soo as Berlin

Where you’ve seen him: The global sensation Squid Game (2020), Prison Playbook (2017), Time to Hunt (2020)
Who he is in the show: Park Hae-soo portrays Berlin, a cold yet brutal member of the crew. As a North Korean who spent 25 years in a concentration camp, Berlin fulfills the role of a field leader among the thieves during the heist. The rebellious Berlin believes that total control over people can only be derived from fear and division, so he is expected to heighten the tension among the crew as the plot plays out.

Jun Jong-seo as Tokyo

Where you’ve seen her: The Call (2020), Burning (2018), Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon (2021)
Who she is in the show: Jun Jong-seo plays Tokyo, a North Korean who immigrated to South Korea with a “Korean Dream” when the borders opened. Unlike how she imagined, her life in the South is not so dreamy, but instead comes with sheer brutality. Just as she finds no hope in life, the Professor persuades her to join his master plan. After accepting his offer, Tokyo becomes one of the characters who truly has faith in the Professor. Jun Jong-seo observed that Tokyo as “a character whose every decision changes the entire flow of the game.”

Lee Won-jong as Moscow

Where you’ve seen him: Vampire Prosecutor (2011), Ms. Hammurabi (2018)
Who he is in the show: Lee Won-jong plays Moscow, who only dreams of living a normal life with his son. In the crew, with his background as a South Korean miner, Moscow will be responsible for digging the heist’s grand exit.

Kim Ji-hun as Denver

Where you’ve seen him: Flower of Evil (2020), Flower Boy Next Door (2013)
Who he is in the show: Kim Ji-hun plays Moscow’s troublesome son Denver. A former backstreet gang, he is expected to show his own emotional, sexy, yet friendly characteristics. The actor was also recently appointed to star as the main character in Netflix film Ballerina.

Jang Yoon-ju as Nairobi

Where you’ve seen her: Korea’s Next Top Model (2010–2014), Veteran (2015), Three Sisters (2021)
Who she is in the show:
Jang Yoon-ju plays Nairobi, a South Korean swindler who is an expert at making counterfeits. As previously seen in her past performances, including the film Veteran, Jang Yoon-ju will add energy to the screen.

Lee Hyun-woo as Rio

Where you’ve seen him: The Liar and His Lover (2017), To the Beautiful You (2012)
Who he is in the show: Lee Hyun-woo brings Rio to life – a former medical school dropout who is now the genius hacker of the crew. It would be interesting to see how Lee Hyun-woo, who has shown a broad appeal from various genres in films and K-dramas, will tackle this role.

Kim Ji-hoon as Helsinki and Lee Kyu-ho as Oslo

Where you’ve seen them: Kim Ji-hoon was in Stranger (2017) and The Good Detective (2020), while Lee Kyu-ho starred in Dr. Romantic (2016 and 2020).
Who they are in the show: Kim Ji-hoon portrays Helsinki (aka Ko Myung-tae), and Lee Kyu-ho plays Oslo. As ethnic Koreans and former members of a Chinese gang, the duo will be in charge of the team’s arsenal.