Lee Jun-ho Turns Superhero in ‘Cashero’

Lee Jun-ho of 2PM has built a remarkable career by constantly pushing the boundaries of the roles he takes on. Even within the archetype of the hero, he has portrayed a diverse array of characters, each one reflecting his knack for experimentation and his impressive range as an actor.

From his breakout role in Twenty (2015) to his memorable performances in Good Manager (2017), Rain or Shine (2017–2018), King the Land (2023), and the award-winning The Red Sleeve (2021), where he earned the prestigious Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actor, Lee has consistently avoided being typecast, maintaining his artistic freedom. It’s this commitment to variety that makes his filmography so captivating and dynamic

Now, Lee returns to the K-drama scene with a fresh and intriguing role in Cashero, a series that explores a fascinating intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary. In this show, Lee Jun-ho plays Kang Sang-woo, a seemingly regular public servant—but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Sang-woo possesses a supernatural ability: his strength is directly linked to the amount of cash he has. The more money he holds, the stronger he becomes; once his cash runs out, so does his power.

Sang-woo’s girlfriend, Kim Min-sook (Kim Hye-jun), is similarly gifted; she’s excellent with numbers, as are Byeon Ho-in (Kim Byung-chul) and Bang Eun-mi (Kim Hyang-gi). Ho-in, a lawyer by profession, gets powerful from consuming alcohol, while Eun-mi’s telekinetic skills are gained from eating bread. In the turn of events, these characters join forces to save others while striving to save themselves from evil forces.

Lee Jun-ho’s skill in portraying characters with both strength and vulnerability makes him the perfect fit to bring Sang-woo’s complex duality to life. His journey in Cashero will likely delve into the moral and psychological consequences of wielding such powers within the constraints of society and its established systems.

As the team faces off against corruption and fights for social justice, Cashero promises to offer more than just another superhero K-drama. It introduces a poignant social commentary, highlighting the limitations and responsibilities of individuals and groups in addressing larger societal issues.

Directed by Lee Chang-min, Cashero is a live-action adaptation of the popular webtoon of the same name. The series is set to premiere in the fourth quarter of this year on Netflix.