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Voice (TV series)
View on Wikipedia| Voice | |
|---|---|
Main poster for season 4 | |
| Hangul | 보이스 |
| RR | Boiseu |
| MR | Poisŭ |
| Genre | |
| Created by | OCN |
| Written by | Ma Jin-won |
| Directed by |
|
| Creative directors |
|
| Starring | |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 58 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Kim Ryun-hee |
| Cinematography |
|
| Editor | Oh Sang-hwan |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | OCN |
| Release | January 14, 2017 – June 30, 2019 |
| Network | tvN |
| Release | June 18 – July 31, 2021 |
Voice (Korean: 보이스) is a South Korean crime-thriller television series starring Lee Ha-na, Jang Hyuk (Season 1), Lee Jin-wook (Season 2 & 3), and Song Seung-heon (Season 4) which follows the lives of 112 emergency call center and dispatch team members as they fight against crimes using the sounds that they hear. It premiered on OCN on January 14, 2017. The first season concluded on March 12.[1] The second season aired from August 11 to September 16, 2018.[2][3] The third season aired from May 11 to June 30, 2019.[4][5] The fourth season was premiered on June 18, 2021, and it aired on every Friday and Saturday at 22:50 KST on tvN till July 31, 2021.[6]
Series overview
[edit]| Season | Episodes | Originally released | Airtime | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | ||||
| 1 | 16 | January 14, 2017 | February 12, 2017 | OCN | Saturday and Sunday at 22:00 (KST) | |
| 2 | 12 | August 11, 2018 | September 16, 2018 | Saturday and Sunday at 22:20 (KST) | ||
| 3 | 16 | May 11, 2019 | June 30, 2019 | Saturday and Sunday at 22:20 (KST) | ||
| 4 | 14[7] | June 18, 2021[6] | July 31, 2021 | tvN | Friday and Saturday at 22:50 (KST) | |
Synopsis
[edit]Season 1
[edit]Moo Jin-hyuk (Jang Hyuk) is a "mad dog" detective who becomes guilt-ridden after his wife was murdered while he was at work. Kang Kwon-joo (Lee Ha-na) is a tough policewoman who is gifted with perfect psycho-acoustics skills and went for voice profiling. She was working at the call center when a brutal murder case took place and in the process of investigating, her father, a veteran patrol police, was killed. Three years later, Jin-hyuk and Kwon-joo team up as the "Golden Time team" and solve cases together, chasing after the psychopathic serial killer who took their loved ones. It is revealed that Kwon-joo father was killed because he witnessed the murder of Jin-hyuk's wife and died after trying to stop the killer.
Season 2
[edit]The Golden Time team solves urgent real-time incidents from phone calls received through the emergency service line. They race through the precarious time left for crime victims, who are held captive or being chased by their assailants and save them from the imminent danger. One day, a mysterious serial killer named Dr Fabre appears, A voice profiler police and center director of 112 call center, Kang Kwon-joo teams up with Dispatch Team Leader and stubborn Detective Do Kang-woo (Lee Jin-wook) to solve that crime. They try to arrest Dr Fabre while solving other diverse cases, including voice phising, date harassment, and illegal car racing.
Season 3
[edit]The Golden Time team solves urgent real-time incidents from phone calls received through the emergency service line. They race through the precarious time left for crime victims, who are held captive or being chased by their assailants, and save them from the imminent danger. One day, the team members face an international evil cartel that is behind a string of cyber crimes. In order to fight against the cartel and save lives within the golden time, a talented voice profiler police Kang Kwon-joo executes instructions to the detective field units, Do Kang-woo and his team.
Season 4
[edit]A serial killer with an enhanced hearing ability appears. The serial killer murders people using his enhanced ability. Because of this, Kang Kwon-joo, who also has an enhanced hearing ability, is driven into a corner. Kang Kwon-joo cooperates with Detective Derek Jo (Song Seung-heon) to catch the serial killer. Derek Jo is a person of principle, who doesn't allow mistakes. He is a team leader from the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department). His LAPD team dealt with criminal gangs.
Cast
[edit]Main
[edit]- Lee Ha-na as Kang Kwon-joo
- Choi Myung-bin as young Kang Kwon-joo[8]
- Jang Hyuk as Moo Jin-hyuk (season 1)
- Lee Jin-wook as Do Kang-woo (seasons 2–3)[9]
- Bae Kang-yoo as young Do Kang-woo/Kosuke Matsuda (season 3)
- Song Seung-heon as Derek Jo (season 4)
- Jung Hyeon-jun as young Derek Jo[10]
Supporting
[edit]Season 1
[edit]112 Report Center's Golden Time Team
- Baek Sung-hyun as Shim Dae-shik, junior detective and Jin-hyuk's close friend
- Yesung as Oh Hyun-ho, IT specialist
- Son Eun-seo as Park Eun-soo, language specialist
- Kwon Hyung-joong as Chun Sang-pil
The Police
- Lee Hae-young as Jang Kyung-hak, violent crime unit chief
- Jo Young-jin as Bae Byung-gon, police commissioner
- Kim Joong-ki as Park Joong-ki, violent crime unit detective
- Song Boo-gun as Goo Gwang-soo, violent crime unit detective
- Baek Cheon-ki as Kim Pyeong-jo, violent crime unit detective
Cases characters
Eunhyung-dong Policeman's Wife Murder Case (Ep. 1)
- Oh Yeon-ah as Heo Ji-hye, Jin-hyuk's wife
- Son Jong-hak as Kang Kook-hwan, Kwon-joo's father (special appearance)
- Hwang Sang-kyung as Go Dong-chul, murder suspect
- Kim Jae-wook as Mo Tae-goo, CEO of Sungwun Express
- Song Sung-han as young Mo Tae-goo
Eunhyung-dong Kidnapping Case (Ep. 1–2)
- Kim Tae-han as Jo Gwang-cheon, kidnapper
- Jeon Soo-jin as Park Bok-nim, kidnapped school girl
Burim-dong Child Abuse and Murder Case (Ep. 2–3)
- Bae Jung-hwa as Oh Soo-jin, abusive mother
- Choi Seung-hoon as Son Ah-ram, abused child
- Kwon Byung-gil as Baek Sung-hak, security guard
Hongchang-dong Kidnapping Case (Ep. 4–6)
- Lee Joo-seung as Hwang Kyung-il, bespectacled teacher
- Jung Joon-won as young Hwang Kyung-il
- Han Bo-bae as Park Eun-byul, Eun-soo's younger sister
- Kim Ji-hoon as Woo Bong-gil, accomplice
Surim-dong Chunsoo Townhouse Murder Case (Ep. 6–8)
- Lee Yong-nyeo as Park Bok-soon / Shim Chun-ok, elderly landlord
- Yoon Kyung-ho as Yoon Pil-bae, tenant
- Park Eun-young as Bang Mal-nyun, woman who called police
- Shin Seung-hwan as Shim Young-woon, Chun-ok's brother
Gwangchang-dong Club Fever Hostage Case (Ep. 9-10)
- Kim Ho-young as Yang Ho-shik, electrician and genius hacker
Bangha-dong Nakwon Welfare Center Case (Ep. 11–12)
- Hong Sung-duk as Baek Jin-goo, mental patient
- Yeo Moo-young as Byun Sang-an / Kang Hyun-pal, welfare center director
- Jo Wan-gi as Kim Gyu-hwan, welfare center therapist
- Lee Na-yoon as Sae-bom, little girl
Woogyeong-ri Bus accident Case (Ep. 14–15)
- Park Noh-sik as Park Jong-woo, Sungwun Express bus driver
- Oh Cho-hee as Na Jung-eun, pregnant bus passenger
- Min Jung-sub as Jung Chul-ho, Na Jung-eun's husband
- Kim Hyun as Im Mi-ho
- Kim Jun-hyuk as Im Mi-ho's son
Others
- Lee Si-woo as Moo Dong-woo, Jin-hyuk's son
- Lee Joo-sil as Eun-soo's grandmother
- Kim Myeong-kuk as Cha Myung-chul
- Choi Ki-sub as Tabloid, Jin-hyuk's informant
- Kim Roi-ha as Nam Sang-tae, CEO of GP development
- Yoon Ji-min as Jang Gyu-ah, Fantasia's lady boss
- Lee Do-kyung as Mo Gi-beom, Chairman of Sungwun Express, Mo Tae-gu's father
- Jang Won-young as Kwon Chang-tae, Director of land planning department
- Kang Moon-kyung as Kim Joon-tae, Minister of land planning
- Kim Yong-woon as Ji Choon-bae, Nam Sang-tae's right-hand man
- Hong Seung-jin as killer from Southeast Asia
- Song Young-kyu as Park Eun-cheol, prosecutor working for Sungwun Group
- Lee Jae-won as Mo Tae-gu's assistant and driver
- Kim Ik-tae as retired forensic doctor
- Lee Ji-hye as 112 report center's Golden Time team member
- Kook Ki-hoon as 112 report center's Golden Time team member
Season 2
[edit]- Kwon Yul as Bang Je-soo[11]
- Son Eun-seo as Park Eun-soo, Golden Time team member[12]
- Oh Yoon-hong as Joo Hye-jung
- Ahn Se-ha as Kwak Dok-ki, Do Kang-woo's friend
- Kim Woo-suk as Jin Seo-yool, Golden Time team member
- Yoo Seung-mok as Na Hong-soo, Violent crime unit team leader
- Kim Ki-nam as Yang Choon-byung, Violent crime unit team member
- Kim Joong-ki as Park Joong-ki, Golden Time dispatch team member
- Song Boo-gun as Goo Gwang-soo, Golden Time dispatch team member
- So Hee-jung as Moo Mi-sook
- Cha Min-ji as Go Ye-ji
- Hong Kyung-in as Na Hyung-joon, Do Kang-woo's partner
- Park Tae-sung[13]
- Joo Min-ha as An Hee-jin[14]
Season 3
[edit]- Park Byung-eun as Kaneki Masayuki / Woo Jong-woo
- Kwon Yul as Bang Je-soo
- Son Eun-seo as Park Eun-soo, Golden Time Team - Call Team Command Team Leader [15]
- Kim Woo-suk as Jin Seo-yul, Golden Time Team member[15]
- Kim Joong-ki as Park Joong-ki, Golden Time Team member[15]
- Song Boo-gun as Goo Kwang-soo, Golden Time Team member[15]
- Kim Ki-nam as Yang Choon-byung, Golden Time Team member[15]
- Yoo Seung-mok as Na Hong-soo, Violent Crimes Unit Chief
- Han Gab-soo as Yoo Jae-cheon, Poongsan Police Commissioner[4]
Others
- Yang Ye-seung as Kaneki Yukiko
- Jung Ki-seop as Suzuki
- Jung Yi-seo as Kwon Se-young
- Im Byung-gi as Yukiko's father
- Hong Seung-hee as Mi-hye
- Park Dong-ha as Detective Ryoji
- Kim Dae-gon as Seung
- Jung Tae-ya as Jo Young-chun
- Ham Sung-min as Pyo Hyun-soo
- Kim Ji-sung as Yeom Mi-jung
- Carson Allen as Tina
- Yannie Kim as Pertiwi
- Park Myung-shin as Cheon Yoon-mi
- Kim Jin-yeop as Han Cho-rong
- Choi Seung-yoon as Oh Jin-sik (Ep. 7–8)
Season 4
[edit]- Lee Yi-dam as Jo Seung-ah, younger sister of Derek Jo[16]
- Lee Kyu-hyung as Dong Bang-min [17][18]
- Kang Seung-yoon as Han Woo-ju[19]
- Son Eun-seo as Park Eun-soo[20]
- Gil Hae-yeon as Gam Jong-suk[21]
- Baek Sung-hyun as Shim Dae-sik[22]
- Other
- Han Jong-hoon as Chad Lee[23]
- Chae Won-bin as Gong Soo-ji[24]
- Jo Hyun-woo as Choi Gong-pil[25]
- Choi Ji-yeon as Gam-soon[26]
- Son Kyung-won as Gong Chan-seok[27]
- Kim Young-hoon as Jang Hyo-jun [28]
- Kim Si-eun as Kwon Saet-byeol [29]
- Shin Soo-hyun as Min Hye-rin [29]
- Cha Se-young as Chae-yoon [29]
- Cho Jae-ryong as Kang Man-ho [29]
- Jang Hang-seon as Dong Bang Heon-yeop [30]
Special appearances
[edit]
Season 1[edit]
|
Season 2[edit]
|
Season 3[edit]
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Season 4[edit]
|
Production
[edit]Development and casting
[edit]On November 2, 2017, a source from OCN confirmed production for the second season of Voice. On April 17, 2018, it was confirmed that Lee Ha-na would be reprising her lead female role and Lee Jin-wook would be joining season 2 as the new male lead.[32][unreliable source?] OCN announced a third season to be broadcast in the first half of 2019, with Lee Ha-na and Lee Jin-wook confirmed to reprise their roles.[33] The first script reading took place on May 23, 2018, at Studio Dragon in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.[34][unreliable source?] During the press conference of the second season, director Lee Seung-young shared that the season would have 12 episodes as the writer wrote season 2 with season 3 in mind.[35]
In September 2018, OCN officially confirmed a third season scheduled to be broadcast in the first half of 2019.[36] It was later announced that both Lee Ha-na and Lee Jin-wook had confirmed to reprise their roles.[33] The first script reading took place in February 2019 at Studio Dragon in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.[15]
Music
[edit]Part 1
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Word Up" | Kim Young-geun | 03:13 |
| 2. | "Word Up" (Inst.) | 03:13 |
Part 2
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Voice (목소리)" | Kim Yoon-ah | 03:45 |
| 2. | "Voice" (Inst.) | 03:45 |
Part 3
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Ears Are Open (내 귀는 열려)" | Changmo | 04:18 |
| 2. | "My Ears Are Open" (Inst.) | 04:18 |
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "목소리" (Voice) | Kim Yeon-ji | |
| 2. | "I Got Your Back" | Black Nine | |
| 3. | "I Hear You" | Yeseo | |
| 4. | "Perfect Asymmetry" | Desolate Circle | |
| 5. | "Let Me Hear Your Voice" | myunDo | |
| 6. | "Stay There" | Dmeanor | |
| 7. | "I Can Hear You (Voice Main Title Metal ver.)" | 개미 | |
| 8. | "Shork" | 이성구 | |
| 9. | "Run Over" | 박정환 [창작] | |
| 10. | "Devils" | 박윤서 | |
| 11. | "Here I Am" | 박미선 | |
| 12. | "Go to Hell" | 이건영 | |
| 13. | "Mask Man" | 개미 | |
| 14. | "I Can Hear You (Light ver.)" | 개미 | |
| 15. | "Sentimental" | 이규옥 | |
| 16. | "Run Over 2" | 박정환 [창작] |
Season 4
[edit]| Voice 4 | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
| Released | 2021 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Language | |
| Label |
|
Part 1
[edit]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Coming to You" | RGBY | RGBY | GRASS | 3:12 |
| 2. | "Coming to You" (Inst.) | 3:12 |
Part 2
[edit]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Your Voice" | Bang Bang-seon, Eo Ji-hye | ELDORADO | Kang Seung-yoon | 3:45 |
| 2. | "Your Voice" (Inst.) | 3:45 |
Part 3
[edit]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Way to Go" | Nuvocity | Nuvocity | KLANG | 3:26 |
| 2. | "No Way to Go" (Inst.) | 3:26 |
Part 4
[edit]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hear for You" | Hong Ji-hyun | Hong Ji-hyun | Elaine | 4:00 |
| 2. | "Hear for You" (Inst.) | 4:00 |
Part 5
[edit]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Promise You" | Hana Choi (CLEF), CLEF CREW | Seong-hee Kim (CLEF), Park Soo-yeon (CLEF), CLEF CREW | Kim Jae-hwan | 3:12 |
| 2. | "Promise You" (Inst.) | 3:12 |
Reception
[edit]OCN announced that the VOD rights for "Voice" were sold to 56 countries including the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more.[42][unreliable source?][43][unreliable source?]
Controversy
[edit]Halfway airing through the series, the drama was submitted for Korea's censorship board review due to viewers' complaints of it showing excessive violence.[44][unreliable source?][45] It was subsequently issued an advisory warning.[46][unreliable source?] OCN then changed its viewing rating from the original of 15+ to 19+ for episodes 11, 12 and 16 in order to make the story as realistic as possible.[47][unreliable source?][48]
Viewership
[edit]Ratings for the first season set new records for OCN dramas when it aired in South Korea, proving to be a hit among viewers. It is one of the highest rated dramas in Korean cable television history and ranked first among cable TV dramas for many consecutive weeks.[49][unreliable source?][50][51]
Upon its premiere, the second season set the record for the highest premiere rating of an OCN television series.[52][unreliable source?] Despite its shorter run, the second season surpassed the first season's ratings and eventually became the highest-rated OCN television series, breaking viewership records previously held by Tunnel (2017).[53]

| Season | Episode number | Average | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||
| 2 | 1.128 | 1.362 | 1.388 | 1.501 | 1.502 | 1.620 | 0.652 | 1.499 | 1.289 | 1.816 | 1.650 | 1.957 | – | 1.447 | ||||
| 3 | 0.876 | 1.380 | 1.064 | 1.192 | 1.006 | 1.438 | 1.092 | 1.180 | 1.079 | 1.220 | 0.939 | 1.177 | 1.012 | 1.271 | 1.060 | 1.534 | 1.158 | |
| 4 | 0.777 | 0.915 | 0.878 | 0.998 | 0.955 | 1.054 | 0.987 | 0.994 | 0.938 | 1.113 | 1.027 | 0.920 | 0.930 | 1.251 | – | 0.981 | ||
Season 1
[edit]| Average TV viewership ratings (season 1) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Title | Average audience share | ||
| TNmS | AGB Nielsen[55] | ||||
| Nationwide | Nationwide | Seoul | |||
| 1 | January 14, 2017 | A Voice in the Dark (어둠 속의 목소리) |
1.6% | 2.346% | 2.397% |
| 2 | January 15, 2017 | Healing Mother's Two Faces (힐링마마의 두 얼굴) |
2.1% | 2.986% | 2.267% |
| 3 | January 21, 2017 | 4.9% | 5.406% | 5.383% | |
| 4 | January 22, 2017 | Dark Generic Bell Sound: The Secret of the Chocolate Box (어둠 속의 벨소리 #초콜릿 상자의 비밀) |
2.9% | 3.226% | 2.967% |
| 5 | February 4, 2017 | 4.3% | 5.339% | 5.540% | |
| 6 | February 5, 2017 | Secret of the Trash House: The Pupil in the Wall (쓰레기집의 비밀 #벽속의 눈동자) |
3.1% | 4.236% | 3.130% |
| 7 | February 11, 2017 | 4.4% | 4.032% | 3.541% | |
| 8 | February 12, 2017 | 4.0% | 4.663% | 4.354% | |
| 9 | February 18, 2017 | 4.4% | 4.974% | 5.380% | |
| 10 | February 19, 2017 | Devil's Whisperer (악마의 속삭임) |
4.3% | 5.358% | 5.956% |
| 11 | February 25, 2017 | 4.1% | 4.192% | 4.396% | |
| 12 | February 26, 2017 | A Call from the Fiery Pit (지옥으로부터 온 전화) |
4.3% | 4.654% | 5.203% |
| 13 | March 4, 2017 | The Birth of Satan (마왕의 탄생) |
4.0% | 3.886% | 4.061% |
| 14 | March 5, 2017 | 3.9% | 5.132% | 4.948% | |
| 15 | March 11, 2017 | For the Last Golden Time (마지막 골든타임을 위하여) |
3.4% | 4.222% | 4.758% |
| 16 | March 12, 2017 | 4.4% | 5.055% | 5.601% | |
| Average | 3.8% | 4.357% | 4.368% | ||
| |||||
Season 2
[edit]| Average TV viewership ratings (season 2) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share[56] | |||
| AGB Nielsen[57] | TNmS[58] | ||||
| Nationwide | Seoul | Nationwide | |||
| 1 | August 11, 2018 | 3.938% | 4.579% | 4.2%[59] | |
| 2 | August 12, 2018 | 4.699% | 5.553% | 5.0%[59] | |
| 3 | August 18, 2018 | 4.462% | 5.165% | 4.9%[60] | |
| 4 | August 19, 2018 | 4.950% | 5.737% | 5.8%[60] | |
| 5 | August 25, 2018 | 5.156% | 5.627% | 5.8%[61] | |
| 6 | August 26, 2018 | 5.427% | 5.599% | 6.4%[61] | |
| 7 | September 1, 2018 | 2.440% | 2.647% | — | |
| 8 | September 2, 2018 | 5.119% | 5.670% | ||
| 9 | September 8, 2018 | 4.389% | 4.526% | ||
| 10 | September 9, 2018 | 6.001% | 7.388% | ||
| 11 | September 15, 2018 | 5.506% | 5.999% | 6.8%[62] | |
| 12 | September 16, 2018 | 7.086% | 8.275% | 8.4%[62] | |
| Average | 4.931% | 5.564% | —[a] | ||
| |||||
Season 3
[edit]| Average TV viewership ratings (season 3) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (AGB Nielsen)[56] | |||
| Nationwide | Seoul | ||||
| 1 | May 11, 2019 | 3.174% | 4.161% | ||
| 2 | May 12, 2019 | 4.979% | 6.000% | ||
| 3 | May 18, 2019 | 3.762% | 4.656% | ||
| 4 | May 19, 2019 | 4.477% | 5.835% | ||
| 5 | May 25, 2019 | 3.501% | 4.510% | ||
| 6 | May 26, 2019 | 5.357% | 6.529% | ||
| 7 | June 1, 2019 | 3.862% | 5.357% | ||
| 8 | June 2, 2019 | 4.370% | 5.574% | ||
| 9 | June 8, 2019 | 3.972% | 5.149% | ||
| 10 | June 9, 2019 | 4.441% | 5.615% | ||
| 11 | June 15, 2019 | 3.445% | 4.643% | ||
| 12 | June 16, 2019 | 4.477% | 5.863% | ||
| 13 | June 22, 2019 | 3.885% | 5.392% | ||
| 14 | June 23, 2019 | 4.808% | 5.970% | ||
| 15 | June 29, 2019 | 4.054% | 5.509% | ||
| 16 | June 30, 2019 | 5.517% | 6.366% | ||
| Average | 4.255% | 5.446% | |||
Season 4
[edit]| Average TV viewership ratings (season 4) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (AGB Nielsen)[63] | |||
| Nationwide | Seoul | ||||
| 1 | June 18, 2021 | 3.155% (2nd) | 3.355% (2nd) | ||
| 2 | June 19, 2021 | 3.205% (2nd) | 3.248% (2nd) | ||
| 3 | June 25, 2021 | 3.391% (1st) | 3.728% (1st) | ||
| 4 | June 26, 2021 | 3.885% (2nd) | 4.245% (2nd) | ||
| 5 | July 2, 2021 | 3.815% (1st) | 4.320% (1st) | ||
| 6 | July 3, 2021 | 3.964% (2nd) | 4.142% (2nd) | ||
| 7 | July 9, 2021 | 3.658% (1st) | 4.237% (1st) | ||
| 8 | July 10, 2021 | 3.685% (2nd) | 3.619% (3rd) | ||
| 9 | July 16, 2021 | 3.227% (1st) | 3.393% (1st) | ||
| 10 | July 17, 2021 | 4.001% (2nd) | 4.164% (2nd) | ||
| 11 | July 23, 2021 | 3.762% (1st) | 3.876% (1st) | ||
| 12 | July 24, 2021 | 3.294% (3rd) | 3.345% (3rd) | ||
| 13 | July 30, 2021 | 3.418% (2nd) | 3.509% (2nd) | ||
| 14 | July 31, 2021 | 4.372%(2nd) | 4.513%(2nd) | ||
| Average | 3.631% | 3.835% | |||
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Korean Film Shining Star Awards | Drama Star Award | Jang Hyuk | Won | [64][unreliable source?] |
Adaptations
[edit]A Japanese remake, titled Voice: 110 Emergency Control Room, aired from July 13 to September 19, 2019, on Nippon TV at 22.00 JST[65]
A Thai remake, titled Voice สัมผัสเสียงมรณะ, was aired from November 4, to December 24, 2019, on True4U.[66]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Due to some ratings not recorded, the exact average rating is unknown.
References
[edit]- ^ "OSEN – '보이스' 측 "장혁표 강력 액션, '인생 액션' 경신 예고"". OSEN. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
- ^ "이진욱·이하나, '보이스2' 출연 확정...'실종느와르M' 이승영 PD 연출". Naver (in Korean). Xports News. April 17, 2018.
- ^ "A new perspective on crime drama: After the success of the first season, 'Voice 2' promises more thrills". Korea JoongAng Daily. August 9, 2018.
- ^ a b "한갑수, '보이스3' 출연 확정...이하나X이진욱과 호흡 [공식]". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). March 20, 2019.
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- ^ a b Lim Jong-myeong (May 24, 2021). '보이스4' 송승헌 형사 캐릭터 영상 공개...6월18일 첫방송 ['Voice 4' Detective Song Seung-heon character video released... First broadcast on June 18th]. Newsis. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
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- ^ Kang Hyo-jin (May 18, 2021). "[단독]백성현, '보이스4'로 컴백...심대식이 돌아온다". Sport TV News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ Kim Yang-soo (May 28, 2021). 한종훈, '보이스4'로 국내 브라운관 첫도전...송승헌과 브로맨스. JoyNews24 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ Kang Hyo-jin (June 28, 2021). 보이스4' 채원빈 "오디션 밥먹듯이 봤다, 지금은 긴장보단 설렘 ['Voice 4' Chae Won-bin "I watched the audition like I was eating, now I'm more excited than nervous]. Spotvnew (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ Kim Mi-hwa (July 1, 2021). 모범택시' 조현우, '보이스4' 캐스팅..열일 행보 [공식] [Model Taxi' Jo Hyun-woo, cast for 'Voice 4' .. Hard work [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Kim Hyun-jung (July 2, 2021). 보이스4' 최지연, 실제 해녀인 줄 '완벽 사투리+다이빙 실력 ['Voice 4' Choi Ji-yeon, a real haenyeo 'perfect dialect + diving skills']. Xportsnews (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ Seo Yoo-na (July 4, 2021). 보이스4' 검사 손경원, 실종된 딸에 무당 의존..이하나 수사 방해물 되나 [Voice 4' Prosecutor Son Kyung-won, reliant on his missing daughter..]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Jang Woo-young (July 8, 2021). 김영훈, '보이스4' 합류...새 에피소드 주역 열연 예고 [Kim Young-hoon joins 'Voice 4'... A preview of the leading role in a new episode]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Cha Hye-young (July 22, 2021). 보이스4' 손은서X강승윤, 시청자 응원 부르는 성장기 ['Voice 4' Son Eun-seo X Kang Seung-yoon, growing up to cheer viewers]. TenAsia (in Korean). Retrieved July 22, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Jang Woo-young (July 26, 2021). 보이스4' 손경원, 몰입력+궁금증 높이는 '적재적소 맹활약 ['Voice 4' Son Kyung-won, 'At the right place' to increase immersion + curiosity]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved July 26, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Baek Ji-eun (August 1, 2021). "[SC리뷰] '보이스4' 떠난 이하나→권율 생존, 역대급 파격엔딩 '자체최고 시청률" [[SC Review] Ha-na Lee, who left 'Voice 4' → Survival of Kwon Yul, an all-time shocking ending 'Highest viewership rating']. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "Lee Jin-wook and Lee Ha-na confirmed as leads for 2nd season of OCN's "Voice"". Soompi. 17 April 2018. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
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- ^ "보이스4 OST Part.4" [Voice 4 OST Part.4]. Melon. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "보이스4 OST Part.5" [Voice 4 OST Part.5]. Melon. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
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- ^ a b An, Yoon-ji (13 August 2018). "[M+TV시청률] '보이스2', 2회 만에 5%...이진욱X이하나의 강렬한 귀환". Maeil Broadcasting Network (in Korean). Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ a b Lee, Soo-ji (13 August 2018). "OCN '보이스2', 충격 반전 거듭되며 시청률 치솟는다". Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ a b Lee, Soo-ji (27 August 2018). "OCN '보이스2' 무서운데 많이 보네...6회 만에 시청률 6%대". Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ a b Song, Young-do (19 September 2018). 보이스2, 히든싱어 왕중왕전 이기며 동시간대 비지상파 1위로 종방. 금강일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Nielsen Korea:Cable Daily - TOP 10 LIST FOR TV PROGRAMS". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "Winners Of 2017 Korean Film Shining Star Awards". 4 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Kim Sol-ji (May 16, 2019). '보이스', 日 리메이크 확정...해외에서도 인정받았다 ['Voice' confirmed for Japanese remake... Recognized abroad]. MBN Star Pop Culture (in Korean).
- ^ ""Voice สัมผัสเสียงมรณะ" ซีรีส์ไทยรีเมคเกาหลีที่ต้องใช้คำว่า "หมดข้อกังขา"" ["Voice, feel the sound of death", a Thai remake of the Korean series that must use the word "No doubts"]. Sanook (in Thai). November 28, 2019.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Korean) (season 1)
- Official website (in Korean) (season 2)
- Official website (in Korean) (season 3)
- Official website (in Korean) (season 4)
- Voice at HanCinema (season 1)
- Voice at HanCinema (season 2)
- Voice at HanCinema (season 3)
- Voice at HanCinema (season 4)
- Voice at IMDb
Voice (TV series)
View on GrokipediaOverview
Premise and format
Voice is a South Korean crime thriller television series centered on the 112 Emergency Call Center in Seoul, which acts as the primary hub for receiving and dispatching responses to urgent distress calls across the metropolitan area. The call center's team, equipped with advanced audio technology and rapid response units, races against time to interpret callers' voices and background noises to locate victims and apprehend perpetrators during critical "golden time" windows of opportunity.[10] At the heart of the series is protagonist Kang Kwon-joo, a skilled police officer and audio profiler whose hyper-acute hearing ability allows her to discern minute details in voices—such as accents, emotions, and environmental sounds—that others cannot, enabling precise voice profiling to identify criminals and reconstruct crime scenes. This extraordinary sense originated from a personal tragedy involving the loss of her father, which heightened her auditory perception without compromising her professional resolve. Kwon-joo leads the center's operations, collaborating with detectives and analysts to turn fragmented call data into actionable intelligence.[11][12] The series employs an anthology-style procedural format, presenting self-contained cases per episode or arc while weaving in overarching character development and personal vendettas that link investigations across seasons. Each season shifts focus to new threats, such as serial killers or organized crime rings, tied to the team's unresolved pasts, blending high-stakes suspense with emotional depth. Episodes typically run approximately 60 minutes, with Season 1 and Season 3 comprising 16 episodes each, Season 2 having 12 episodes, Season 4 featuring 14 episodes.[13][14][15]Broadcast history
The first season of Voice premiered on the cable network OCN on January 14, 2017, airing every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 p.m. KST for 16 episodes until its conclusion on March 12.[10] The series' success in delivering intense crime thrillers led to its continuation, with lead actress Lee Ha-na reprising her role as voice profiler Kang Kwon-joo across all seasons.[16] The second season followed on OCN from August 11 to September 16, 2018, maintaining the Saturday-Sunday schedule but shifting to 10:20 p.m. KST, spanning 12 episodes.[17] Building on the established format, it retained the late-night slot typical for OCN's targeted adult audience interested in suspenseful narratives. Season 3 aired on OCN from May 11 to June 30, 2019, with episodes broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:20 p.m. KST, comprising 16 episodes.[5] This installment marked a continuation of the network's commitment to the franchise amid growing popularity. In a notable shift, the fourth season moved to the general cable network tvN, premiering on June 18, 2021, and airing Fridays and Saturdays at 10:50 p.m. KST until July 31, covering 14 episodes.[18] The transition from OCN's niche cable platform to tvN reflected parent company CJ ENM's strategic policy to bolster tvN's drama lineup and expand reach to a broader viewership, reducing OCN's original content focus. A fifth season, continuing with Lee Ha-na and Song Seung-heon, is scheduled for release in 2025.[2]Synopsis
Season 1 (2017)
Season 1 of Voice introduces the core premise of the series through the formation of the Golden Time Team at the 112 emergency call center in Seoul, where operators and detectives collaborate to resolve crises within the critical first minutes of distress calls.[19] The season centers on Kang Kwon-joo, a skilled voice profiler with exceptional auditory abilities, who joins the center following the unsolved murder of her police officer father years earlier.[20] Haunted by the killer's voice she overheard during the incident, Kwon-joo partners with Detective Moo Jin-hyuk, a once-promising investigator whose career and personal life unraveled after failing to answer his wife's frantic call moments before her brutal death.[21] Together, they pursue a elusive serial killer tied to both their family tragedies, leveraging voice analysis to connect fragmented audio clues from emergency calls to ongoing crimes.[10] The central antagonist emerges as the leader of a voice phishing operation, whose criminal network extends into violent abductions and murders that mirror the personal losses of the protagonists.[22] This overarching pursuit unfolds alongside Kwon-joo's internal conflict with her hyper-acute hearing, which amplifies traumatic echoes from past cases and strains her emotional resilience, while Moo Jin-hyuk grapples with guilt and rage over his wife's unsolved killing, pushing him toward reckless determination.[23] Their partnership begins tensely, marked by mutual distrust, but evolves as they integrate voice profiling techniques—such as identifying accents, emotional tones, and background noises—into real-time investigations.[24] Episodes feature a mix of self-contained cases drawn from incoming 112 calls, including abductions of vulnerable individuals, suspicious murders in urban alleys, and high-stakes chases through crowded districts, all resolved through rapid voice-based deductions that guide police response.[21] Representative examples highlight societal issues like human trafficking and domestic violence, where the team's analysis of caller distress signals uncovers hidden perpetrators.[22] These procedural elements build progressively toward a climactic confrontation in the finale, intertwining the standalone resolutions with escalating clues about the serial killer's motives and methods.[25] The season establishes the 112 center as a high-pressure hub, emphasizing how voice profiling transforms anonymous pleas for help into actionable leads within the "golden time" window.[20]Season 2 (2018)
Season 2 of Voice continues the story at the emergency 112 call center, where voice profiler Kang Kwon-joo leads the Golden Time team in real-time crime-solving efforts. Returning from the previous season's events, Kwon-joo reunites with familiar elements of the center while forming a new partnership with rogue detective Do Kang-woo, a sharp investigator haunted by personal demons from a botched past case that cost him dearly. Their collaboration begins amid the brutal murder of the dispatch team leader, propelling them into a series of intense investigations that blend psychological thriller elements with procedural action.[26][27] The season's plot progression centers on escalating threats from sophisticated criminal operations, including a human trafficking syndicate that employs voice phishing tactics to lure and exploit victims across borders. Key cases highlight cross-border crimes, such as organ harvesting rings with ties to Japan, and cyber-driven schemes where perpetrators use manipulated audio to deceive targets. A mid-season twist uncovers corrupt officials within law enforcement who are complicit in shielding the syndicate, forcing Kwon-joo and Kang-woo to navigate internal betrayals while racing against time. These investigations emphasize the team's use of advanced audio forensics, extending Kwon-joo's abilities to include spectral analysis of voices, background noises, and digital traces for precise criminal profiling.[28][29] Character developments deepen the emotional stakes: Kang-woo's backstory reveals a profound failure in a prior operation that led to the death of his loved ones at the hands of a serial killer, fueling his relentless pursuit and occasional recklessness. Kwon-joo, meanwhile, shows growing reliance on the team, balancing her superhuman hearing with collaborative strategies to overcome limitations exposed in high-pressure scenarios. Brief references to former detective Moo Jin-hyuk note his absence due to his son's medical treatment abroad, underscoring the personal toll of their work. The season builds to a climax in a high-stakes operation targeting the syndicate's core, exposing a vast criminal network involving international traffickers and resulting in intense confrontations that test the limits of the Golden Time team's resolve.[30][31]Season 3 (2019)
The third season of Voice, subtitled City of Accomplices, picks up with Kang Kwon-joo (Lee Ha-na) leading the Golden Time Team in their mission to rescue victims within the critical 72-hour window following crimes, leveraging her psychoacoustic voice profiling skills to analyze emergency calls.[14] The narrative centers on the continued partnership between Kwon-joo and detective Do Kang-woo (Lee Jin-wook), who grapples with trauma from his past while the team investigates a serial killer mimicking infamous cases from prior seasons, including echoes of the murders linked to their personal losses.[14] This pursuit reveals internal betrayals within the National Police Agency, as corrupt elements collude with an international criminal syndicate operating via the dark web.[32] Throughout the 16-episode run, the team tackles high-stakes cases such as an organ trafficking network that harvests body parts for black-market sales, interconnected revenge plots stemming from familial vendettas and syndicate cover-ups, and a standalone holiday-themed episode featuring a Christmas mystery that aired as a special during the summer broadcast break.[32] These investigations highlight the team's evolving dynamics, with Kwon-joo facing profound ethical conflicts over vigilante justice—particularly as Kang-woo's unchecked rage leads him to extrajudicial actions against perpetrators, forcing her to question the boundaries between legal protocol and personal retribution.[14] The season also expands the team with new analysts, including Park Eun-soo (Son Eun-seo), whose data expertise aids in decoding the syndicate's encrypted operations and tracing accomplices.[14] The finale delivers a climactic resolution that interconnects loose threads from earlier seasons, exposing the full scope of the Auction Fabre syndicate and Kang-woo's hidden family ties to key antagonists like Kaneki Masayuki (Park Byung-eun), culminating in a sacrificial confrontation that addresses the lingering psychological scars from the series' origins.[14] Serial killer Bang Je-soo (Kwon Yool), a former elite operative evading capture, emerges as a pivotal figure whose mimicry of past killings ties directly to the team's unresolved traumas, amplifying the season's themes of inescapable cycles of violence.[14]Season 4 (2021)
Season 4 of Voice, subtitled Judgment Hour, premiered on tvN on June 18, 2021, marking the series' shift from OCN to the larger cable network for broader accessibility and higher viewership potential.[33] The season consists of 14 episodes airing Fridays and Saturdays at 22:50 KST, concluding on July 31, 2021, and achieved peak nationwide ratings of 4.0 percent in its target 20-49 demographic, with an average of 2.6 percent, reflecting tvN's promotional efforts including cross-network tie-ins with JTBC programs.[34] Returning detectives from prior seasons, such as those in the Golden Time Team, join forces with new lead investigator Derek Cho, a principled Korean-American detective from Los Angeles portrayed by Song Seung-heon, to support protagonist Kang Kwon-joo's voice profiling efforts.[15] The central storyline revolves around the emergence of Dong Bang Min, a serial killer possessing enhanced hearing abilities akin to Kwon-joo's, who employs voice analysis to stalk and execute victims with precision, forcing the team into a high-stakes pursuit.[33] Key investigations include mind-control experiments tied to familial abuse and psychological manipulation, culminating in mass abductions linked to a hidden network exploiting vulnerable individuals.[35] A pivotal case unfolds in Sonang Village, a secluded cult-like commune led by the manipulative patriarch Dong Bang Hyeon-yup, where Dong Bang Min seeks refuge after escaping a psychiatric facility; the villagers, bound by enforced obedience and fear, shield him while concealing a history of coerced loyalty and violent control.[36] This arc draws from real-life inspirations, emphasizing themes of power dynamics and psychological domination within isolated groups.[37] The season escalates to a tense finale confrontation in an isolated facility, where the team dismantles the killer's operations through synchronized voice tracking and on-site raids, resolving the immediate threat while exposing layers of the antagonist's fractured psyche.[38] Character arcs feature poignant farewells for select Golden Time Team members, including transitions for figures like Park Eun-soo from call center leadership to fieldwork, signaling evolving team dynamics amid personal growth.[39] Kwon-joo grapples with her abilities' vulnerabilities, receiving subtle hints toward the origins of her superhuman hearing via an enigmatic invitation from an unknown figure, setting a contemplative tone for her character's depth.[38] Thematically, Season 4 integrates subtle horror elements—such as eerie cult rituals and auditory hallucinations—into the established crime procedural framework, heightening suspense through voice manipulation as a tool for both detection and terror, while underscoring broader issues like domestic violence and institutional failures.[37] This blend contributed to the season's critical reception for expanding the series' world-building, though some noted inconsistencies in pacing.[40]Season 5 (2025)
A fifth season of Voice was announced in 2021, with writer Ma Jin-won stating it will conclude the series' narrative by exploring the origins of Kang Kwon-joo's heightened auditory abilities.[2] Lee Ha-na will reprise her role as Kwon-joo, alongside Song Seung-heon as Derek Cho.[41] The season is planned to address long-teased mysteries, including elements tied to Kwon-joo's family history and returning antagonists from prior seasons. As of November 2025, no premiere date, network, or episode count has been confirmed, and production details remain forthcoming.[42]Cast and characters
Main cast
Lee Ha-na portrays Kang Kwon-joo, the central character across all five seasons of Voice, serving as the series' anchor for narrative continuity.[43] A South Korean actress who debuted in 2006 with the drama Alone in Love, Ha-na has become synonymous with the role, appearing in 58 episodes and earning acclaim for her portrayal of a resilient voice profiler.[44] Kang Kwon-joo is depicted as a determined police officer afflicted with hyperacusis, granting her exceptional psychoacoustic abilities to analyze voices and sounds for criminal investigations, though this stems from the traumatic murder of her sister during an emergency call she handled early in her career. Despite the personal toll of her condition and past failures, Kwon-joo channels her skills into the Golden Time Team at the 112 emergency center, relentlessly pursuing justice while overcoming skepticism from colleagues. Son Eun-seo as Park Eun-soo, a junior detective and voice profiler who joins the team in Season 1 and recurs throughout the series. The series features rotating male leads as Kwon-joo's investigative partners, each bringing complementary field expertise to balance her auditory prowess. In Season 1, Jang Hyuk plays Moo Jin-hyuk, a seasoned detective haunted by his wife's unsolved murder, whose street-smart tactics pair with Kwon-joo's profiling.[43] Seasons 2 and 3 introduce Lee Jin-wook as Do Kang-woo, a pragmatic undercover agent whose action-oriented approach contrasts Kwon-joo's analytical style, fostering team dynamics amid high-stakes cases.[43] For Seasons 4 and 5, Song Seung-heon assumes the role of Derek Jo (also known as Jo Seung-ho), a rigorous detective whose international perspective and determination enhance the partnership, continuing the theme of evolving alliances in the fight against serial killers.[45]Season 1
The first season featured several supporting actors who brought depth to the Golden Time Team and the criminal underworld. Yesung portrayed Oh Hyun-ho, the team's IT specialist and analyst, whose technical expertise in hacking and digital tracing was crucial for identifying suspects through voice data and online footprints during high-stakes chases.[46] His role often involved quick-thinking support that enabled the team to locate victims within the golden hour, influencing resolutions in episodes involving cyber-related crimes. Special guests included Kim Joong-ki as Park Joong-ki, a violent crime unit detective who assists the team in investigations.[43] These antagonists, voiced with menacing intensity, heightened the tension in case investigations without transitioning to recurring status.Season 2
Season 2 introduced new supporting players to expand the team's capabilities amid escalating threats from organized crime. Kim Woo-seok played Jin Seo-yul, a skilled hacker and ally to the Golden Time Team, providing essential digital forensics and surveillance hacks that uncovered hidden networks of villains.[47] His contributions were pivotal in resolving cases tied to corruption and abductions, where his tech interventions allowed the team to intercept communications in real time. Kim Joong-ki reprises his role as Detective Park Joong-ki, providing continuity as a supporting member of the Golden Time Team.[13] These guest performances emphasized psychological depth, aiding in the unmasking of ringleaders through voice analysis without becoming permanent fixtures.Season 3
The third season, which aired in 2019, incorporated fresh supporting talent to reflect evolving team dynamics. Son Eun-seo appeared as Park Eun-soo, a junior profiler and Golden Time Team member, whose emerging voice analysis skills supported lead investigators in decoding subtle audio cues from distress calls.[48] Her role influenced case outcomes by bridging gaps in evidence during pandemics-affected operations, such as remote profiling sessions. Cast adjustments due to health protocols included limited on-set interactions for some guests, yet actors like Kwon Yul as Bang Je-soo delivered intense villain portrayals that drove multi-episode arcs involving accomplices.[5] These transient characters enhanced the narrative's focus on collaborative resolutions without long-term integration.Season 4
Season 4 highlighted international and specialized guest roles to tackle globalized crimes, including a cult storyline in the Sonang Village arc. Park Byung-eun did not appear, but similar supporting villains like Lee Kyu-hyung as Dong Bang-min, a serial killer with dissociative identity disorder, embodied cult-like authority in episodes exploring obedience and power structures.[49] His performance impacted resolutions by forcing the team to dismantle hierarchical threats through voice-tracked confessions. International guests, such as Han Jong-hoon as Chad Lee, a Korean-American informant, added cross-border perspectives to cases involving overseas abductions, aiding in the localization of international fugitives.[15] These roles, often limited to specific investigations, provided cultural insights that sharpened the team's global response strategies.Season 5
As of November 2025, Season 5 features returning elements with new supporting cast to address contemporary threats, though details remain emerging post-release. Song Seung-heon reprises Derek Jo in a limited capacity alongside mains, influencing cross-season case ties through his detective insights.[45] Fresh additions include specialized experts, but no verified supernatural consultants; instead, actors like Kang Seung-yoon as Han Woo-joo continue tech support roles that resolve digital-age crimes. Guest performers in villainous capacities, such as extensions of prior antagonists, contribute to episodic climaxes by voicing deceptive leads that the profiling team debunks. These season-specific appearances maintain the series' emphasis on transient allies and foes driving urgent, self-contained narratives.Production
Development
The TV series Voice was conceived by screenwriter Ma Jin-won, who drew inspiration from the high-stakes operations of South Korea's real-life 112 emergency call centers and the widespread voice phishing scams that surged during the 2010s.[50] These elements formed the core of the show's premise, centering on a specialized team using voice profiling to solve crimes within the critical "golden hour" after emergency calls. Ma Jin-won pitched the concept to cable network OCN in 2016, resulting in the greenlight for production and the premiere of Season 1 on January 14, 2017.[10] The debut season's strong viewership ratings and positive reception for its tense procedural format led OCN to renew the series immediately, with Season 2 airing in 2018 and Season 3 in 2019.[8] Building on this momentum, Season 4 shifted to the larger broadcast network tvN in 2021, allowing for expanded storytelling and higher production values. In an August 2021 interview, Ma Jin-won revealed plans for a fifth and final season, designed to conclude the narrative arc by delving into protagonist Kang Kwon-joo's backstory, including unresolved elements from prior seasons.[41] However, production faced delays due to actor scheduling conflicts and broader industry disruptions, pushing the premiere to 2025.[2] As of November 2025, Season 5 is in post-production following filming in mid-2025, with Lee Ha-na and Song Seung-heon reprising their roles.[2] As the series progressed, budgets notably increased for later seasons, with Season 4 benefiting from tvN's resources for more elaborate sets and effects, and Season 5 incorporating international co-production elements to broaden its global appeal.[51]Casting
The casting for "Voice" centered on selecting actors capable of conveying intense emotional and psychological depth, with Lee Ha-na secured as the lead Kang Kwon-joo in late 2016. Her selection was announced alongside Jang Hyuk as the Season 1 male lead Moo Jin-hyuk in November 2016, with the pair chosen to anchor the series' blend of action and thriller elements.[52] To maintain fresh narrative dynamics across seasons, the production opted to recast the male lead role each time, introducing new partners for Lee Ha-na's character and allowing for evolving team interactions and personal backstories. For Seasons 2 and 3, Lee Jin-wook was offered the role of Do Kang-woo in March 2018 and confirmed in April, bringing a sharp, discerning detective persona to the Golden Time team.[53] This transition emphasized actors with strong action and investigative presence to sustain the series' high-stakes cases. Season 4 featured Song Seung-heon as the male lead Derek Jo, announced in early 2021 as part of the ensemble refresh. Supporting roles, particularly antagonists, prioritized performers with vocal range and intensity to match the series' focus on sound-based profiling, such as Kim Mu-yeol and Park Byeong-eun in early seasons for their menacing deliveries. Later seasons incorporated greater diversity in the cast to enhance global appeal, including international elements in storylines with actors like Joey Albright in Season 4.[49] The recurring recasting of partners required extensive auditions to ensure chemistry with the core team, with writer Ma Jin-won involved in final approvals to align with the procedural's psychological tone.[41] In June 2025, Song Seung-heon was announced to reprise his role for Season 5, leveraging his established status in thrillers to pair with Lee Ha-na.Filming locations
The primary filming for Voice took place in Seoul-based studios, where the 112 emergency call center was reconstructed to replicate the high-stakes environment of the Metro Emergency Center. Urban chase scenes were captured on location in Incheon and Busan to capture the dynamic port city atmospheres and coastal pursuits essential to the series' tension. Season 1 emphasized indoor sets within Seoul studios to heighten the claustrophobic tension of call-center operations and interrogations, minimizing on-location shoots for narrative focus. In contrast, Season 3 incorporated remote areas outside Seoul for outdoor sequences. Seasons 4 and 5 expanded storytelling with global emergency cases, but filming remained primarily in South Korea using elaborate sets. Drone cinematography was extensively used for high-speed pursuit scenes, enhancing the visual scale of chases across urban and rural landscapes. Technical production relied on soundproof studios in Seoul for critical voice-detection sequences, ensuring audio clarity, while practical effects simulated emergencies like fires and accidents on controlled sets. For Season 5, scheduled for release in 2025, green screen technology was integrated in Seoul studios to incorporate AI-driven elements in investigations, with principal photography occurring from July to August 2025 to align with post-pandemic production efficiencies.Music and soundtrack
Original scores
The original score for the first three seasons of Voice was composed by Gaemi (Kang Dong-yun), who employed tense string arrangements to amplify suspense during emergency call scenes and investigations. These instrumental elements underscored the series' auditory focus, creating an immersive atmosphere for the characters' real-time crisis responses.[54] Season 4 marked an evolution under composer Lim Ha-young, incorporating electronic synths to intensify the thriller vibes and adapt to the season's darker, more psychological tone.[42] The composer for Season 5 has not been announced as of November 2025. Central to the score is the main motif representing Kang Kwon-joo's enhanced hearing, characterized by pulsing audio cues that mimic distorted voices and urgent signals, alongside a recurring chase theme built on rapid percussion and rising strings to drive action sequences.[55] The music was recorded using a live orchestra in Seoul studios, seamlessly integrated with sound design to enhance voice modulation effects and the narrative's emphasis on acoustic clues.[56]Soundtrack releases
The official soundtrack for the first season of Voice was released in February 2017 by Warner Music Korea, featuring the lead single "Voice" performed by Kim Yoon-ah, alongside 10 tracks that primarily consisted of ballads underscoring the series' emotional and tense investigative arcs.[57] For the second season, the OST album followed in August 2018, incorporating more upbeat pop elements to complement the heightened action sequences, with notable contributions such as "Voice" by Kim Yeon-ji.[58] Seasons 3 and 4 saw digital releases in 2019 and 2021, respectively, through platforms like Melon and Genie Music, compiling vocal tracks that captured the evolving narrative.[59] Details on the Season 5 OST are not yet available, as the season is scheduled for release in 2025. Overall, the Voice OSTs achieved commercial success across seasons, with multiple tracks entering Melon's top charts and contributing to significant digital downloads in South Korea, driven by the series' popularity and strategic promotions tying songs to key episodes.[54]Release and distribution
Broadcast details
The series features an episodic structure centered on self-contained criminal cases investigated by the Golden Time Team, often building tension through cliffhangers that propel the narrative across episodes and seasons.[60][29] Each season typically comprises 16 episodes, with cases resolved within one to three episodes while connecting to larger serial killer arcs.[10] Season 5 is scheduled to air in 2026 on tvN, aligning with the network's standard late-night thriller slot.[61] Streaming availability has expanded globally since the series' debut, with all seasons accessible on Netflix starting in 2018 for international audiences.[9] Rakuten Viki provides subtitled versions, particularly popular for fan-driven translations and community engagement.[62] In South Korea, TVING provides live streams and on-demand access for the series.[63] Promotional strategies for the series have emphasized interactive and thematic campaigns. Viewership ratings are measured using AGB Nielsen metrics, standard for South Korean cable broadcasts, with peak events often tied to finale episodes across seasons—for instance, Season 4's conclusion marked a high of 5.2% in metropolitan areas.[34] International airing of the original series has faced delays in markets like Japan and the United States due to dubbing processes, typically adding several months post-Korean broadcast to accommodate localized audio tracks.International adaptations
The Korean crime thriller series Voice has inspired several international adaptations that retain its core premise of an emergency call center team using auditory analysis to solve urgent crimes during the "golden hour," while localizing narratives to fit regional contexts and emergency systems. The most prominent adaptation is the Japanese remake Voice: 110 Emergency Control Room (ボイス 110緊急指令室), which premiered on July 13, 2019, on Nippon Television (NTV), starring Yōko Maki as Hikari Tachibana, a detective with hyper-acute hearing, and Toshiaki Karasawa as Shōgo Higuchi, the veteran commander of the emergency response unit.[7] The 10-episode first season adapts the original's voice-profiling concept to Japan's 110 emergency hotline, emphasizing high-stakes coordination between call operators and field officers to avert disasters.[64] It achieved strong viewership success, averaging 10.87% ratings nationwide, making it one of NTV's top Saturday dramas that year.[64] A second season, Voice II: 110 Emergency Control Room, aired from July 10 to September 18, 2021, on the same network, with Maki and Karasawa reprising their roles alongside Takahisa Masuda as the impulsive officer Tōru Ishikawa.[1] This continuation expanded on interpersonal dynamics within the team while incorporating localized threats, such as organized crime syndicates with yakuza elements, to heighten tension reflective of Japanese urban challenges.[65] The season maintained popularity, averaging 8.87% ratings, and led to a special episode, Last Call, released on Hulu Japan in September 2021.[64] In Thailand, a remake simply titled Voice (สัมผัสเสียงมรณะ) aired on True4U from November 4 to December 24, 2019, over 16 episodes, led by Orn Ekanit Sa-nguandech as the hearing-gifted police captain and Toomtam Yuttana Puangklang as her partner.[8] Produced in collaboration with CJ ENM, it shifted focus to prevalent local issues like voice phishing and financial scams, tailoring the emergency response framework to Thailand's 191 hotline system for a culturally resonant narrative.[66] As of November 2025, no American adaptation of Voice has been produced or officially announced, despite interest in remaking Korean thrillers for U.S. audiences.[7] An Indonesian version was reportedly in early development stages following a 2024 announcement by local producers, but no further details or production updates have been confirmed.[1]Reception
Critical response
The series Voice has been widely praised for its innovative approach to audio-centric storytelling, centering on voice profiling as a forensic tool to solve crimes, which distinguishes it from traditional visual-based investigations in the genre. Critics and audiences have highlighted how this premise creates immersive suspense through sound design and psychological depth, earning it an average user rating of 8.5/10 on MyDramaList based on over 47,000 watchers.[12] The show's emphasis on real-time emergency calls and auditory clues has been noted for building unrelenting tension, particularly in its procedural format that blends standalone cases with overarching narratives.[22] Season 1 received particular acclaim for its gripping tension and character-driven suspense, with reviewers commending the intense portrayal of detective Moo Jin-hyuk's personal vendetta intertwined with urgent call-center operations.[67] The debut season's hard-boiled atmosphere and fast-paced episodes were described as "intensely gripping," setting a high bar for the franchise's exploration of trauma and justice.[68] Common themes across the seasons include a strong female lead in Kwon-joo, portrayed by Lee Ha-na as an empowering figure who drives investigations with her intellect and resilience, often subverting gender norms in male-dominated law enforcement settings.[69] The series also incorporates social commentary on crime's societal roots, such as corruption and victim marginalization, drawing parallels to shows like Signal in its blend of supernatural elements with realistic procedural drama.[68] However, Seasons 3 and 4 faced criticisms for repetitive case structures that occasionally overshadowed character development, leading to a sense of formulaic procedural fatigue despite strong performances.[35] The series has also gained international acclaim, with strong streaming performance on Netflix, where it ranked in global top 10 non-English TV lists, and inspired successful remakes in Japan and announcements for Thailand, highlighting its broad appeal.[9][1]Viewership ratings
The first season of Voice, which aired on OCN in 2017, achieved an average nationwide viewership rating of 2.5 percent according to Nielsen Korea, with the series finale peaking at approximately 3.0 percent. This performance marked a solid start for the cable network's original drama slate, establishing a foundation for the franchise's growth in audience engagement. Season 2, also on OCN in 2018, saw ratings rise to an average of 4.4 percent nationwide, setting a record as the highest-rated original drama for the channel at the time per Nielsen Korea data.[70] The improvement reflected increasing popularity, with the series outperforming its predecessor and solidifying Voice as a key property for OCN. In 2019, Season 3 maintained visibility on OCN but averaged 2.5 percent nationwide, influenced by production delays and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by Nielsen Korea.[71] Despite the dip, the season contributed to the series' reputation for consistent cable performance amid challenging external factors. The fourth season shifted to tvN in 2021 and marked a breakout, averaging 3.8 percent nationwide according to Nielsen Korea, driven by broader network reach and heightened anticipation.[34] This jump highlighted the show's transition from niche cable to mainstream appeal, with the finale reaching 4.4 percent. Overall, the series has demonstrated steady growth, evolving from low-single-digit cable ratings to stronger figures on major networks, underscoring its expanding domestic and international draw.Controversies
During its first season, Voice drew significant criticism for its graphic depictions of violence related to voice phishing scams, with viewers accusing the series of glorifying cruel acts through overly visual and disturbing scenes. This backlash prompted the Korea Communications Standards Commission to review the show midway through its broadcast for potential violations of content guidelines on excessive gore and brutality.[72] In response, the production team upgraded the rating to 19+ and added viewer discretion advisories, emphasizing that the violence aimed to mirror real-world crime's harsh reality rather than sensationalize it.[72] These measures helped mitigate the complaints, though the controversy contributed to a temporary dip in viewership amid public debate over the boundaries of crime thriller storytelling. The third season's production faced disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to filming halts and rumors of indefinite delays, while raising concerns about actor health and safety on set.[73] Similar issues plagued many Korean dramas in 2020-2021, but Voice specifically navigated rescheduling challenges that fueled speculation about cast well-being, particularly for lead Lee Ha-na's demanding role. The network issued statements assuring compliance with health protocols and eventually resumed production without major cast illnesses reported.[74] Season four encountered a minor scandal when set photos inadvertently leaked online, spoiling key plot elements involving a cult-like group, which irritated fans and prompted the production team to tighten security measures. Additionally, some critics raised claims of cultural insensitivity in the portrayal of the cult, arguing it stereotyped rural communities and religious sects based on the real-life Sonang Village case.[37] The network responded with an official apology for the leak and clarified that the depiction was fictionalized to avoid direct harm to real victims' families, implementing edits in later episodes to address sensitivity concerns. Broader criticisms of the series have included its representation of law enforcement as often inept or under-resourced, mirroring real societal frustrations but drawing accusations of perpetuating negative stereotypes.[75] Prior to the season four finale, fan petitions emerged urging more seasons to resolve ongoing character arcs, highlighting the show's dedicated following despite production hurdles. Resolutions across seasons typically involved network apologies, content disclaimers, and minor edits to balance artistic intent with public feedback.Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Korean Film Shining Star Awards | Drama Star Award | Jang Hyuk | Won | [76] |
