Park Myeong Su and Jeong Jun Ha to star in 'Infinite Company' drama

The legendary 'Infinite Company' segment from 'Infinite Challenge' is returning as an entirely independent drama. Even more notable is that Park Myeong Su and Jeong Jun Ha will return to carry on the legacy of their iconic characters. As the fictional company that was once a comedy skit within a variety show expands into a full-scale drama, 'Infinite Company' appears to be gaining new life after 10 years.

While appearing on Park Mi Sun's YouTube channel on the 24th, Park Myeong Su and Jeong Jun Ha revealed their unexpected upcoming project while discussing their connection dating back to the 'Infinite Challenge' era. Amidst an atmosphere where they displayed their signature wit—such as Park Myeong Su saying, "I have no intention of acting well" while discussing Jeong Jun Ha's acting skills—the two revealed they are filming a drama together.

The project mentioned by Jeong Jun Ha is 'Infinite Company: Haha and So Never Die.' He explained that the 'Infinite Company' drama is being produced by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation as an 8-episode series. It is expected to follow a traditional drama format with a running time of approximately 20 minutes per episode. The series is drawing interest as a spin-off that builds a new narrative based on the existing universe and characters, rather than simply recreating past variety show scenes.

Preparations for filming are already well underway. Jeong Jun Ha stated, "The script reading is finally tomorrow," but Park Myeong Su drew laughter by unexpectedly saying, "I haven't even read the script." He then joked, "How much could people possibly expect from me?" Although it was Park Myeong Su's characteristic self-deprecating humor, the reunion of the two is expected to be a major highlight, as they once again step into characters they have played together for years.

The relationship between Park Myeong Su and Jeong Jun Ha served as a particularly strong comedic engine in 'Infinite Company.' The bickering chemistry of the so-called 'Hawasu,' who constantly criticize each other yet move together in decisive moments, established them as a representative character duo of 'Infinite Challenge.' Jeong Jun Ha revealed that Park Myeong Su gets unusually nervous, saying, "When it comes to acting, he becomes a different person," while Park Mi Sun advised Park Myeong Su not to try too hard and to just show his usual self.

The setting of this work also actively utilizes the 'Hawasu' relationship familiar to existing fans. The story is expected to unfold around the chaotic troubles caused by Hawasu, who has become a permanent fixture of 'Infinite Company,' and the employees who believe they are cursed. The production plans to create a different kind of laughter by grafting ghost and mystery elements onto the original workplace comedy premise.

The history of 'Infinite Company' is longer than expected. This segment, presented in 'Infinite Challenge' since 2011, humorously depicted the struggles of office workers, organizational culture, and the relationship between bosses and subordinates within the fictional company. As the actual variety show personas of the cast, including Park Myeong Su and Jeong Jun Ha, were seamlessly integrated with their workplace characters, it developed beyond a simple skit into an independent universe.

In particular, 'Infinite Company: Employees in Crisis,' broadcast in 2016, is cited as an example that greatly expanded the scope of the franchise. At that time, writer Kim Eun Hee and director Jang Hang Jun participated, departing from traditional variety show tropes to incorporate thriller and dramatic narratives. It was an attempt that proved a variety show segment could function as a legitimate content IP by adopting a structure close to a serious drama.

This 'Hawasu Never Die' is an extension of that lineage. Moving characters that were originally part of 'Infinite Challenge' into an independent drama holds more significance than mere nostalgia. It is a method of re-processing content for the modern viewing environment by adding new genre elements and narratives while utilizing the character dynamics that were so strongly imprinted on viewers.

Above all, the fact that Park Myeong Su and Jeong Jun Ha maintain the continuity of their original characters is a key element for fans. Interest is focused on how the relationship between the two, represented by 'Manager Park' and 'Section Chief Jung,' will be reimagined. The key will be whether the two, who infused their spontaneous chemistry and real personalities into their characters on 'Infinite Challenge,' can maintain that same vitality in a formal scripted drama.

The revival of 'Infinite Company' is also noteworthy as an example of how character-driven variety show universes can be reproduced as independent drama IPs years later. Unlike productions that simply borrow the name of a popular program, this project builds new stories based on characters already proven to the public, tasked with balancing nostalgia for original fans with accessibility for new viewers.

Though nearly 10 years have passed, the 'Hawasu' dynamic between Park Myeong Su and Jeong Jun Ha remains alive. This time, the stage is not a short variety skit, but an 8-episode drama. As 'Infinite Company'—a segment that has been discussed long after 'Infinite Challenge' ended—begins to move as independent content, attention is focused on the new workplace survival story 'Manager Park' and 'Section Chief Jung' will tell.