# Man to Man (2017)

> A special bodyguard with a covert investigative past is assigned to protect a Hallyu star, and the job pulls him into secrets well beyond celebrity security.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/61731

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 16
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: action, drama
- Created by: Kim Won-Seok, Lee Chang-min
- Network: JTBC
- Cast: Park Sung-woong, Jang Hyun-sung, Jeong Man-sik, Lee Si-eon, Park Hae-jin, Oh Na-ra, Yeon Jeong-hun, Tae In-ho
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6032762/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: tense, warm, romantic, earnest

## What critics say

Viewers broadly appreciate the bodyguard premise, the lead performances, and the bromance between the two leads, though the story's secrets and plotting are less consistently praised.

## Synopsis

Man to Man is a South Korean action drama that follows Yeo Woon-Gwang, a special bodyguard with a background in covert investigations. He is assigned to protect Kim Seol-woo, a Hallyu pop star whose public image sits uneasily with his private troubles. What begins as a routine security job becomes a constant tug between the bodyguard's old instincts for hidden threats and the celebrity's glamorous, guarded world. Each attempt to keep the star safe uncovers layers of secrets tied to the past, and the investigation keeps tightening around both men. The tone blends tense action beats with warm bromance moments and romantic undercurrents. The growing friendship between the two men is the emotional core, built slowly across a single run of sixteen one-hour episodes. Viewers who enjoy hidden identities, loyal partnerships, and the polished melodrama of Korean television will find a grounded, earnest series that rewards patience and rewards loyalty.

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