Netflix Reveals 2024 Korean Content Slate of Films, Series – The Hollywood Reporter

Netflix revealed its annual slate of Korean films and series on Monday, and 2024 is shaping up to be another strong year of K-content, including returns for some of the streamer’s most popular global shows.

As previously announced, there will be a second season of Netflix’s marquee international show Squid Game coming this year but no release date has been confirmed yet. There will be second seasons for reality survival series Physical 100, the fantasy series Hellbound, the reality show Zombieverse and mystery drama Gyeongseong Creature.

Among the new series, the standout is the period drama Uprising which is co-written and co-produced by famed Korean auteur Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Decision to Leave). There is also a host of series adaptations of popular webtoons including A Killer Paradox, The 8 Show and Parasyte: The Grey.

Netflix will also debut some intriguing Korean reality shows this year, that have the potential to get people talking. The Influencer pits influencers against each other in the race for clout and followers, and Agents of Mystery follows six agents as they try to solve crimes.

There’s a slew of original films in 2024 too, including the already released Badland Hunters, a sequel to Concrete Utopia, the action film Officer Black Belt, the drama My Name is Loh Kiwan and the disaster epic The Great Flood.

“This year, our K-Content lineup delivers a diverse array of titles that capture the true essence of Korean storytellers,” says Don Kang, Netflix’s vp of content for Korea. “Whether it’s series, films, or innovative unscripted shows, we’ll share unforgettable experiences with entertainment fans worldwide and unmissable titles that you can enjoy only on Netflix.”

Below are some of the highlights from Netflix’s 2024 Korean slate.

Squid Game

Squid Game, one of Netflix’s most popular television series ever, returns this year. The second season, once again written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, will follow Gi-hun as he abandons his plans to go to the U.S. and starts a chase with a motive. Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from season one, newcomers include Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yuri, and Won Ji-an. Release date: Sometime in 2024.

Hellbound

Yeon Sang-ho’s dark fantasy Hellbound returns for a second season this year. The logline says that season two “unleashes a chaotic world exacerbated by the continuous hellbound decrees, where lawyer Min Hyejin of Sodo, The New Truth Society, and the Arrowheads get entangled amidst the sudden resurrections of The New Truth’s Chairman Jung Jinsu and Park Jungja.”

Kim Shin-rock, Lee Dong-hee, Yang Ik-june and Lee Re resume their roles from season one. Release date: Q4 2024

Physical 100

Survival reality show Physical 100 is back for a new season. The show, which according to the streamer was the first Korean unscripted series to be #1 on the Netflix Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list, will see a new group of 100 contestants challenge each other in punishing physical games to become the last person standing. Release date: Q1 2024

Gyeongseong Creature

Also returning for a second season is Chung Dong-yoon’s hybrid horror historical drama Gyeongseong Creature. Season one was set in the spring of 1945 in Gyeongseong, during the Japanese occupation of Korea and season two moves the action for 2024 Seoul. The logline: “Season two uncovers the never-ending ties — the good and the bad — that fate weaves in Gyeongseong via Ho-jae, a man deceptively similar in looks and demeanor to Tae-sang, and Chae-ok, a survivor of the Gyeongseong spring.” Release date: Q3 2024

Zombieverse

A second season of Korean variety show Zombieverse drops at the end of the year. The show, which ranked fifth on the Netflix Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list, features a group of unwitting contestants taking part in a reality dating show in the middle of a zombie attack. Release date: Q4 2024.

Super Rich in Korea

The unscripted series Super Rich in Korea drops this summer and follows the real-life stories of billionaires living in ultimate luxury. Release date: Q2 2024.

Risqué Business: The Netherlands and Germany

Risqué Business is a talk show featuring Shin Dong-youp and Sung Si-kyung, where the two meet people from the unexplored world of adult entertainment. Release date: Feb. 20.

The Influencer

Launching on Netflix in the fall is the unscripted social survival series The Influencer, which has the potential to dominate the discourse. The show will see Korean influencers compete with one another to determine who has the most influence over social media. Release date: Q3 2024.

Unknown Chefs

Coming in the fall is the unscripted cooking competition series Unknown Chefs. Presented by celebrity chef Paik Jong-won, the series tries to answer the question of “Who is the best cook in South Korea?” Release date: Q3 2024.

Agents of Mystery

This summer will see the release of the intriguing new unscripted adventure mystery series, Agents of Mystery. The logline reads: “Sent out to the field where strange events have occurred, six agents solve cases in resourceful ways, keeping viewers’ eyes glued to their every move with dynamic chemistry and thrilling suspense.” Release date: Q2 2024.

Mr. Plankton

Hitting Netflix at the end of the year is the K-drama series Mr. Plankton penned by Jo Yong (It’s Okay to Not Be Okay) and directed by Hong Jong-chan (Juvenile Justice, Dear My Friends). The logline for the series reads: “A man who should not have been born and the unhappiest woman in the world are forced to accompany one another on the final journey of his life.” The series stars Woo Do-hwan, Lee You-mi, Oh Jung-se and Kim Hae-sook. Release date: Q4 2024.

The Bequeathed

Released in January, Min Hong-nam’s occult thriller series The Bequeathed is based on the webtoon of the same name by Kang Tae-kyung. The series tells the story of a woman, who, after the death of an unknown uncle, inherits a burial ground and finds herself at the center of a string of murders and dark secrets. The series stars Kim Hyun-joo, Park Hee-soon, Park Byung-eun and Ryu Kyung-soo. Release date: Streaming now.

Chicken Nugget

Coming very soon is the comedy drama Chicken Nugget from writer-director Lee Byeong-heon and based on the webtoon by Park Ji-dok. The logline reads: “A woman enters a mysterious machine and turns into a chicken nugget, with her father and her secret admirer desperately trying to restore her in this comical mystery drama.” The series stars Ryu Seung-ryong, Ahn Jae-hong and Kim You-jung. Release date: Q1 2024.

The Whirlwind

Coming later this year is the political drama series The Whirlwind from director Kim Yong-wan and writer Park Kyung-soo. The logline reads: “A clash ensues when the deputy prime minister of economy stands up to the prime minister, who aims to uproot the corrupt powers that be.” The series stars Sul Kyung-gu and Kim Hee-ae. Release date: Q3 2024.

The Trunk

Dropping at the end of the year is a series adaptation of The Trunk, the popular novel by famed Korean writer Kim Ryeo-ryeong. Directed by Kim Gyu-tae, written by Park Eun-young the series stars Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo. The logline reads: “A clandestine marriage service is uncovered when a trunk washes up on the shore of a lake, bringing to light the strange marriage between a couple in the thick of it all.” Release date: Q4 2024.

Parasyte: The Grey

Debuting in the summer is the sci-fi series Parasyte: The Grey based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s massively popular manga that has sold over 25 million copies in 20 countries. The logline reads: “As unidentified parasitic life-forms that live off human hosts strive to grow their power and start to disrupt society, a group of humans wage war against the rising evil.” The series stars Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo and Kim In-kwon and is directed by Yeon Sang-ho and written by Yeon and Ryu Yong-jae. Release date: Q2 2024.

The Frog

Acclaimed Korean actor Kim Yun-seok (Escape From Mogadishu, Another Child, 1987: When the Day Comes) stars in the mystery series The Frog which debuts on Netflix in the fall. The drama is directed by Mo Wan-il and written by Son Ho-yeong and co-stars Yoon Kye-sang, Ko Min-si and Lee Jung-eun. The logline reads: “One man’s life begins to crumble when a mysterious woman shows up at his motel one summer, leaving him to cling dearly to his former ways of life in this mystery thriller series.” Release date: Q3 2024.

Officer Black Belt

Coming in the fall is the action film Officer Black Belt, written and directed by Bloodhounds filmmaker Jason Kim. The logline reads: “This action-drama film follows the antics of Lee Jung-do, who boasts a 9th degree expertise in taekwondo, kumdo and judo combined, when he lands a job as a martial arts officer electronically monitoring criminals, along with Kim Sun-min, a probation officer who recognizes Jung-do’s crime-detecting abilities and martial arts skills.” The film stars Kim Woo-bin and Kim Sung-kyun. Release date: Q3 2024.

Badland Hunters

Released in January, the Netflix original feature Badland Hunters is a sequel to incredibly popular action film Concrete Utopia. The story picks up with Seoul devastated and now a dystopian wasteland. The film stars Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee), Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, and Roh Jeong-eui and is the directorial debut of Heo Myung-haeng. Release date: Streaming now.

Queen of Tears

Coming this spring is the drama series Queen of Tears. The logline reads: “Hong Hae-in, the third-generation heiress to Queens Group and the queen of department stores, has been married for three years to Baek Hyeon-u, Yongdu-ri village chief’s son and the prince of supermarkets. As the couple weathers a marital crisis, they discover a miraculous new beginning that rewrites their love story.” The series is directed Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won and written by Park Ji-eun and stars Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon and Lee Joobeen. Release date: Q1 2024.

Uprising

Coming later this year is the epic period drama Uprising co-written and co-produced by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden, Decision to Leave). The logline reads: “Set in the Joseon era, during a tumultuous time in the aftermath of war, Uprising takes viewers on a gripping journey through the lives of two childhood friends turned adversaries: Cheon-yeong, a slave with remarkable martial prowess who struggles to break free from an unjust servitude, and Jong-ryeo, Cheon-yeong’s master and scion of Joseon’s most influential military family.” The series stars Gang Dong-won, Park Jeong-min, Cha Seung-won, Kim Shin-rock, Jin Sun-kyu and Jung Sung-ill. Release date: Q4 2024.

My Name is Loh Kiwan

Debuting in March is the Netflix original film My Name is Loh Kiwan, the directorial debut of writer-director Kim Hee-jin. The film follows the journey of North Korean defector Kiwan as he seeks refugee status in Belgium and meets Marie, who has no desire to live. The feature stars Song Joong-ki and Choi Sung-eun. Release date: March 1.

Hierarchy

Set for a summer release is the coming-of-age K-drama series Hierarchy from writer Chu Hye-mi and director Bae Hyeon-jin. The logline reads: “The top 0.01% of students control law and order at Jusin High School, but a secretive transfer student chips a crack in their indomitable world.” The series stars Roh Jeong-eui, Lee Chae-min, Kim Jae-won, Chi Hae-won and Lee Won-jeong. Release date: Q2 2024.

The 8 Show

Launching in the summer is the drama series The 8 Show from writer-director Han Jae-rim, based on the hit webtoons Money Game and Pie Game written by Bae Jin-soo. The logline reads: “Eight individuals trapped in a mysterious 8-story building participate in a tempting but dangerous game show where they earn money as time passes.” The series stars Ryu Jun-yeol, Chun Woo-hee, Park Jeong-min, Lee Yul-eum, Park Hae-joon, Lee Zoo-young, Moon Jeong-hee and Bae Seong-woo. Release date: Q2 2024.

A Killer Paradox

Coming this month is the original black comedy thriller series A Killer Paradox. The series is based on the popular webtoon of the same name written and illustrated by Kkomabi and the logline reads: “An ordinary man begins to commit more murders after inadvertently killing a serial killer, and a police detective pursues him relentlessly.” The series stars Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, and Lee Hee-joon. Release date: Feb. 9.

The Great Flood

Coming at the end of the year is the disaster film The Great Flood. Directed by Kim Byung-woo and written by Kim and Han Ji-su, the sci-fi feature is set in the aftermath of a great flood sweeping the planet and follows the desperate fight to save a child from a flooding apartment. The film stars Kim Da-mi and Park Hae-soo. Release date: Q4 2024.