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, 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
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.
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.
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.