The upcoming drama “Newtopia,” starring Park Jung Min and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, is generating considerable buzz due to its striking similarities to real-world occurrences. The series features martial law and a passenger plane disaster, themes that resonate with actual events, sparking conversations among viewers.
Eerie Parallels and Director’s Response
At a press screening held on February 3rd at Megabox COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, the “Newtopia” team, including director Yoon Sung Hyun and the cast, discussed the highly anticipated series. “Newtopia,” based on Han Sang Woon’s novel “Influenza,” follows Jae Yoon (Park Jung Min), a soldier navigating a zombie-infested Seoul while trying to reunite with his girlfriend Yeong Ju (Jisoo).
Director Yoon Sung Hyun, known for his films “Bleak Night” and “Time to Hunt,” makes his series directorial debut with “Newtopia.” This project also marks his third collaboration with Park Jung Min. Jisoo’s presence as the female lead has further heightened excitement for the drama.
The inclusion of martial law and a plane disaster in “Newtopia” has surprised many, given their real-world parallels in South Korea. The timing of these elements has only amplified viewers’ curiosity.
Director Yoon Sung Hyun expressed his own surprise at the uncanny resemblances, stating:
“I was shocked. We had already finished editing when those events happened. The expressions on the officers and soldiers in Newtopia reflected exactly how I felt when I saw the real-world situation. It’s a total coincidence. It was already in the script.”
Regarding the plane disaster scene, he explained:
“Just like the martial law scenes, this was planned from the beginning. It plays a major role in moving the story forward. I did have some concerns, but in the end, we chose to stick to the original script.”
A Fresh Take on the Zombie Genre
Despite the serious themes, Yoon Sung Hyun assured viewers that “Newtopia” offers more than just heavy drama.
“We wanted to bring a fresh take on the zombie genre. While there are serious moments, we also added humor to keep it engaging,” he shared. “Rather than big, obvious jokes, we went for subtle humor that will make viewers chuckle and stay entertained.”
Yoon Sung Hyun also expressed his enthusiasm for a potential second season:
“If given the opportunity, I would love to work on Newtopia Season 2. I already have some great ideas in mind.”
“Newtopia” will premiere exclusively on Coupang Play on February 7th at 8 PM KST.
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