A young man drowning in debt takes a part-time job that pays 50 times the minimum wage. The catch? Every shift could cost him his life.
Netflix is bringing Dead-End Job to screens on October 30, 2026, just in time for Halloween. The Korean mystery-horror-fantasy series stars Lee Jae Wook as Hyeok-jun, a man desperate enough to accept work from a strange employment agency called Spider Staffing Agency. What looks like an easy convenience store night shift quickly turns into a fight for survival against moths, clowns, and things far worse.
What Is Dead-End Job About
The story follows Byeon Hyeok-jun (Lee Jae Wook), a young man crushed by debt. He finds a flyer for a high-paying part-time job and ends up at the Spider Staffing Agency. The pay starts at 50 times the minimum hourly wage, and there is only one rule: never reveal what happens on the job.
Hyeok-jun is sent to what looks like an ordinary convenience store. But in this nightmarish workplace, every shift brings a new horror. From swarms of moths attacking him inside a dimly lit store to an encounter with a grotesque clown, the dangers grow worse as the pay gets higher.
The teaser poster shows Hyeok-jun bloodied and exhausted amid the wreckage of what should be a normal convenience store. The tagline reads: “50x minimum wage guaranteed. Will you accept this sweet gig?”
Netflix describes the series as a story about a desperate man whose hustle for more money turns nightmarish. The show mixes workplace comedy with mystery, fantasy, and horror.
Who Stars in Dead-End Job
Lee Jae Wook leads the cast as Hyeok-jun. The actor is known for Alchemy of Souls, Extraordinary You, and the upcoming Dear Hongrang.
Go Min Si plays Yeon Ju, an accident investigator at the Occupational Accident Protection Agency. She is determined to uncover the truth behind the incidents surrounding Spider Staffing Agency. She approaches Hyeok-jun while investigating and gradually pieces together the mystery at the heart of the story.
Kim Min Ha plays Ji Yun, Hyeok-jun’s younger sister. Her character lives by the motto “poverty is scarier than ghosts.” She constantly clashes with her brother as they struggle with money problems, but she worries about him more than anyone.
Lee Hee Joon plays Mr. S, the boss of Spider Staffing Agency. He is the one who talks a hesitant Hyeok-jun into taking the job, insisting there is no better gig out there.
Special appearances include Choi Hyun Wook, Yoon Kyung Ho, Yoon Byung Hee, and Cho Hyun Chul as people Hyeok-jun meets at his various part-time jobs.
Who Is Behind the Camera
Kim Da-min directs the series. She wrote the Netflix series A Killer Paradox and directed the festival-acclaimed film FAQ.
Han Jun-hee, known for D.P. and Weak Hero Class 1, leads the overall creative development. He serves as creator and executive producer.
Kyung Min-sun, who wrote Tarot, penned the scripts. The series was formerly known as Perfect Job before getting its final title.
Production began in April 2025 and wrapped in November 2025.
Release Date and Where to Watch
Dead-End Job premieres on Friday, October 30, 2026, exclusively on Netflix. All eight episodes will be available to stream at once.
The series will be available globally, including in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions where Netflix operates.
The first four episodes will have an advance screening at the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 7, 2026.
Netflix originally planned an October 9, 2026 release, but that date was taken by another title, Take Charge of My Heart. The premiere was moved to October 30.
Why Dead-End Job Is Compared to Squid Game
Several outlets have called Dead-End Job a spiritual successor to Squid Game. Both shows center on people in financial desperation who accept dangerous offers for money. Squid Game became a global phenomenon in 2021, with all three seasons ranking among Netflix’s most popular non-English shows of all time and generating over 603 million views worldwide.
The comparison also extends to tone. Dead-End Job combines the survival thrills of Squid Game with the dark social satire of Parasite. The series critiques late-stage capitalism and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
Collider noted that the trailer features a young man who accepts a job paying “50 times the minimum wage,” only to realize it comes with deadly risks. The more gigs he completes, the more his wage increases — and the more danger he faces.
Teaser Trailer Details
The teaser trailer opens with Hyeok-jun visiting the employment agency as a last resort. The head of Spider Staffing Agency tells him about a night shift at a convenience store that pays 50 times the minimum hourly wage. With a cryptic smile, he persuades Hyeok-jun to take the job, saying, “Where else would you find an easy job like this?”
Once Hyeok-jun accepts and arrives at the store, he quickly learns the job is anything but normal. The trailer shows him being swarmed by moths inside the dimly lit store and encountering a bizarre clown. The dangers escalate as his daily pay increases, pulling him back into increasingly dangerous work.
The teaser poster captures Hyeok-jun sitting covered in blood in the middle of a chaotic, ruined space. The image hints at the price of that irresistible hourly rate.
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Cast and Crew List
- Lee Jae Wook as Byeon Hyeok-jun
- Go Min Si as Yeon Ju
- Kim Min Ha as Byeon Ji Yun
- Lee Hee Joon as Mr. S / Kang-joon
- Choi Hyun Wook (special appearance)
- Yoon Kyung Ho (special appearance)
- Yoon Byung Hee (special appearance)
- Cho Hyun Chul (special appearance)
- Ko Chang Seok (special appearance)
Director: Kim Da-min
Creator: Han Jun-hee
Writer: Kyung Min-sun
Production Company: Shot Cake
Distributor: Netflix
Episodes: 8
What Viewers Are Saying
Online reactions have focused on the show’s eerie premise and the pairing of Lee Jae Wook with a horror-comedy setup. Social media users have shared the teaser widely, with many noting the Squid Game comparisons.
One user on a Korean drama forum described the plot as: “Man drowning in debt gets a mysterious gig that pays 50 times the minimum wage… as long as he never reveals what happens at work.” The post added: “Those bills aren’t going to pay themselves.”
A fan page dedicated to Lee Jae Wook shared: “Are you ready to see Lee Jae Wook take on this spooky thriller role?”
The series has also drawn attention in international markets, with coverage from outlets in Indonesia, Turkey, France, Brazil, and Italy.
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