Netflix has officially announced its next major Korean drama, The Dealer, produced by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator behind the global phenomenon Squid Game. The new series is a high-stakes casino crime story that will star Jung So-min, Lee Soo-hyuk, Ryoo Seung-bum, and Ryu Kyung-soo. This marks Hwang’s first new project since the conclusion of Squid Game, and production is already underway in South Korea.
The Plot and Premise of The Dealer
The series follows Jung Geonhwa, a brilliant and ethical casino dealer played by Jung So-min. Despite her job, Geonhwa lives a clean life, deliberately avoiding the vices of the gambling world. Her life is upended when she becomes the victim of a housing scam, which destroys her plans for marriage and a stable future.
Forced to secure a large amount of money quickly, Geonhwa is drawn back into the dangerous underworld she once avoided. To survive and win, she must unleash long-hidden supernatural abilities that give her an unnatural edge at the casino tables. The official logline states she does all this in a desperate attempt to salvage her wedding plans.
Meet the Main Cast and Characters
The drama brings together a powerhouse cast of well-known Korean actors, each playing a pivotal role in the casino underworld.
- Jung So-min as Jung Geonhwa: Jung takes on the lead role, described as a significant change from her previous characters in shows like Alchemy of Souls and Love Reset. She plays an ace dealer forced to use her hidden powers to navigate the criminal gambling scene.
- Lee Soo-hyuk as Jo Jun: Lee portrays a formidable and skilled casino player. His character, Jo Jun, is known for his exceptional skill and a flawless, unreadable poker face that makes him a major wild card at the tables.
- Ryoo Seung-bum as Hwang Chisu: Ryoo plays a desperate gambler who survives by betting whatever small amounts of money he can scrounge. His character, Hwang Chisu, eventually gets pulled into Geonhwa’s dangerous scheme.
- Ryu Kyung-soo as Choi Wooseung: Ryu plays the dual role of Geonhwa’s gentle fiancé and a determined detective in the violent crimes unit. This creates a complex dynamic as he may be investigating the very world his future wife is entangled in.
The Creative Team Behind the Series
The Dealer is notable not just for its cast but for its acclaimed creative team. The series will be the directorial debut of Choi Young-hwan, a highly respected cinematographer in Korean cinema. Choi is famous for his dynamic visual work on major films like Smugglers, Veteran, The Thieves, and Tazza: The High Rollers. His involvement suggests the series will have a distinctive and cinematic look.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, while not directing this series, is intimately involved as the producer through his production company, Firstman Studio. This is the same company that produced Squid Game, linking the new project to the quality and global appeal of the record-breaking hit. The screenplay is written by Oh Na-ra and Lee Tae-young.
Fan Excitement and What We Know About Release
News of the series has generated immediate excitement online. Fans on social media have already called the premise “superb” and an “epic” project. The combination of a casino crime setting, a supernatural twist, and the pedigree of the Squid Game creator has built significant early anticipation.
“I hope he loses fewer teeth this time from making this show!” one fan joked on Reddit, referencing Hwang Dong-hyuk’s past comments about the physical and mental stress he endured while creating Squid Game.
Netflix confirmed the cast and the start of production on January 14, 2026. However, the streaming service has not yet announced an official release date for The Dealer. The series will premiere exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
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