The fourth episode of the South Korean drama series Newtopia, featuring BLACKPINK‘s Jisoo and Park Jung Min, has been released, revealing more about the characters and their fight for survival in a zombie-infested world. The series, which premiered on February 7, 2025, continues to explore the journeys of two groups navigating the apocalypse with the shared goal of reuniting with their loved ones.
Episode 4 Highlights: College Days and Zombie Shields
Episode 4 takes viewers back in time to the college days of Kang Young Soo, played by Jisoo, and Lee Jae Yun, portrayed by Park Jung Min. In a surprising turn, the episode reveals that Kang Young Soo was the one who actively pursued Lee Jae Yun in their college years. Initially, Lee Jae Yun resisted her advances, but he eventually transformed into a deeply caring and devoted boyfriend.
Returning to the present apocalyptic reality, Kang Young Soo finds herself trapped in a dangerous alley surrounded by zombies. However, a peculiar event unfolds as she, along with Seo Jin Wook (Kang Young Seok) and Alex (Lee Hak Joo), encounter a zombie-bitten individual named Sam Su (Tang Jun Sang). Surprisingly, Sam Su has not turned into a zombie and, even more strangely, is ignored by the zombies.
This discovery leads them to use Sam Su as an unexpected “zombie shield.” By keeping Sam Su close, they manage to divert the attention of the surrounding zombies, allowing them to move more safely towards their destination, Tower A. Meanwhile, in a separate storyline, Lee Jae Yun and Ra In Ho (Im Sung Jae) make a crucial decision to abandon their barracks and venture out to find their loved ones.
Episode 4 of Newtopia leaned heavily into the emotional states of its characters. The episode explored the emotional challenges faced by everyone, including the soldiers amidst the chaos. One poignant scene depicted the heavy emotional burden carried by those left behind after losing someone dear, contrasting a soldier’s tragic suicide with another’s fortunate escape from death.
Amidst the grim backdrop of death and survival, the flashback scenes offering insight into Lee Jae Yun‘s character development provided a comforting contrast. Viewers witnessed his transformation from a seemingly indifferent person to a fiercely protective partner, adding a layer of warmth to the narrative.
Kang Young Soo‘s inherent compassion remains a central theme, even when faced with life-threatening situations. Her willingness to risk everything to assist others underscores a message of hope and positivity, crucial in their bleak world. Another notable character development was the revelation of O Su Jeong (Hong Seo Hee), the seemingly delicate hotelier, possessing a hidden past as a skilled shooter from her high school’s national reserve team.
As the characters reveal more complex layers, the unfolding narrative promises intriguing developments in the upcoming episodes.
Amidst the grotesque death scenes, the flashback to Lee Jae Yun’s character development from a tsundere to a protective boyfriend was comforting.
Kang Young Soo’s compassion shone through even in life-or-death situations, as she risked everything to help others, embodying the hope and positivity needed in a dark world.
Saikat Nandy is an entertainment news writer who covers the latest trends and stories from the world of showbiz, has a keen eye for spotting the most interesting and relevant topics, and delivers them to his audience with flair and humor. He is also a freelance blogger, content writer, and website designer who loves to explore new technologies and creative ideas.
