Your First Look at Zombie Apocalypse K-Drama 'Newtopia' Starring BLACKPINK's Jisoo
The show debuts on February 7—get ready to experience love and survival in the most unexpected of settings.
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is set to captivate fans once again with her upcoming K-drama, Newtopia and we just got a . The highly anticipated zombie apocalypse series, also starring award-winning actor Park Jeong-min, will premiere globally on Prime Video and Korea’s Coupang Play on February 7, 2024. Following her successful acting debut in the 2021 series Snowdrop, Jisoo’s return to the small screen promises to solidify her growing reputation as a versatile actress capable of delivering both emotional depth and on-screen charisma.
Based on the novel Influenza by Han Sang-woon, Newtopia weaves together a story of love and survival amidst chaos. The narrative centers on Lee Jae-yoon, played by Park Jeong-min, a young man fulfilling his mandatory military service in South Korea. The strain of his enlistment causes a rift with his girlfriend, Kang Young-joo, portrayed by Jisoo, leading to a heartbreaking breakup. However, the end of their relationship coincides with the start of a devastating zombie outbreak in Seoul. Determined to find each other despite the odds, Jae-yoon and Young-joo embark on separate, perilous journeys, with the series exploring the depths of human connection in the face of apocalyptic horror.
The creative team behind Newtopia is as impressive as its cast. Screenwriters Han Jin-won, known for his work on the Oscar-winning film Parasite, and Jee Ho-jin, who penned A Shop for Killers, have joined forces to adapt the novel into a high-stakes drama. The series is directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, celebrated for his work on Bleak Night and Time to Hunt. Yoon’s previous collaborations with Park Jeong-min underscore his ability to elicit performances that are as emotionally charged as they are nuanced, a quality that will undoubtedly shine in Newtopia.
Jisoo’s portrayal of Kang Young-joo marks her second lead role in a K-drama, following her performance as the lead in Snowdrop. While her earlier acting credits include cameo appearances in The Producers and Arthdal Chronicles, it was Snowdrop that established her as a serious actress in the eyes of audiences and critics alike. In Newtopia, Jisoo’s character will face both the emotional fallout of her breakup and the terrifying reality of a zombie-infested city, offering her a complex and layered role that is likely to resonate with fans of the genre.
Newtopia will release weekly episodes from February 7 through March 21, a format that builds anticipation and allows viewers to delve deeper into its evolving storyline. Streaming in more than 240 territories via Prime Video, the series underscores the global appeal of Korean dramas, which have become a cultural phenomenon in recent years.
