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From Iu’s Grand Win To Joo Ji-Hoon’s Best Actor Honour, Here’s Who Won What At The 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards (Photo Credit – Netflix)

One of the biggest award ceremonies of South Korea, the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards, took place on July 18, 2025, at Paradise City, Incheon. In this ceremony, the awards are given focusing on the best K-dramas and variety shows that stream on different Korean platforms. Many actors and artists were in attendance, including Park Bo-Gum, Iu, Lee Byung-Hun, Jung Eun-Chae, and others. It was a star-studded affair.

From When Life Gives You Tangerines to The Trauma Code, from SNL Korea to Kian’s Bizarre B&b, many dramas and shows were competing against each other. However, while Wlgyt collected most of the awards, The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call followed their track. Scroll ahead to find out about all the winners.

Did When Life...

Mercy For None Becomes Netflix’s Breakout K-Drama(Photo Credit –Netflix)

Korean thriller dramas have been delivering quality dramas with their engaging narratives, rounded characters, and brilliant cinematography. There is a new thriller drama in town that has ranked #2 on Netflix’s global top 10 non-English shows within a few days of its release. The drama is So Ji-sub starrer Mercy for None. It is adapted from the web novel Plaza Wars, written by Oh Se Hyung and illustrated by Kim Kyun Tae. This drama premiered on Netflix on June 6 with all seven episodes released at once. Mercy for None is directed by Choi Seung-eun and written by Yoo Ki-seong. If you have not picked the drama yet, let us convince you to watch Mercy for None on Netflix.

What is the plot of Netflix’s Mercy for None?

Nam Gi-jun (So Ji-sub) is a retired hitman who was once an...

Netflix’s new action thriller outing is showing no mercy with critics. Ever since Keanu Reeves first demonstrated his affinity for headshots and brutal revenge in the first John Wick, new movies in the genre have been trying to live up to the legacy of Baba Yaga. And it seems that Netflix has finally done just that, if the Rotten Tomatoes rating for the streamer’s new action series is any indication.

Following a former gangster and expert enforcer, the series delivers all the brutal and bloody action that fans of the genre could possibly want as our antihero returns to the fray (and brings his trusty baseball with him) after the mysterious death of his brother. The series is titled Mercy for None, and critics have been heaping praise on the action thriller series, which has now debuted with a rare perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Kate Sánchez of But Why Tho?...

Netflix’s new K‑drama Mercy for None debuted globally on June 6, 2025. Written by Yoo Ki‑seong and directed by Choi Sung‑eun, it stars So Ji‑sub as Nam Gi‑jun, a former gangster returning to Seoul’s criminal underworld to avenge his younger brother’s death. With a thriller-meets-noir tone and built on a fan-favorite webtoon, the series has quickly become a hot topic among viewers and critics. This article explores Mercy for None’s (2025) premise, cast, filming, and what makes it stand out.

About the Series:

Mercy for None (2025) is a seven-episode action-noir drama (40–50 min each) based on the popular webtoon Plaza Wars: Mercy for None, written by Oh Se-hyung and illustrated by Kim Gyun-tae. The show adapts its layered revenge story and brutal gangland politics directly from the source material, staying close to its themes of loyalty, power, and betrayal. Fans of the webtoon will recognize key plot turns...

A man leaves a world of violence, severing his own Achilles tendon as a permanent declaration of his exit. For eleven years, Nam Gi-jun lives a life of peace. That peace is shattered when his younger brother is murdered, pulling the legendary gangster back into the grim, neon-soaked underworld of rival gangs he fought to escape.

His return is not a negotiation; it is a reckoning. Gi-jun’s quiet retirement is over, and his quest for answers sets him on a violent collision course with the city’s most powerful and dangerous figures. The promise he made to himself is now secondary to the promise of retribution for his brother.

The Stoic Juggernaut

So Ji-sub’s performance as Nam Gi-jun is a study in physical expression. He is a man of few words, whose profound sadness and simmering rage are communicated through the weight of his posture and the brutal efficiency of his actions.

Everything We Know About Mercy For None K Drama (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Mercy For None is not your average revenge tale. It is grittier and set in a world where mercy simply doesn’t exist. It has it all: twisted alliances, underground politics, and a storm of betrayals coming your way, served with a cold dish of revenge.

Based on the popular webtoon Plaza Wars: Mercy For None by O Se-hyung and Kim Gyun-tae, this new drama blends gang warfare with raw emotion and a splash of mystery. The script is penned by Yoo Ki-seong, and with So Ji-sub making his grand comeback in the lead, expectations are sky-high.

What’s The Plot Of Mercy For None?

Mercy For None, a city ruled by two powerful forces: the Lee Ju-woon organisation and the Koo Bong-san family. They’ve carved up the territory and keep it on a tight leash. Rules are made and broken,...

Eleven years after going into hiding, an ex-gangster returns to Seoul’s criminal to find out the truth about his brother’s death — and get revenge. His weapon of choice? A baseball bat. Based on a webtoon, the action K-drama Mercy for None stars So Ji-sub, Huh Joon-ho, Gong Myoung, andAn Kil-kang. It was directed by Choi Sung-eun (Little Sister). Read on to find out everything else you need to know about the series.

Stream it now.

Check it out at the top of this page.

In Seoul, two powerful organizations run the city’s criminal underworld: Bongsan Group and Juwoon Group. Juwoon’s leader, Lee Ju-woon (Huh), has just named his successor: senior managing director Nam Gi-seok (Lee Jun-hyuk). Upon hearing the news, an empowered Gi-seok pays a visit to Bongsan managing director Gu Jun-mo (Gong), the good-for-nothing son of the group’s CEO, Gu Bong-san (An). Jun-mo’s...

Netflix is gearing up to drop Mercy For None, a hard-hitting Korean crime drama that dives deep into the treacherous world of gangsters, betrayal, and redemption. Premiering on June 21, 2025, the series marks a thrilling new entry in Netflix’s expanding roster of K-dramas that tackle morally grey characters and complex family dynamics. With a star-studded cast led by So Ji-Sub, the show promises an unflinching look into the collapse of brotherhood and the rise of vengeance.

Plot Preview:

Mercy For None centers around Jang Jae-kyung (played by So Ji-Sub), a former gangster who has since walked away from his violent past and now works as a customs officer. However, when his estranged younger brother Jang Jae-hyun (played by Lee Jun-hyuk) takes over the family’s criminal organization, Jae-kyung is forced back into the world he tried to leave behind.

The drama focuses on the tension and power struggle between the two brothers,...

Netflix has released the trailer for its upcoming K-drama Mercy for None, and it promises a dark and intense revenge story. The series stars So Ji-seob as Ki-jun, a man with nothing to lose who goes after the people responsible for his brother’s death. The show will premiere on June 6.

The trailer reveals that Ki-jun and his brother, Nam Ki-seok (played by Lee Jun-hyuk), were once part of a gang. They had made a deal to leave that life behind—and in return, the gang was supposed to leave them alone. But that deal is broken, and Ki-seok is killed. Now, Ki-jun is ready to take down anyone who stands in his way.

The trailer begins with a funeral scene, showing Ki-jun mourning his brother. He looks broken, lost, and full of pain. As the trailer goes on, viewers see him turn into a one-man army. “Nothing is more...

Nothing is more dangerous than a man with nothing to lose. In the new K-drama series by Netflix, a man is preparing to go full John Wick on the crime underworld of Korea after his brother is brutally killed. Mercy For None is debuting on the streaming platform in just a few days, and today, a trailer was revealed to dig a little deeper into the gritty revenge story. The series is set to premiere on June 6.

The new trailer of Mercy For None indicates that, as the title suggests, Ki-jun (So Ji-seob) will stop at nothing in his quest to discover the real reason why somebody decided to kill his brother, Nam Ki-seok (Lee Jun-hyuk). In the story, both of them were part of a gang for many years before asking to leave. Part of their deal included leaving Ki-jun's brother alone, and something happened to make mob bosses break that rule.

Netflix has released the official trailer and key art for Mercy For None, a new South Korean noir action series fronted by So Ji-sub, marking his return to the genre after more than a decade. Set to debut on 6 June, the series centres on a former gangster forced back into the criminal world he once violently escaped, now propelled by the death of his younger brother and a mission to uncover the truth behind it.

So Ji-sub stars as Nam Ki-jun, once a feared figure in the underworld who famously severed his own Achilles tendon to leave that life behind. Eleven years later, he returns following the suspicious death of his brother Ki-seok (played in flashbacks by Lee Jun-hyuk), who had risen to a leadership role within their former organisation. The trailer opens at Ki-seok’s funeral, immediately establishing a tone of controlled grief and cold resolve. Ki-jun’s return is not welcomed,...

"You told me before to pick a side and prove it. This is my answer." Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for their next Korean action thriller series titled Mercy For None, ready for streaming in June in a few weeks. Between Disney+ and Netflix, they've been developing tons of Korean series and films of all kinds, mostly focusing on really intense action stories since they're the most successful in Korea. After severing ties with his gang, a former gangster returns to uncover the truth behind his brother's death — embarking on a relentless path of revenge. Without compromise or regret, Mercy For None takes viewers on a chilling path of vengeance, redefining the world of cold-blooded, intense noir action. Netflix's new Mercy For None series stars So Ji-sub, marking his return to a powerful action piece after 13 years away. Along with Huh Joon-ho, Gong Myoung, Choo Young Woo, An Kil-kang,...

The new South Korea-produced crime action TV series “Mercy For None”, based on the ‘webcomic’ "Gwangjang” written by Oh Se-Hyeong & illustrated by Kim Kyun-Tae, is directed by Choi Sung-Eun, streaming June 6, 2025 on Netflix:

“…the ‘Bongsan Gang’ is led by ‘Gu Bong-San’ (Ahn Kil-Kang).

“Nam Gi-Jun’ defeated other gangs through violent battles and the gang grew into a large company, but Nam decided to leave the gang.

“His younger brother ‘Nam Gi-Seok’ (Lee Jun-Hyuk) joined the ‘Joowoon Gang’ that was led by ‘Lee Joo-Woon’ (Heo Jun-Ho).

“The two gangs were rivals. For his brother, Nam Gi-Jun quit the Bongsan Gang by cutting his left Achilles tendon.

“11 years later, Nam Gi-Jun lives peacefully and makes a living by suppling drinks to businesses run by Bongsan. His brother Nam Gi-Seok is now the second highest ranked person in Joowoon, but he suddenly dies.

“In order to reveal the secret behind Nam Gi-Seok...

From Oldboy to Burning, South Korea has proven that it has no problem delivering a quality revenge tale. In series format, this isn't any different, and a new title is arriving to underscore that we want them to keep coming. Mercy For None is a new action K-drama that is debuting on Netflix next month, and it centers around a dangerous killer who returns to the underworld of crime after his brother is killed. The series is set to premiere on June 6, and you can check out the trailer in this article.

At this point, revenge and assassins' stories immediately bring the John Wick franchise to mind. From the looks of it, though, Mercy For None will be able to stand out in the genre. The series has a pretty distinct nighttime look, and the protagonist Ki-jun seems to be as ruthless as he is skilled. In the story, Ki-jun...

How Much Viewership Rating Did Love Scout End With? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Han Ji-Min and Lee Jun-Hyuk’s latest Sbs drama, Love Scout, wrapped up with a perfect ending and a high viewership rating. The romance drama received the highest rating on the finale episode, making it a special one on Valentine’s Day. On February 14, Love Scout’s last episode aired (spoilers ahead), where Ji-Yun (Han Ji-Min) made a difficult decision to hand over her company to Hye-Jin (Park Bo-Kyung).

She wanted to treat the employees who have been a part of her company as a family. But soon, things unravel for Hye-Jin. Despite the challenges and opposition from executives, she still went ahead with acquiring Ji-Yun’s company. Many handed over their resignation letters as soon as she entered the company as the new owner. To make things worse, Young-Min (Go Sang-Ho), her partner in an investment scam,...

Netflix has revealed its 2025 slate of Korean films and television series, with the streamer cranking up the production of K-content to feed insatiable global demand.

In the scripted sphere, Netflix will debut a whopping 21 series in 2025. Of course, the crown jewel is the third and final season of Squid Game, that launches on June 27. Other highlights include the lavish period drama Dear Hongrang; the pulsating medical drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call; the Hospital Playlist spinoff Resident Playbook; the 80s set comedy Aema; and the action thriller Trigger.

Netflix Korea has quickly established itself as a leader in unscripted television and 2025 will see eight shows either debut or return to the streamer. Culinary Class Wars returns for its second season after breaking out and finding a worldwide audience, also Physical: 100 returns and expands into an international competition series with Physical: Asia. There are also new seasons of Single’s Inferno,...

‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’ is a section that selects and premieres the latest and most prominent contemporary Korean commercial films, known for their mass appeal and significance. This year, the section has unveiled five films, including four world premieres, which are set to captivate the audience’s attention.

A Normal Family A Girl with Closed Eyes

The film A Girl with Closed Eyes (2024) is a thriller that delves into the complex and tense relationship between a criminal and a detective, who are reunited after the murder case of a bestselling author. The film features performances by Kim Minha, who gained global recognition from Pachinko (2022), and Moon Choi from Anarchist from Colony (2017). Director Hur Jin-ho’s latest work, A Normal Family (2023), is a well-crafted suspense thriller that depicts the unraveling lives of four individuals, each steadfast in their own beliefs, after they witness a crime scene involving their children captured on CCTV.

The audiences will be in for a visual treat this week, as the streaming platforms are all set to release a bunch of titles ranging from coming of age show to crime thriller which will definitely enthral the viewers.

From Dulquer Salmaan starrer ‘King of Kotha’, to Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami’s ‘Duranga’ season 2, here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.

Duranga 2: ‘Duranga’ is an official adaptation of the Korean show, ‘Flower of Evil’. New mysteries brew and come to light as the characters of Gulshan Devaiah and Amit Sadh are engaged in an epic showdown to reclaim their identities in the new season.

The second season of the show will see the return of Gulshan, Drashti Dhami, Amit Sadh, Barkha Sen Gupta, Rajesh Khattar reprising their respective roles.

Spanning across eight episodes, ‘Duranga S...

The audiences will be in for a visual treat this week, as the streaming platforms are all set to release a bunch of titles ranging from coming of age show to crime thriller which will definitely enthral the viewers.

From Dulquer Salmaan starrer ‘King of Kotha’, to Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami’s ‘Duranga’ season 2, here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.

Duranga 2: ‘Duranga’ is an official adaptation of the Korean show, ‘Flower of Evil’. New mysteries brew and come to light as the characters of Gulshan Devaiah and Amit Sadh are engaged in an epic showdown to reclaim their identities in the new season.

The second season of the show will see the return of Gulshan, Drashti Dhami, Amit Sadh, Barkha Sen Gupta, Rajesh Khattar reprising their respective roles.

Spanning across eight episodes, ‘Duranga S...

Paramount+ is expanding its global Korean content slate with three new series produced through its partnership with Korea’s Cj Enm.

The three titles – Dongjae, The Good Or The Bastard, Dreaming Of Cinde Fxxxing Rella and Pyramid Game – will launch exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. They will also be licensed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Produced by Studio Dragon and Ace Factory, Dongjae, The Good Or The Bastard is a spin-off of thriller series Stranger, revolving around one of the series’ characters, a lawyer called Seo Dongjae. In the spin-off series, he takes on the murder case of a high school girl and is conflicted between his intuition as a prosecutor and his instinct as an opportunist.

Starring Lee Jun Hyuk, the series is created by Lee Su-yeon, directed by...

The Busan International Film Festival has unveiled its selections for the popular Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere and On Screen strands.

The On Screen section, introduced in 2021, showcases series and this year boasts six world premieres – five from Korea and one from Indonesia.

Tving show “I Am a Running Mate,” about an ordinary student trying to become student president marks the directorial debut of Han Jin-won, winner of best original screenplay as a co-writer for Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” The series merges the coming-of-age genre with elements of a political drama, and stars Yoon Hyun-soo, Lee Jung-sic, Choi Woo-sung, Hong Hwa-yeon and Lee Bong-jun. Three of the nine episodes will screen at the festival.

“The Deal,” a Waave original series, is a tale of criminal intrigue in which two young men kidnap their friend and demand KRW10 billion ($7.5 million) as ransom. The cast features Yoo Seung-ho’s streaming debut alongside Kim Dong-hwi,...

Stars: Ma Dong-seok aka Don Lee, Lee Jun-hyuk, Munetaka Aoki, Se-ho Ahn, Noo-Ri Bae, Kim Do-Geon, Ko Gun-Han, Go Gyu-pil, Shin Hyeon-Yong | Written by Kim Min-sung | Directed by Sang-yong Lee

The third film in the Crime City franchise, The Roundup: No Way Out certainly has its work cut out for it following 2017’s The Outlaws and last year’s The Roundup. Of course Ma Dong-seok or Don Lee, depending on where you’re watching, is back as “Beast Cop” Detective Ma Seok-do. Also returning is Sang-yong Lee who directed both of the previous films, with Kim Min-sung making his debut as a screenwriter.

Seven years after the events of the previous film our hero is working with a new unit and they have a problem on their hands. A drug called Hyper has hit the streets of Seoul, it’s described as more potent than cocaine or amphetamines and more toxic than heroin.

Korean dramas have evolved beyond our expectations over the years, ranging from romance to thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat. Furthermore, they frequently feature exciting action scenes to provide a surprise element, which has now become a standard in every thriller drama. Dramas such as Taxi Driver, Vincenzo, and K2 have particularly taken the concept to the next level, tackling social issues to the extreme.

The upcoming Korean drama Vigilante is one such example, offering a new perspective on a vigilante who fights criminals both under the law and outside the law. Such concepts aren't new, though, as various superhero TV shows like Arrow and films like Batman have been doing them for years, but it's uncommon to see one from the Korean industry. That being said, here's everything we know so far about the new crime thriller K-drama Vigilante, including the plot, cast, trailer, and release date.

Action sequel starring Don Lee has taken $69m in three weeks.

Korean action sequel The Roundup: No Way Out has topped 9 million admissions after three weeks on release, taking $69m at the local box office.

The third instalment of the blockbuster franchise starring Don Lee hit 9.07 million tickets today (June 21), according to the Korea Box-office Information System (Kobis).

The film has led South Korea’s box office since its release on May 31 and is next eyeing the 10 million mark, following in the footsteps of its predecessor The Roundup, which was the country’s number one title last year with more than 12.6 million admissions.

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track… So, we’re going to do the hard work for you.

This week we’re featuring South Korean smash The Roundup: No Way Out, the third installment of crime action franchise The Outlaws which was originated by and stars Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) who also produces. A runaway hit in its home market, it has provided a major shot in the arm to the local box office which has been stuck in the doldrums so far this year; and there is much more to come for what Lee likens to a sort...

Celine Song’s Past Lives from A24 is very much here and now, grossing $232k on four screens for over $58k per location, a nice number for Song’s debut film as the second-biggest limited opening of the year so far. A24 also had the highest in April with Beau Is Afraid at $80k per theater at four locations, testament to helmer Ari Aster’s devoted fan base.

Song’s love story was a Sundance favorite and is high scoring (96% Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh with critics; 92 Metacritic Must-See). The distributor says 18 shows were sold out among the four opening theaters through Saturday amid strong exit polls. The film starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo as childhood friends who reuinte will roll out into top markets over the next few weeks ahead of a nationwide expansion on June 3.

Event cinema: Fathom Events’ Suga / Agust D Tour ‘D-day’ in Japan: Live...

Title is the third instalment in the Don Lee action film franchise.

South Korea’s K-Movie Entertainment has secured pre-sales of The Roundup: No Way Out, the third instalment in the Don Lee action film franchise.

Deals have closed for North America and Germany (Capelight Pictures), Hong Kong and Macau (Edko Films), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Clover Films), in-flight (Kairos), Middle East (Vox), Vietnam (Lotte Vietnam), Philippines (Viva) and Mongolia (Filmbridge).

Lee will return in the action series that began in 2017 with The Outlaws followed by The Roundup, which became South Korea’s...

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South Korea’s biggest blockbuster of 2022, The Roundup, is already getting the sequel treatment.

A new, third film in the series, The Roundup: No Way Out, reuniting director Lee Sang-yong and Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee), officially began production late last week, the sequel’s sale agent K-Movie Entertainment tells The Hollywood Reporter.

The new project continues the gritty action adventures of Lee’s beefed-up detective Ma Seok-do after he has joined the Regional Investigation Unit to face a new crime conspiracy. Korean leading man Lee Joon-hyuk (Along with the Gods) joins the franchise to play the new film’s villain, Lee Jun-hyuk, while Japanese actor Aoki Munetaka will co-star as a yakuza character named Riki.

The Roundup franchise began with the 2017 film The Outlaws, which introduced Lee’s hard-nosed detective Ma Suk-Do as he battled to maintain control over Seoul’s Chinatown...