A 12-Billion-Won K-Drama Highlighted by The New York Times: Its Ending Had Everyone Talking

Coupang Play’s original series Newtopia has officially ended — and it went out with a bang! Based on Han Sang-woon’s novel Influenza, the genre-bending K-drama successfully combined zombie thriller with heartfelt romance, giving rise to a new kind of storytelling now dubbed the “zom-com” (zombie romantic comedy).

Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun and written by Han Jin-won and Ji Ho-jin, Newtopia reportedly had a production budget exceeding 12 billion KRW, though the exact figure remains undisclosed. For comparison, Netflix’s 2022 zombie series All of Us Are Dead cost around the same — making Newtopia one of the most expensive K-dramas of its kind to date.

Set in a zombie-ravaged Seoul, the series follows soldier Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung-min) and his girlfriend Young-joo (played by Ji Soo), as they risk everything to reunite across the ruins of a city teeming with the undead.

The final episode, released on March 22, was filled with shocking twists, high-stakes moments, and an emotional payoff that had viewers in tears. In a suspenseful climax, Jae-yoon’s team is on the verge of escaping a zombie-infested tower when key team members begin to fall — one turns into a zombie, another abruptly abandons the group, heightening tension until the very end.

Meanwhile, Young-joo, who seemingly finds safety with the help of a train station worker, is hit with a mind-bending twist: the person helping her was just a hallucination. Through all the chaos and unexpected turns, the two finally reunite — a tearful embrace that left a deep emotional impact on viewers around the world.

A Zom-Com That Captivated the Globe

From the beginning, Newtopia drew praise for its bold mix of horror and romance. It managed to retain the intensity of a zombie thriller while delivering a deeply human love story. Critics lauded it for paving the way for a new subgenre within K-content.

The New York Times described the series as “entertaining from start to finish,” while Sportskeeda praised it as “a surprisingly convincing story.”

International fans were equally enthusiastic, calling it “a fresh take on zombie content — captures the full range of human emotion,” and raving, “Every episode had me hooked! Loved the pacing, the characters, and the emotional payoff,” as well as, “So well-shot and entertaining. Scary, funny, romantic — all in one. A masterpiece!” Korean viewers shared the excitement, calling it “the best zombie K-drama yet,” with others saying, “When Jae-yoon and Young-joo reunited, I actually cheered,” and describing it as “gory, funny, cute, and totally addictive,” adding, “No words needed. Just watch it — and good luck stopping at one episode.”

Even after the finale, fans continued to express bittersweet emotions, with many commenting, “It was my Friday joy — what do I look forward to now?” and “This became my favorite zombie drama ever. I’m already rewatching it.”

Stellar Performances Brought It All to Life

Park Jung-min was widely praised for his emotionally charged portrayal of Jae-yoon, anchoring the action with a grounded, heartfelt performance. Co-star Ji Soo also received acclaim for her role as Young-joo, showing a new depth and versatility as an actress.

In a statement shared through her agency BLISSOO on March 26, Ji Soo expressed gratitude for the project:

“I was honored to be part of such a meaningful series. Playing Young-joo reminded me of things I had forgotten, and I’ll always be thankful for that. I hope those who watched Newtopia continue to run toward hope — and keep supporting Young-joo, too.”

She was especially praised for her emotionally nuanced performance in the latter half of the series, including a standout scene in the finale where she says to Jae-yoon, “You couldn’t even imagine what I’ve been through,” after breaking through a horde of zombies to reach him.

Supporting actors Lim Sung-jae, Kim Joon-han, Kang Young-seok, Bin Chan-wook, and Hong Seo-hee also played crucial roles in elevating the show’s quality.

Since premiering on March 7 and airing new episodes every Friday, Newtopia has topped Coupang Play’s internal charts and become a flagship original series for the platform. Co-produced by Bound Entertainment and Billions Plus, all eight episodes are now available to stream exclusively on Coupang Play.

With Yoon Sung-hyun’s visionary direction, Han Jin-won and Ji Ho-jin’s solid script, and a standout cast, Newtopia has emerged as a global showcase of what K-content can do — both emotionally and technically.

Even after its conclusion, the drama remains No. 1 on Coupang Play’s “Top 20 Most Popular Titles” and buzz around a potential Season 2 continues to build.