Disney Plus has achieved its biggest Korean success yet with the mystery thriller “Nine Puzzles,” now holding the record for the platform’s most-viewed title across the Asia-Pacific region, surpassing all other series and films.
A crime thriller blending wit and toughness, Nine Puzzles chronicles the story of Yoon E-na (Kim Da-mi), a highly intelligent yet socially awkward criminal profiler. Once a traumatized teenager who witnessed an infamous unsolved murder, she now works in the Seoul Metropolitan Police’s violent crimes unit. Ironically, her new partner is Kim Han-saem (Son Suk-ku), the very detective who once suspected her of being the perpetrator herself. As a fresh wave of murders occurs, each accompanied by a mysterious hand-drawn puzzle piece, Yoon E-na and Kim Han-saem must confront their complex past to identify a killer whose motives appear to be linked to the initial case. The show’s title reflects these chilling clues – a set of nine puzzles, with each piece predicting a new murder and gradually unveiling a bigger picture that exposes a decade-old conspiracy.
Disney’s regional creative leaders express that they held both optimism and some reservations regarding the show during its creation, particularly concerning its complex, twist-laden narrative.
At first, we aimed to ensure that the content would be easy for viewers to understand,” expresses Carol Choi, Disney’s executive VP in the Asia Pacific region. “Initially, I had concerns about whether some people might get confused, but I myself found it fascinating. What we’ve learned is never underestimate your audience’s intelligence.
Often, the elements that initially seemed risky for the project – its intricate pacing, sophisticated tone, and unique characters – ended up becoming its most attractive features to the public. “It’s a mystery until the audience accepts it,” Choi remarks.
The studio was confident that the directorial talents of Yoon Jong-bin, whom they had chosen for the series, would guide viewers through the complex narrative. As Choi points out, Yoon was a major attraction. Renowned for his realistic and politically charged films, Yoon has made a name for himself with critically acclaimed works like “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time” (2012), “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” (2014), and “The Spy Gone North” (2018). Recently, he has ventured into series television, directing Netflix’s crime drama “Narco-Saints” (2022). With “Nine Puzzles”, Yoon is embarking on his second longform project, and this venture may very well be his most daring stylistic exploration yet.
One daring creative move in this series lies in its lead character, Yoon E-na (portrayed by Kim), an unconventional rookie profiler who stands out from the tough detectives commonly seen in Korean thrillers. Bubbly yet emotionally reserved, impulsive and eccentric to a point that could be almost comical, E-na initially seemed strange or even off-putting to some Korean viewers – but as the narrative unfolded, her unique appeal and concealed vulnerability began to captivate them deeply. In fact, Disney had predicted that E-na’s unusual traits might take audiences by surprise. Choi clarifies: “From a marketing standpoint, we made a calculated decision to present her character more prominently than usual at the outset, so viewers would understand that she is not your typical detective. We emphasized this distinction even more in our promotional materials.
To enhance its local allure even more, Yoon strategically enlisted influential figures from the industry to feature as recurring guest stars, each taking center stage in an episode filled with intriguing riddles. From Hwang Jung-min and Park Sung-woong to Ji Jin-hee and Lee Sung-min, these appearances transformed the show into a highly anticipated event – a captivating experience for viewers and a platform to shine for some of South Korea’s most prominent personalities.
With “Nine Puzzles” proving successful, there’s been buzz about a possible second season, even though Disney+ and partner Kakao Entertainment have not made any official announcements yet. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, creator Yoon shared insights into the process of creating the series, from maintaining its unique blend of noir and cartoon styles to crafting the intricate puzzles-within-puzzles mystery. He also discussed his thoughts on potentially revisiting this world for a potential Season 2.
What initially attracted you to the prospect of directing Nine Puzzles, and what were your early ideas on how you’d like to handle the project?
Upon initial perusal of the scripts, I found them incredibly captivating. The reading experience was smooth and engaging, leaving me eagerly anticipating each subsequent event. In terms of mystery thrillers – be it books, movies or TV shows – the key factor that lingers in my mind after completion is whether it was convincing, if the mystery held up logically. With regards to this script, I found it incredibly convincing. It offered a compelling journey filled with intricate twists and turns, yet every aspect made sense to me. Ultimately, this is what piqued my interest in taking on the project.
Initially, as I pondered over how to shape this narrative, my mind naturally questioned, “Could this tale unfold in our contemporary world? Are these characters believable individuals we might encounter in real life?” To answer these questions, I decided that the world of this project should inhabit a borderland between the familiar and the fantastical, with a touch of whimsy. Consequently, I aimed to infuse the production design and character development with an elevated tone to match such a universe.
That’s quite a juggling act! Sometimes it’s gloomy, rough, and reminiscent of film noir, while at other moments it’s playful and whimsical. Yet, it manages to come together seamlessly. What were the elements behind achieving such a balance?
Instead of delving into the realm of a traditional “mystery novel,” I chose to explore the idea of a “humorous, whimsical cartoon mystery.” While mystery novels often carry a serious, gritty atmosphere, considering a cartoon mystery immediately conjures up lighter, more humorous tones. Yet, despite its playful tone and the presence of heavy themes like serial killings, my objective was to maintain this more casual, amusing approach throughout the story.
Characterized by Kim Da-mi’s portrayal of Yoon E-na, this detective heroine stands out in the Korean thriller genre, as she is an unconventional choice. She exhibits unique characteristics that include being cheerful yet guarded emotionally, displaying childish tendencies, acting impulsively, and possessing a quirky demeanor.
Initially, the E-na character in its original conception was reminiscent of a classic, seasoned detective, characterized by bluntness, strength, and resilience. However, I desired to give the character a unique twist, making her seem somewhat childlike, as if she’s been stuck in the past since a traumatic event occurred 10 years ago, which hindered her growth. This unconventional approach was risky, given that mystery fans are accustomed to traditional charismatic detective characters. Adhering to this archetype would have been less challenging and potentially more well-received by the audience. Nevertheless, I wanted to differentiate the show in some way. Thus, Kim Da-mi and I collaborated extensively to develop the character, ensuring her acting was somewhat surreal, giving an impression of detachment from reality. This aesthetic extended to her wardrobe and makeup, creating a cartoonish feel as if she’s been transplanted into reality. Furthermore, I chose to depict E-na more as a private investigator than a police detective.
How have your characters been perceived in Korea, according to what I’ve gathered? It seems E-na was initially met with some skepticism or even irritation by certain fans, but as the story unfolded, she managed to win them over. On the other hand, Son Suk-ku’s portrayal of detective Kim Han-saem, particularly his peculiarities, has been universally appreciated. Given the abundance of memes featuring his iconic beanie online, it appears that similar hats might become fashionable in Seoul as the weather gets colder, if they haven’t already. There’s also a possibility that neck tattoos could gain popularity, much like detective Kim Han-saem’s signature tattoo.
(Chuckles) Everything you’ve said is right on the mark! It seems that one’s appreciation for the show heavily depends on how they connect with E-na’s character. Interestingly, her unconventional nature initially left some viewers taken aback, but as you pointed out, once past that initial hurdle, she becomes quite endearing to many. This appears to be a common sentiment among viewers. For Han-saem, we wanted his persona to align with the eccentric tone we were setting for E-na, hence the addition of his signature beanie and tattoo. In reality, Korean police officers don’t typically wear casual beanies or sport neck tattoos. These unique elements were added to create a parallel between him and E-na. Initially, these traits may have seemed strange and unfamiliar, but they eventually became a significant part of Han-saem’s charm.
Title aside, this show keeps viewers on their toes with intricate riddles, interwoven storylines, false leads, and puzzles nested within puzzles. When planning the mystery, how did you ensure it would be solvable yet unexpected? How much of the creative process felt like a puzzle to be unraveled for you as the creator?
The show is full of mysteries with tricky riddles and hidden clues. How did you design these puzzles so they could be solved but still surprise us? Was coming up with the story itself a challenge you had to solve, like a mystery for the creator?
To ensure I accurately communicated my initial impression from reading the script, I made an effort to see things through the viewer’s perspective at every step. Since I tend to be easily fooled as a viewer when watching films or reading novels, if the author intended for the audience to perceive something a certain way or mislead them about who the villain might be, that is exactly how I perceived the story. This led me to often think, “Oh, this person must be the culprit. Wait, they’re not? What now?! (Laughs)” As a result, I structured the series in such a way that I personally felt convinced a certain character was the killer, only for us to follow the script and reveal new suspicious characters, keeping the mystery alive. Being easily fooled myself and always placing myself in the audience’s shoes was crucial in my role as director of this series.
Initially, when I began watching Nine Puzzles, I got a faint sense of Park Chan-wook’s style – and then it struck me that Cho Young-wuk, a long-time partner of Park, composed the series’ music. Over the years, we have worked together extensively, and I found this score to be exceptionally beautiful. It seemed to effortlessly knit together the diverse moods of the show in a very graceful manner. Could you tell us more about your musical collaboration?
I’ve been working with composer Cho since our collaboration on “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time,” and I always look forward to working together. For the music in “Nine Puzzles,” we prioritized several key elements. Primarily, I desired a distinct theme song for E-na that would effectively express the thoughts of this unique character. Additionally, I wanted each pivotal event in the narrative to have its own theme. There was also a theme for when E-na begins profiling and making various deductions. Having these key themes makes it easier for viewers to grasp the intricate storyline and comprehend the essence of each episode. Another significant choice: The music used in the title sequence does not appear again until close to the end, when we discover whose theme song it has been all along. Our aim was to familiarize the audience with this music first, then later reveal whose it truly belongs to.
The series consistently has a movie-like feel, and I found the pace quite engaging. Unlike some procedural shows that rush character development, this one subtly unfolds through the narrative progression, not by hastily presenting it at the beginning. Can you explain how creating this series differed from your usual method when working on feature films?
For this project, as I often do with films, I followed a similar methodology. To be honest, there wasn’t anything particularly unique that I did. I started by creating detailed storyboards, which for a series of 11 episodes was roughly five times the workload compared to a typical film. Due to the scale of the project, I couldn’t complete all the preparatory work I would have for a movie, but it was around 80% to 90% of what I would have done if the project were the same size. It was quite demanding, and the creation of the storyboards alone took approximately six months.
Given the success of the series, would you consider reprising your role for another round? To keep things intriguing, let’s steer clear of spoilers. By the end of season 1, our protagonists were poised and ready to tackle a new mystery. So, what about season 2?
It appears that there are currently no definite plans for another season of the series, as far as I know. Various factors need to align for a new season to materialize, such as the approval of both Disney+ and Kakao Entertainment, the availability of the series writer Lee Eun-mi, and the cast members. Meanwhile, I am busy preparing for a new film project, which I have been eagerly working on for ten years now, and I hope to start shooting it next Spring. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but only recently have we been able to finalize the details.
If everyone is available and it suits your schedule, would you consider playing another season with us?
Of course, why not? I wouldn’t want to be left out.
Read More
- Grimguard Tactics tier list – Ranking the main classes
- Silver Rate Forecast
- USD CNY PREDICTION
- 10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2025
- Box Office: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Stomping to $127M U.S. Bow, North of $250M Million Globally
- Former SNL Star Reveals Surprising Comeback After 24 Years
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Black Myth: Wukong minimum & recommended system requirements for PC
- Hero Tale best builds – One for melee, one for ranged characters
- Mech Vs Aliens codes – Currently active promos (June 2025)
2025-06-19 15:25