Haunted Seoul: The Worldwide Hype For Netflix’s ‘Gyeongseong Creature’ Season 2

Let’s test your love for K-Drama. Say you’ve been ambush-interviewed, asked to enumerate the first K-Dramas that will come to your mind. On your list would probably be “Crash Landing on You,” “Descendants of the Sun,” and “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?,” among others. But, there’s a new K-Drama that you might not know about yet: “Gyeongseong Creature.”

Well, you’re not yet too late, even if there’s a worldwide hype going around this show. Join us here on MetroLinks as we uncover the craze behind this thriller series starring Park Seo-joon, Han So-hee, and Claudia Kim, then see why it’s becoming the reason for unfinished homeworks and work distractions. Let’s get started.

‘Gyeongseong Creature’ Season 2 Will Take You From Seoul In 1945 To Seoul Today, Then Back Again — Creepy!

You haven’t heard of “Gyeongseong Creature” Season 1 on social media, right? But that’s all been done and now, it’s the second season. “Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2 is just all over YouTube ads, Facebook feeds, X posts, and whatnot. It’s a thriller show and doesn’t that make it feel a thriller in itself? Like the second season being more popular than the pilot season?

Okay, “Gyeongseong Creature” is actually a historical K-Drama that blends suspense, mystery, and horror into one. It’s airing on the world’s largest streaming platform today, Netflix.

What’s the story? It is set in 1945, during the Second World War, among the most nerve-wracking moments in human history. Particularly, the setting is during the occupation of Seoul’s name then, the titular Gyeongseong, by the ruthless Japanese Army. 

Now, reading the title, it would seem to give the vibes of “Train to Busan,” zombies and more, but almost. The story of “Gyeongseong Creature” starts with the brutality that the Japanese forces then inflicted on civilians in Gyeongseong, subjecting men and women to secret biological experiments. It also depicts the rebels who rise against them and the monsters produced from those experiments. 

The creative geniuses of its writer Kang Eun-kyung, with the direction of Jung Dong-yoon, Roh Young-sub, and Jo Yeong-min for both seasons have made it possible to combine what really transpired in history and what’s fiction. 

The summary above is basically for the first season. It’s the second season that’s trending around. “Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2 is interestingly set in today’s Seoul, telling the story of Ho-jae, a dead ringer for Jang Tae-sang from the 1940s, and Yoon Chae-ok, whose lives intertwine to explore the unfinished relationship, fate, and the evils in Gyeongseong. 

Believe it or not, this second season has garnered a whopping 3.1 million viewers since release, and ranked second on the Global Top 10 Series list for non-English shows. The story is a hype, but what more about its stars, right?

The Stellar Main Cast Of ‘Gyeongseong Creature’ Season 2

“Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2 features a stellar cast of actors and actresses from your favorite K-Dramas. Here are the main cast:

Park Seo-joon

Actor and in-demand endorser for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Montblanc, Skechers, and Chamisul Soju, to name a few, Park Seo-joon is the lead male character in the second season of the thriller. 

You know Park Seo-joon’s roles in many other hit K-Dramas like “She Was Pretty,” “Fight for My Way,” “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?,” “Itaewon Class,” and perhaps his biggest break yet in Hollywood, portraying a character in “The Marvels.” 

He is also multi-awarded, having won accolades at the APAN Star Awards, Asia Artist Awards, Brand Customer Loyalty Awards, KBS Drama Awards, and MBC Drama Awards, among others. He plays the roles of Jang Tae-sang and Jang Ho-jae in “Gyeongseong Creature.”

Han So-hee

There will be no leading man without a leading woman, and in the case of “Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2, that has to be Han So-hee. Standing at 1.65 meters and with a pretty face, Han So-hee may not be as popular as Park Seo-joon, but their chemistry compensates for that.

“Money Flower,” “100 Days My Prince,” “The World of the Married,” and “My Name” are some of her works. She plays the role of the humble Yoon Chae-ok in “Gyeongseong Creature,” a specialist finding missing people. 

After her graduation from high school taking up arts, she lived with her grandmother and worked multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. Never did she know she would make it to the Korean entertainment industry.

Claudia Kim

Without an effective villain, viewers will turn off their TV screens, laptops, or phones. Claudia Kim portrays the role of Yukiko Maeda, a Japanese, in “Gyeongseong Creature.” She is a noblewoman who secretly controls 1940s Seoul and makes the lives of people in the area miserable. 

Some of her notable roles include “Queen of the Game” and “The Atypical Family.” You will also remember her appearances in Hollywood and Western films, such as “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” so she’s pretty worldwide.

Also on the cast members are Lee Moo-saeng as Captain Kuroko and Bae Hyun-sung as Seung-jo. Aside from Lee Moo-saeng and Bae Hyun-sung “Gyeongseong Creature” 1 and 2 cast, actors like Kim Hae-sook, Jo Han-chul, Wi Ha-joon, Park Ji-hwan, and Ok Ja-yeon, among various others, are playing support, as well as minor roles. That’s about it on the cast of “Gyeongseong Creature” 2. Now, let’s head to why you should watch it.

Reasons To Stream ‘Gyeongseong Creature’ Season 2

It’s partially wrong to watch a K-Drama just because your friends are watching it or you saw it on YouTube. You’ve got to love its story, or you’ve got to be fans of the actors. Here are the top three reasons to watch the hype. 

The Story Is Better Than The First Season

Not that what happened in the past should be forgotten, but it’s the mingling of the past and present that is making viewers of “Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2 want more. 

In this latest season, the show raises the bar with darker and more suspenseful twists. Just how you can reconcile the evils of World War II with modern Seoul is intriguing in itself. Watch how the characters deal with deadlier threats with viewers pulled deeper into the haunting mysteries of Gyeongseong. 

On the surface, it is for the history geek, but as you move further, every thrillseeker will love this.

Character Arcs Are Not Immobile 

You know of series and shows (MetroLinks are not going to drop names) with static characters. Here in “Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2, almost every character has a backstory to share, with some even developing along with the story. Their evolving relationships and struggles create emotional depth, adding layers to the action-packed and goosebump-y storyline.

Treat Yourself To A Unique Historical-Supernatural Mix

“Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2 is making those historical series with romance as twists stale. Set in the 1940s and present-day, the show brilliantly combines Korean, Japanese, and world history with supernatural horror – something like “The Vampire Diaries,” except that this started in 17th century America – creating a visual spectacle with eerie themes. The mix of period drama and chilling creatures offer a viewing experience that will take you to the edge of your seats!

“‘Gyeongseong Creature’ Season 2’ is more lively and exciting, keeping you on your toes for the next move,” correspondents from Pinkvilla reviewed.

The second season of “Gyeongseong Creature” may be more trending than the first season, which started airing in December 2023, but you are absolutely not yet too late for this brand-new season. You’ll appreciate the story even if you haven’t watched the first season then. But of course, you must catch up and watch Season 1. Get Netflix today to experience “Gyeongseong Creature” Season 2.