Genre darling Park Ju Hyun is stepping into emotionally dark territory once again—this time as the daughter of a chilling serial killer played by Park Yong Woo in the upcoming psychological thriller Hunter with a Scalpel.
At the production press event held on June 12, director Lee Jung-hoon introduced the drama as “an intense psychological showdown unfolding within a father-daughter relationship,” hinting at an unsettling truth buried in their bond.
Produced by LG U+’s STUDIO X+U, this mid-form series follows a brilliant forensic pathologist who starts connecting recent murders to a killer presumed dead for two decades. What’s worse? The methods mirror those of her own father, and she’s determined to catch him before the police, or risk becoming his next victim.
June 2025 Korean Dramas: “Mercy For None”, “Our Movie”, Head Over Heels” & More
Park Ju Hyun, known for her consistent excellence in thriller roles, plays the emotionally guarded and genius autopsy doctor, Seo Se-hyun. “She’s cold and reserved, hiding deep trauma from her childhood,” Park said. “She’s a far cry from who I am in real life, but I was drawn to the complexity of her inner world.”
She also shared her love for gritty genre stories. “The Hunter with a Scalpel doesn’t romanticize violence. It’s raw and disturbing in the right ways, which I think will make it even more compelling for viewers.”
Opposite her is veteran actor Park Yong Woo as Yoon Jo-gyun, Se-hyun’s father—a charming laundry shop owner on the surface, but beneath that, a remorseless psychopath. In the teaser trailer, his piercing eyes and calm demeanor left a lasting impression.
“The script had real weight to it,” Park Yong-woo noted. “I was struck by the tagline, ‘a story about people and fear.’ That stuck with me.” He also revealed that he built his character by diving into true crime documentaries. “I imagined someone who can commit unspeakable acts yet go about daily life without a flicker of guilt. That was the scariest thing.”
Kang Hoon rounds out the lead trio as Jeong-hyeon, a justice-driven detective who still believes in the goodness of people—a stark contrast to the chaos he’s pulled into.
Adding to its momentum, The Hunter with a Scalpel was invited to the 8th Cannes International Series Festival before its local premiere, standing as the only Korean drama selected alongside European contenders—an early nod to its artistic edge and global appeal.
Director Lee said, “It’s a rare honor as a K-drama director to see your work showcased internationally. The nomination at Cannes was a proud moment and speaks volumes about the rising status of Korean content on the world stage.”
Hunter with a Scalpel premieres June 16 on U+tv, U+mobile tv, and Disney+. Get ready for a taut, unsettling dive into trust, betrayal, and the terrifying secrets that hide behind familiar faces.
Leave a Reply