Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Disney+ 'Nine Puzzles' depicts duo unraveling mysteries in cartoonish reality
Actors Son Suk-ku, left, and Kim Da-mi pose during a press conference for Disney+ mystery thriller "Nine Puzzles" at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Park Jin-hai
Director Yoon Jong-bin, celebrated for his raw portrayals of masculinity and social realities, is not venturing into a mystery thriller, making a departure from his signature intense tone.
Disney+ series “Nine Puzzles” revolves around Ena (Kim Da-mi), the only witness and suspect in a murder case who becomes a profiler 10 years later. She joins forces with Hansaem (Son Suk-ku), the detective who still suspects her, to chase a newly resurfaced serial killer.
Yoon described the project as “a detective story about two uniquely distinctive characters uncovering the truth behind a series of murders.”
In the drama, a puzzle is delivered to Ena every time a new murder occurs. These puzzles are the starting point for unraveling serial murders that have resumed after a decade. As each of the nine puzzle pieces falls into place, the truth gradually emerges, drawing viewers deeper into the world of “Nine Puzzles” and inviting them to follow the tense investigation and deduction processes of Ena and Hansaem.
"When I first read the script, I found it incredibly gripping. The script read very well and after finishing it, the very first thought I had was, 'Could this really happen in real life?' That was the first question I asked myself. I also wondered if these two characters could actually exist in reality," Yoon said during a press conference Wednesday for the series at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul.
A scene from Disney+ series "Nine Puzzles" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea
"My conclusion was that, if viewed from a realistic perspective, viewers might find it questionable. So I thought the tone of the series should exist on the boundary between reality and unreality, more like a comic book world. I felt it was necessary to show viewers early on that the story is somewhat removed from reality," he explained.
The director paid close attention to giving meaning to the props and spaces in order to convey the theme of the series. Also, he emphasized that unlike many mystery thrillers, which tend to have a heavy, realistic tone, he tried to make it feel more lighthearted and even a bit cute.
"The characters have unique qualities, which is why I can’t help but describe the style as ‘cartoonish’ or ‘comic book-like.’ I really tried to express that aspect of the series,” he said.
Kim agreed that the settings were unique and unlike anything she had seen before. "There was a distinctive and strange feeling, and acting within those spaces felt new and fun."
Son added, “I think the word ‘strange’ really fits. You can’t simply define the genre as a mystery; it feels like there’s something more to it."
Regarding the precarious relationship between the two characters, which teeters between suspicion and cooperation, Son noted, “Figuring out how to portray their relationship was a real challenge. To Hansaem, Ena is both someone he wants to protect and someone he wants to defeat. Because he feels these conflicting emotions, I think that tension lasts until the end. Their back-and-forth can be endearing, but within that deep suspicion, they torment each other, making it hard to define their relationship.”
Kim shared that playing a profiler was a new challenge for her.
“I wanted to express the feeling of someone who is emotionally stuck in the past. I hoped to show a character who, while she may seem willful or headstrong, also has vulnerability and pain beneath the surface," Kim said.
The 11-episode series is scheduled to debut Wednesday, and will be released in two separate installments.