Should You Stream The Historical Horror K-Drama ‘Gyeongseong Creature’?

To stream or not to stream? This seems to be the question on everyone’s mind when it comes to the new Netflix K-drama Gyeongseong Creature starring Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee. It’s been receiving mixed reviews, but it has also soared to the top of the streaming platform’s global rankings. We’re letting you in on our thoughts on the show to help you decide if it deserves a spot on your watchlist. 

An intriguing K-drama that blends historical, horror, and romance. (Photo from: Netflix Media Center)

Gyeongseong Creature: cast, plot, review, and more

But first, a quick rundown on the cast and plot. The series is set in the bustling city of Gyeongseong (AKA modern-day Seoul) in 1945 when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon) is the rags-to-riches owner of the biggest pawn shop in town and the “information king” when it comes to money or people. 

After being threatened by a Japanese police commissioner whose mistress went missing, he sets off to find her to no avail. He then crosses paths with a sleuth named Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee) who’s also on a mission to find her missing mother. Together, they uncover the dark secrets of an underground laboratory at the Ongseong Hospital and fight for their lives against a monstrous creature that will kill anyone in its sight and spread a deadly disease when it’s inactive.

K-drama fans have been highly anticipating the series since the announcement revealed the star-studded cast back in November 2022. Aside from our two main leads, other veteran actors such as Wi Ha-joon, Kim Hae-sook, and Cho Han-cheul are involved in the project.

Left to right: Wi Ha-joon, Kim Hae-sook, and Cho Han-cheul. (Photos from: Netflix Media Center)

Part 1 — which has seven episodes — has been released on Netflix. From a viewer’s POV, it doesn’t really make a lot of sense to release Part 2 — which only has three episodes left — separately. While we wait, let’s dive into our thoughts about the series. Warning: spoilers ahead!

The good 

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The series has the power to pull you in with its masterful cast members. Park Seo-joon will enchant you as he portrays the cocky and street-smart Jang Tae-sang. Han So-hee will tug at your heartstrings as she desperately searches and finds out the truth about her mother. You’ll also be impressed by Wi Ha-joon’s charisma as a passionate independence movement member at the start of the show and how he turns into a broken man by the end of Part 1. If you’re a fan of any of these top stars, then you wouldn’t want to miss out on their performances.

The show also presents wonderful elements that you’d love in a K-drama such as a romantic pairing from two different backgrounds, charming historical sets that will remind you of Mr. Sunshine, and a heart-wrenching story of survival.

While many have criticised the lack of romantic scenes in the drama, we think that romance isn’t the priority of the drama. Instead, it showcases other deep human connections such as a mother’s love that goes beyond time and a cruel fate. Our main leads also share a bond that’s been forged in life-and-death situations. To be fair, they really don’t have much time to explore their newfound feelings with everything that’s happening around them. 

The not-so-good

The story takes its time when it comes to its worldbuilding and introducing all the characters in the first few episodes, so there are times when the pacing can feel somewhat slow. You might be tempted to drop it before reaching the halfway point of the series.

If you’ve been watching horror movies for a while now, then we bet that you won’t be freaked out over the alien-like creature in the series. With all the other events at the start of the series, it sometimes feels as if the monster is safely tucked away in the basement.

But if you have some patience to bear with and move past the rocky start, you’ll discover that the drama offers a deeper story as it shines the light on the true horrors of human society. It also has a lot of heart which outshines its other flaws.

Gyeongseong Creature: Part 1 ending explained

Is there a happy ending for our battered and bruised main leads? (Photo from: Netflix Media Center)

At the end of Part 1, Jang Tae-sang leads the rescue mission to free the human prisoners locked up in the hospital. All were able to escape but to buy more time, he had to stay behind. We have yet to find out in Part 2 if there were survivors from the escapees since soldiers punished anyone in Gyeongseong without mercy.

While the first monster — which has turned out to be Chae-ok’s mother — is still at the hospital, the final scene reveals that the mistress of the commissioner will be the next one who will turn into a new monstrous mutant.

As of writing, the future seems bleak for our main couple. We’re hoping that they’ll be reunited, but the odds are stacked against them. Jang Tae-sang survived his fight with a trigger-happy soldier, but he seems much closer to death after all his injuries and after Chae-ok had a foreboding nightmare.

The story also seems to be going on a much darker turn as there are theories that there may be more than one monster on the loose in Gyeongseong.

Gyeongseong Creature: number of episodes and where to watch in Singapore

Part 1 is now available for streaming on Netflix. The fate of Jang Tae-sang, Yoon Chae-ok, and their comrades will be revealed in the final three episodes of Part 2 which will be out on 5 January 2024.

(Cover photos from: Netflix Media Center)