Squid Game and Hellbound were two of Netflix’s biggest original shows in 2021. Both South Korean programmes drew massive viewing numbers, with Squid Game trending as the most-watched show ever on the streaming platform, until Hellbound released and quickly overtook the former in only two days.
From 2016 to 2021, Netflix launched more than 130 Korean titles, but as the fan base grows to include more viewers from around the world, the platform has announced that almost 25 new shows and films will be coming in 2022.
Whether it’s the Korean remake of Money Heist to a show about zombies invading a high school, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a look at our 10 most anticipated South Korean titles, set to release on Netflix this year.
'All of Us Are Dead'
Release date: January 28
The series features a young cast of rising stars including Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hoo, Cho Yi-hyun, Park Solomon, and Yoo In-soo as students who are trapped in their high school amid a zombie virus outbreak and have to come together to fight for survival. The show is based on a popular webtoon created by Joo Dong-geun.
'Twenty Five Twenty One'
Release date: February 12
The romantic drama series stars Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk as a couple who meet in 1998, when they are 18 and 22. However, their lives are affected and their dreams dashed in the South Korean financial crisis the same year. The couple fall in love again years later. There are 16 episodes in the series, with two released every Saturday and Sunday.
'Business Proposal'
Release date: February 2022
Based on a webtoon, Business Proposal is about a blind date gone wrong. After Ha-Ri is heartbroken to learn that her long-time crush has a girlfriend, a friend convinces her to take her place on a blind date, with the intent to scare the guy off. However, plans go awry when he turns out to be the chief executive of her company and makes a proposal. The show stars Kim Se-jeong and Ahn Hyo-seop.
'The Sound of Magic'
Release date: TBA
The drama centres around an enigmatic magician named Lee-Eul (Ji Chang-wook) who wishes he could stop time to remain as a child and Yoon A-Yi (Choi Sung-eun), a high schooler who has grown up too fast. Yoon has long dreamt of becoming a magician, but instead works part-time jobs to support herself and her younger sister. After meeting Lee-Eul, he puts on a magic show for people who believe in magic, including Yoon. The series is based on the webtoon Annarasumanara.
'A Model Family'
Release date: TBA
Jung Woo stars as Dong-ha, the breadwinner of his family, but on the brink of bankruptcy and divorce. One day, he discovers an expensive car with money inside and soon becomes entangled with Gwang-cheol, the second-in-command of a drug ring, who coerces Dong-ha to become further entrenched in his drug operation.
'Glitch'
Release date: TBA
A woman named Hong Ji-hyo tries to track down her boyfriend of four years who disappears after a flash of light is cast over him. She gets help from members of a UFO club to help solve the strange mystery. Jeon Yeo-bin, Nana, and Lee Dong-hwi star in this comedy-thriller that has 10 episodes.
'Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area'
Release date: TBA
The much anticipated Korean remake of Money Heist follows a similar premise to the Spanish hit show. A genius strategist recruits top-class criminals to be part of a mastermind heist, this time taking place in the Korean peninsula.
The series stars Yoo Ji-tae as the Professor and Kim Yun-jin as investigating officer Woo Jin. Other cast members include: Park Hae-soo as Berlin, Jeon Jong-seo as Tokyo, Lee Won-jong as Moscow, Kim Ji-hun as Denver, Jang Yoon-ju as Nairobi, Lee Hyun-woo as Rio, Kim Ji-hoon as Helsinki and Lee Kyu-ho as Oslo.
'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations'
Release date: TBA
The film focuses on the leader of an overseas black ops team named Yaksha (Sol Kyung-gu), who is nicknamed after a human-devouring spirit, for his ruthless nature. He’s entrusted with taking on a new dangerous mission in Shenyang, China, a city that’s full of espionage. The film also stars Park Hae-soo, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Yang Dong-geun.
'20th Century Girl'
Release date: TBA
The romance film tells the tale of a painful yet heart-fluttering first love for No Bo-Ra (Kim Yoo-jung) in 1999, when she is only 17. It spans over time to include the reappearance of that first love in the 21st century. Bo-Ra is best friends with Yeon-Du (Roh Yoon-seo), who has a crush on Hyun-Jin (Park Jung-woo). She asks Bo-Ra to find out everything she can about him as Yeon-Du heads to the US to have heart surgery. During this time, Bo-Ra begins to observe Hyun-Jin closely, eventually falling in love.
'Jung-E'
Release date: TBA
The futuristic film takes place in the 22nd century and shows a desolated earth that is no longer inhabitable owing to climate change. Amid the chaos, an internal war breaks out in the shelter that was built for human survival. The only way to end the war is by finding a way to clone the legendary mercenary Jung-E into a scalable robot. The film is directed and written by Train to Busan and Hellbound’s Yeon Sang-ho. It stars Kang Soo-youn, Kim Hyun-joo and Ryu Kyung-soo.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
