• Kim Yun-jin as Seon Woo-jin, left, and Kim Seung-o as Cha Moohyuk in 'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area'. All photos: Netflix
    Kim Yun-jin as Seon Woo-jin, left, and Kim Seung-o as Cha Moohyuk in 'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area'. All photos: Netflix
  • Kim Yun-jin stars as investigating officer Woo-jin.
    Kim Yun-jin stars as investigating officer Woo-jin.
  • Jun Jong-seo as Tokyo and Jang Yoon-ju as Nairobi.
    Jun Jong-seo as Tokyo and Jang Yoon-ju as Nairobi.
  • From left, Jun Jong-seo as Tokyo, Lee Hyun-woo as Rio, Jang Yoon-ju as Nairobi, Park Hae-soo as Berlin, Lee Won-jong as Moscow and Kim Ji-hun as Denver.
    From left, Jun Jong-seo as Tokyo, Lee Hyun-woo as Rio, Jang Yoon-ju as Nairobi, Park Hae-soo as Berlin, Lee Won-jong as Moscow and Kim Ji-hun as Denver.
  • Park Hae-soo as Berlin.
    Park Hae-soo as Berlin.
  • While the show follows a similar format, it has a completely new narrative compared to the Spanish version of 'Money Heist'.
    While the show follows a similar format, it has a completely new narrative compared to the Spanish version of 'Money Heist'.
  • Lee Hyun-woo as Rio, Park Hae-soo as Berlin and Jun Jong-seo as Tokyo.
    Lee Hyun-woo as Rio, Park Hae-soo as Berlin and Jun Jong-seo as Tokyo.
  • From left, Kim Ji-hun as Denver, Lee Joobeen as Yun Mi-sun and Lee Won-jong as Moscow.
    From left, Kim Ji-hun as Denver, Lee Joobeen as Yun Mi-sun and Lee Won-jong as Moscow.

'Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area' is coming to Netflix on Friday


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

South Korea’s version of Money Heist is almost here.

The anticipated remake of the popular Spanish show will make its debut on the streaming platform on Friday. It 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. The series is directed by Kim Hong-sun.

While the remake also features a dynamic band of thieves with coded city names, who wear red jumpsuits with white face masks and are led by a mastermind, the similarities end there.

The show takes place in the same fictional universe as the original, with North and South Korea on the brink of reunification. However, a heist team has been working underground to steal the new currency straight from the Unified Korea Mint. With a top-class comrade of thieves, they attempt to rob four trillion won (about $3 billion).

South Korean dramas have often been successful for Netflix, with shows such as Squid Game and Hellbound striking a chord with audiences and enjoying record-breaking viewership.

Money Heist, also known as La casa de papel, is a Spanish series that revolved around two heists, at the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain, and is narrated by Tokyo, played by Ursula Corbero. The show ended in December.

The show was originally produced by private Spanish broadcaster Antena 3 and opened to mixed reviews in May 2017.

After receiving low ratings, it was cancelled at the end of season one, before Netflix came in and re-edited the first season to cut down the time per episode, making it ideal for binge-watching. It was the platform's most-watched non-English series in 2018. The show ran for a full five seasons.

Scroll the gallery below to see the most anticipated Korean films and series coming to Netflix this year.

  • 'Business Proposal' is based on a popular webtoon. All photos: Netflix
    'Business Proposal' is based on a popular webtoon. All photos: Netflix
  • Yoon Chan-young as Lee Cheong-san in 'All of Us Are Dead'.
    Yoon Chan-young as Lee Cheong-san in 'All of Us Are Dead'.
  • 'Twenty Five Twenty One' stars Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk.
    'Twenty Five Twenty One' stars Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk.
  • 'The Sound of Magic' stars Ji Chang-wook and Choi Sung-eun.
    'The Sound of Magic' stars Ji Chang-wook and Choi Sung-eun.
  • 'A Model Family' follows the story a man on the brink of bankruptcy and divorce, and who gets involved in a drug ring.
    'A Model Family' follows the story a man on the brink of bankruptcy and divorce, and who gets involved in a drug ring.
  • 'Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area' is an adaptation of the popular Spanish show 'La casa de papel.'
    'Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area' is an adaptation of the popular Spanish show 'La casa de papel.'
  • Sol Kyung-gu in 'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations'.
    Sol Kyung-gu in 'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations'.
  • Kim Yoo-jeong in '20th Century Girl'.
    Kim Yoo-jeong in '20th Century Girl'.
  • 'Hellbound' director and writer Yeon Sang-ho returns with 'Jung-E'.
    'Hellbound' director and writer Yeon Sang-ho returns with 'Jung-E'.
  • Jeon Yeo-bin and Nana in 'Glitch'.
    Jeon Yeo-bin and Nana in 'Glitch'.
Updated: June 20, 2022, 9:28 AM