“Gyeongseong Creature” (경성크리처)

By Jae-Ha Kim
Substack
December 23, 2023

☆☆☆☆
Tae-sang (played by Park Seo-joon)
Chae-ok (played by Han So-hee)
↑Note: Korean names denote the surname followed by the given name.

Like “Moving,” “Gyeongseong Creature” (경성크리처) meshes several genres to create an exciting and unique series. Set in Gyeongseong — what’s now called Seoul — during a time when Korea was occupied by Japan, this series isn’t exactly subtle in its depiction of who the real monsters are. Even the mythical and terrifying creature that feeds on sacrificial Koreans was created by the Japanese as a weapon to use against them.

When the Japanese police commissioner commands Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon) to find his missing concubine … or else … he unwillingly teams up with Chae-ok (Han So-hee) and her father to find the mistress. In return, he promises to help them find Chae-ok’s missing mother. What they discover is a horrific labyrinth where Koreans are systematically tortured and disposed of.

The gore in this K-drama is intense and unrelenting — so much so that it ironically begins to lose impact. But amidst all the violence are well-developed stories of families, love and patriotism — and that’s what prevents this series from being just another horror show.

Airdates: Seven episodes of this K-drama dropped on Netflix on December 22, 2023. Three more episodes will release on January 5, 2024. (I watched this series via screeners sent out early to the press for review consideration.)

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