Netflix’s Hellbound is a series adaptation of a fantasy comic book from 2019, and its live-action cast includes some of the most talented actors from South Korea. The King of Pigs, Peninsula, Train to Busan, and Hellbound director Yeon Sang-ho first explored the series’ supernatural world in 지옥: 두개의 삶 or The Hell (Two Kinds of Life), an 11-minute rotoscope-animated short film that was finished in 2006. In 2019, Sang-ho released Hellbound as a digital comic on WEBTOON, the world’s largest digital comics platform with 72 million readers around the world.

In 2020, Netflix approved the production of the series. Hellbound’s first three episodes debuted successfully at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, making it the first K-drama to be screened at the event. These episodes were also screened at the 26th Busan International Film Festival and the 65th BFI London Film Festival. Even before Hellbound’s November 2021 release on Netflix, the series has already been critically acclaimed. And immediately after its official release on the giant streaming platform, Hellbound has rivaled the popularity and stellar rise of Netflix’s Squid Game.

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Hellbound’s cast is tasked with unraveling a dark and intimately compelling fantasy world. In Hellbound, supernatural beings appear to different individuals to tell them the exact date and time of when they are bound for Hell. And on that exact time, three hulking demonic creatures appear from nowhere to physically tear apart the damned individual, after which the creatures burn the corpse in a blinding flash of light. Yeon Sang-ho’s Hellbound explores the social, political, spiritual, and religious implications of these supernatural events.

Yoo Ah-in as Chairman Jung Jin-soo

Jin-soo speaks into a microphone in Hellbound.

Chairman Jung Jin-soo is the highly charismatic leader of the New Truth Society, a religious organization that interprets the events as acts of the Christian God. According to Jin-soo, the brutal demons that are tearing people apart and sending them to Hell are proof that God wants humanity to stay righteous. The New Truth Society has plenty of similarities to the religious cults of the Aaron Paul-starred series The Path. Actor, creative director, filmmaker, and social activist Yoo Ah-in is a prominent South Korean artist famous for his roles in critically acclaimed films and series such as Burning, Veteran, and Six Flying Dragons. Yoo Ah-in is also known for having politically-charged views, which he regularly tackles via social media.

Yang Ik-joon as Detective Jin Kyung-hun

Kyeong-hun sitting in his car in Hellbound.

Police detective Jin Kyung-hun is tasked with investigating the supernatural incidents and finding a logical explanation for the brutal, demonic murders. At the same time, Kyung-hun wants to be a better father to his daughter Hee-jeong. Apart from being Hellbound’s audience surrogate, Detective Kyung-hun is at the center of the series’ neo-noir story arc, making him somewhat similar to Squid Game’s police detective Jun-ho. Playing the role of Kyung-hun is actor and film director Yang Ik-joon, who is best known for Breathless, an award-winning drama film which Ik-joon wrote, directed, and starred in. Yang Ik-joon also appears in Wilderness and Ooh, You Make Me Sick.

Kim Hyun-joo as Min Hye-jin

Min Hye-jin looks at someone offscreen in Hellbound.

Min Hye-jin is a lawyer for Sodo, a law firm that aims to help and protect those being singled out by The New Truth Society and their extremist breakaway group The Arrowhead. Hye-jin also takes care of her sick mother at home. Former teen model and actress Kim Hyun-joo is also known for her roles in K-dramas such as Glass Slippers, Twinkle Twinkle, I Have A Lover, and Toji, the Land.

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Re Lee as Jin Hee-jeong

Hee-jeong standing in front of her dad in Hellbound.

Jin Hee-jeong is the teenaged daughter of police detective Kyung-hun. Similar to Ji-woo from the Netflix series My Name, Hee-jeong is an only child coping with the challenges of being raised by a single father who’s highly dedicated to his job. Former child star and teenaged actor Re Lee is best known for her award-winning roles in Hope, How To Steal A Dog, Witch at Court, and Peninsula.

Kim Shin-Rock as Park Jeong-ja

Jeong-ja closes her eyes in Hellbound.

Park Jeong-ja is a woman who’s visited by one of Hellbound’s supernatural entities, which informs her that she is bound for death soon. Jeong-ja struggles to cope with her impending doom, as it means that no one else will care for her son and daughter. Actor Kim Shin-Rock also appears in White Butterfly, Dimmer, and One Ordinary Day.

Ryu Kyung-soo as Deacon Yuji

Deacon Yu-ji stands in front of another cult member in Hellbound.

As one of the deacons of The New Truth Society, Yuji employs whatever means necessary to ensure that the organization’s doctrines and dogmas are enforced. Deacon Yuji appears in the latter half of Hellbound. Actor Ryu Kyung-soo is well-known in the Korean drama world for his roles in series such as Itaewon Class, Lovestruck in the City, and Confession, as well as films like A Resistance and Hit-and-Run Squad.

Park Jung-min as Bae Young-jae

Young-jae standing in the dark in Hellbound.

The sarcastic Bae Young-jae is a television producer who’s frankly just tired of the whole New Truth thing. This complicates the fact that he’s leading a production team that’s making a documentary for The New Truth Society. Actor Park Jung-min is known for his breakthrough role in Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, and also for appearing in movies like Bleak Night, Deliver Us From Evil, and Keys to the Heart. Jung-min also wrote the best-selling book A Useful Person, a collection of personal essays about his work.

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Kim Do-yoon as Arrowhead Streamer

Dong-wook wearing his orange wig and skull hat as he live streams in Hellbound.

This loud, anonymous, and neon-lit member of the extremist Arrowhead group livestreams about the supernatural events and preaches the doctrines of The New Truth Society. The anonymous Arrowhead online preacher is basically a Twitch streamer analog who leverages clout for power instead of money. Actor Kim Do-yoon also appears in Peninsula, The Wailing, Room No.7, and 26 Years.

Hellbound on Netflix: Side Characters

So-hyun cries and looks at someone offscreen in Hellbound.

Won Jin-ah as Song So-hyun: So-hyun is television producer Bae Young-jae’s wife. She gives birth to their son, Toughie. Actor Won Jin-ah also appears in Just Between Lovers and She Would Never Know.

Park Jung-Pyo as Detective Hong Eun-pyo: Hong Eun-pyo is the partner of police detective Kyung-hun. Actor Park Jung-Pyo also appears in the films Extreme Job, The Bros, and The Great Actor.

Lim Hyung-Guk as Professor Gong Hyeong-jun: Professor Hyeong-jun speaks on the news about the bizarre events in Hellbound. Veteran actor Lim Hyung-Guk appears in films like Ashfall, Jo Pil-Ho: The Dawning Rage, Jamsil, and the neo noir K-drama series Undercover.

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