Hallyu Spotlight: 5 Questions with the cast and director of K-drama Nine Puzzles

There’s a new K-drama in town you ought to check out. Starring Kim Da-mi, Son Suk-ku and more, Nine Puzzles is a mystery crime thriller television series about Yoon E-na (Kim Da-mi), a criminal profiler.

It all started on that one day when Yoon’s uncle was murdered. And she was the only witness. Naturally, she became a suspect in the eyes of Detective Kim Han-saem (Son Suk-ku).

A decade later, though, Yoon is now a criminal profiler under the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s criminal analysis team. That said, she is still tormented by the mysteries of her uncle’s murder.

With such an intriguing plotline, it’s hard not to be lured into this K-series.

Below, HallyuSG chats with director Yoon Jong-bin and actors Kim Sung-kyun and Hyun Bong-sik (both of whom play members of the Violent Crimes Unit) to hear their thoughts on the series.

What drew you to direct a K-drama like Nine Puzzles?

Director Yoon Jong-bin: I was craving something I’d never done before. When I first read the script, what struck me was that it was a story led by a female character and that I might not be able to have another opportunity to work on something like this again.

The story itself was captivating, which got me excited about how fun this project could be.

What made you bring together such a diverse cast of established actors?

Director Yoon Jong-bin: Even though some of these characters appear only briefly, they play an important role in each episode, holding the key pieces to the puzzle— this is why we needed actors who could make a strong impression on viewers even with their limited screen time.

That meant we had to go for actors with a strong presence. I wondered if newer actors or lesser-known actors could create that impact. Ultimately, I decided that it might be difficult. So, I reached out to actors I have worked with before or know personally. That’s how we ended up having so many special appearances.

Read more: Hallyu Spotlight: 4 things to know about Disney+’s new mystery thriller Nine Puzzles

Was there anything you tried or experienced for the first time when creating Nine Puzzles?

Director Yoon Jong-bin: Since we decided to go beyond realism in the production design, this had to be reflected in the sets.

It wasn’t easy to find real-life spaces that could convey our concept, so many of the settings had to be built from scratch, which was a first for me. The same goes for costumes: we created entirely new outfits rather than relying on references that exist in real life. It was a new experience for me to discuss, select, and design these new styles of costumes as well.

What drew you to Nine Puzzles?

Kim Sung-kyun: It was a very long story, but it kept me constantly wanting to know what would happen next. When you read a mystery thriller novel, you’re in constant pursuit of something: wondering, searching for clues, and trying to find answers. The script had all of that and more, and because of that I knew I wanted to be a part of the project.

 

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Hyun Bong-sik: I’ve been a huge admirer of Director Yoon for a long time, and the script was captivating. I was constantly trying to figure out who the culprit was, and before I knew it, I’d finished reading the entire series!

What are some highlights viewers can look forward to?

Kim Sung-kyun: For starters, this being a mystery thriller, you can expect the classic thrill of trying to uncover who the actual culprit is. The series really is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Paying attention to the visual details will really enhance the experience.

Hyun Bong-sik: It’s definitely fun to try and figure out who the main culprit is as the story unfolds. It has a series of twists and turns. At every turn, your guess about the real culprit will be proven wrong, which is always quite fun.