Nine Puzzles

Nine Puzzles
Promotional poster
Hangul
나인 퍼즐
Revised RomanizationNain peojeul
McCune–ReischauerNain p'ŏjŭl
Genre
Written byLee Eun-mi
Directed byYoon Jong-bin
Starring
Music byJo Yeong-wook[2]
Opening theme
"Nine Puzzles"
by
  • Jo Yeong-wook
  •     Son Seung-il
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes11
Production
Executive producers
  • Jang Hyung-ji
  • Kim Min-ji[2]
Producers
  • Yoon Jeong-bin
  • Jang Se-jeong
  • Choi Gyeong-suk[2]
Production companies
Budget₩30 billion
Original release
NetworkDisney+
ReleaseMay 21 (2025-05-21) –
June 4, 2025 (2025-06-04)

Nine Puzzles (Korean나인 퍼즐) is a South Korean mystery crime thriller television series written by Lee Eun-mi, directed by Yoon Jong-bin, and starring Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku. The series follows a ten-year-old cold case that involves a new string of baffling murders, all related to mysterious puzzles. It premiered on Disney+ on May 21, 2025.

Synopsis

Yoon E-na, who, as a high school student, discovered her uncle's body, who had been murdered, with a peculiar puzzle piece found at the scene. As the only eyewitness, she found herself unable to recall how she ended up there, making her the primary suspect in the eyes of Detective Kim Han-saem. A decade later, E-na has become an exceptional criminal profiler, working for the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's criminal analysis team. However, she is still tormented by the unresolved murder of her uncle. A new wave of serial killings surfaces, each one accompanied by identical enigmatic puzzle pieces, echoing the incident that transformed her life. This prompts E-na to collaborate with Han-saem once more, who, despite their tense partnership, still carries doubts regarding her role in her uncle's murder case.

Cast and characters

Main

A criminal profiler, working for the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's criminal analysis team.

Supporting

A psychiatrist doctor therapist at Sunshine Mental Health Clinic
Director at Sunshine Mental Health Medicine
Captain of Violent Crimes Unit 2 at Hangang Police Station.

Special appearances

Yoon E-na's uncle and a former superintendent officer. He was killed in the beginning and his niece has been trying to uncover his death ever since.

Production

Development

The series is directed by Yoon Jong-bin, who helmed and produced Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012), Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014), The Spy Gone North (2018), and Narco-Saints (2022), written by Lee Eun-mi, who wrote Tunnel (2017) and Navillera (2021), and produced by Kakao Entertainment and Moonlight Film.[4] The total budget of the series cost 30 billion.[5]

Casting

According to Kakao Entertainment in May 2024, Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku were cast to lead the series and positively considering to appear.[6]

Release

Nine Puzzles which consists of 11 episodes, premiered its first six episodes on May 21, 2025, followed by three episodes on May 28, and the last two episodes on June 4.[7]

References

  1. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (April 17, 2025). "Korean Crime Thriller 'Nine Puzzles' Set at Disney+". Variety. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c 나인 퍼즐. Nine Puzzles. Episode 1 (in Korean). May 21, 2025. Disney+.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Baek, Seung-hoon (May 7, 2025). "'나인 퍼즐' 김다미X손석구, 의심하거나 협력하거나" ['Nine Puzzle' Kim Da-mi X Son Seok-gu, Suspect or Cooperate]. enews.imbc (in Korean). Retrieved May 20, 2025 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Moon, Ji-yeon (May 26, 2023). [단독] 김다미, 윤종빈 감독과 만남..'나인 퍼즐' 주인공 [[Exclusive] Kim Da-mi, met with director Yoon Jong-bin..'Nine Puzzle' main character]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  5. ^ Kim, Ji-yeon (January 30, 2024). "윤종빈 감독의 새 시리즈 〈나인 퍼즐〉, 손석구·김다미 이어 박규영 합류" [Director Yoon Jong-bin's New Series "Nine Puzzles", Park Gyu-young Joins Son Suk-ku and Kim Da-mi]. Cineplay (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  6. ^ Yoon, Joon-ha (May 26, 2023). 카카오엔터 "손석구·김다미에 '나인 퍼즐' 출연 제안...현재 검토중" [Kakao Entertainment "Son Suk-ku and Kim Da-mi offered to appear in 'Nine Puzzles'... Currently under review"]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  7. ^ Park, Jung-sun (April 17, 2025). 김다미·손석구 '나인 퍼즐', 5월 21일 디즈니+ 공개 [Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku's 'Nine Puzzle' to be released on Disney+ on May 21]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2025.