Lee Jae Wook is taking on a dangerous way to make money in Netflix's upcoming horror series Dead-End Job, where a part-time job promising 50 times the normal hourly wage could turn into a fight for survival.
The new eight-episode series follows Hyuk Joon, a young man struggling to make ends meet who accepts unusually high-paying jobs from a mysterious employment agency. However, what initially looks like an easy opportunity quickly becomes a nightmare as each workplace brings unexpected dangers.
During the drama's press conference in Seoul on October 28, director Kim Da Min revealed that Dead-End Job will introduce a different workplace and a new "final boss" in every episode.
"From episodes 1 to 8, a new workplace and final boss will appear each time. It could be a person or even a building," the director explained.
She added that viewers can enjoy guessing what kind of threat will appear next, making the unpredictable dangers one of the series' biggest attractions.
Unlike traditional horror dramas, Dead-End Job draws inspiration from urban legends and mysterious stories, including Japanese-style internet horror tales commonly known as Napolitan ghost stories.
However, Kim Da Min emphasized that the drama goes beyond familiar horror concepts by connecting different frightening situations within one shared universe.
"New elements appear in every episode, and the story doesn't simply end as a Napolitan ghost story. That's what makes Dead-End Job special," she explained.
Lee Jae Wook plays Hyuk Joon, who becomes involved in increasingly strange situations after accepting the agency's high-paying jobs.
According to the director, Hyuk Joon is not a typical fearless action hero. Instead, he is an ordinary young man who can be clumsy but becomes determined when his survival is at stake.
"He's a character who feels realistic and sometimes pitiful. He can be clumsy, but he's very determined when it comes to survival. Even when he keeps falling and getting hurt, you can't help but root for him," Kim Da Min shared.
She also explained that the action scenes were designed to reflect his personality. Rather than always fighting back, Hyuk Joon sometimes runs away, falls from exhaustion, or even begs when facing danger.
Meanwhile, Kim Min Ha plays Ji Yoon, Hyuk Joon's younger sister, who finds the possibility of becoming poor more frightening than ghosts.
Lee Hee Joon portrays the owner of the mysterious employment agency, who must appear trustworthy enough to convince people to accept the suspicious jobs.
Lee Hee Joon explained, "I thought the most important thing was to make him seem trustworthy. He had to be someone who could convince people to willingly take these jobs."
The series also blends horror with comedy and the everyday struggle of earning a living.
Kim Min Ha described the drama as a story that can make viewers laugh and cry while encouraging them to think about what it means to work and survive.
Although Lee Jae Wook could not attend the press conference because of his military service, he delivered a video message expressing excitement about the series.
"I'm disappointed that I couldn't be there. I'll continue fulfilling my military duties while supporting and waiting for Dead-End Job," he said.
Dead-End Job is directed by Kim Da Min, known for writing Netflix's A Killer Paradox, with Han Jun Hee serving as the project's chief planner.
With its unusual mix of dangerous part-time jobs, unpredictable horror, and a new major threat in every episode, Dead-End Job is set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on October 30.
