Netflix’s upcoming Korean drama Variety brings together two generations of talent—K-drama icon Son Ye-jin and rising star Jo Yu-ri. The casting reflects Netflix’s ongoing strategy of blending star power with fresh faces.
Son Ye-jin, known globally for her lead role in Crash Landing on You, returns to the platform with a lead role as Se-eun, a sharp entertainment executive determined to revive a failing idol group. Meanwhile, Jo Yu-ri, whose upcoming performance as Player 222 in Squid Game Seasons 2 and 3 has already created buzz, plays Seung-hui, an obsessive fan navigating the blurred lines between admiration and obsession.
Jo Yu-ri, a former member of the girl group IZ*ONE, she brings firsthand experience of K-pop’s pressures and fandom culture. Her role also reflects the changing face of Korea’s entertainment world, where idols are increasingly crossing into acting and streaming platforms are driving prestige content.
Behind the scenes, Netflix has enlisted director Kim Yong-hoon, whose Mask Girl was a global hit for the streamer, spending four weeks in the Global Top 10 Non-English TV rankings and peaking at No. 1 in its second week. Known for his sharp visual storytelling and tense, character-driven narratives, Kim is expected to bring a darker tone to Variety, peeling back the glamor to expose the ambitions and anxieties behind the music.
Variety promises to explore more than just backstage drama. The show will delve into the complicated relationship between entertainment executives and fan communities, spotlighting both the machinery that drives idol fame and the personal cost of chasing perfection.
The project is backed by CJ ENM Studios and UNU, marking another major collaboration between Netflix and Korea’s top production houses. This comes as part of Netflix’s broader commitment to Korean content—a strategy that has delivered breakout hits like Squid Game, Kingdom, and Crash Landing on You.
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