“The Devil’s Plan Death Room” has rocketed to the top of Netflix Korea’s rankings just after its release, overtaking numerous high-profile Korean dramas and capturing viewers’ attention with its intense survival format.
According to Netflix Korea on May 8, “The Devil’s Plan Death Room”, which premiered on May 6, clinched the No.1 spot on the “Today’s Top 10 Series in South Korea” list as of 2:30 PM. The show outpaced other top series including “Resident Playbook” at No.2 and “Heavenly Ever After” at No.3.
This new installment follows 2023’s hit “The Devil’s Plan”, evolving into a more complex and high-stakes brain survival game. Fourteen players from various professional backgrounds are isolated for a week, engaging in strategic mind games. The upgraded rules have intensified competition and viewer engagement.
High-profile participants include legendary Go player Lee Sedol, Super Junior’s Kyuhyun and media personality Kang Ji-young. From the very first main match to the unpredictable alliances and betrayals, the show sets a gripping tone. Games like “Unknown”, “Time Auction” and “Hidden Stage” introduce unexpected emotional conflict, making it more than just a strategy showdown.
Lee Sedol, who rarely appears in entertainment, revealed at the press conference, “The Devil’s Plan was harder than Go.” Kyuhyun added “It felt like removing a mask I’ve worn for 20 years”, hinting at the raw emotions he displayed throughout the game. Kang Ji-young, participating in her first entertainment show post-JTBC, shared, “I joined with the mindset of going down fighting.”
The buzz on social media reflects the show’s success. Fans have commented, “This season is definitely more thrilling”, “Lee Sedol is unmissable” and “I can’t wait a week between episodes.” Viewers are especially drawn to the players’ authenticity, noting how the cast sets aside image concerns to fully immerse in the competition.
Directed by Jung Jong-yeon—famous for The Genius, The Great Escape and Society Game—the show has expanded its cast to 14 contestants and introduced the “Death Room” system to heighten suspense. Jung explained, “The players in the prison block will face off in the Death Room, which adds a new tone to the entire season.”
“The Devil’s Plan Death Room” is a 12-episode series. Following its May 6 debut of episodes 1~4, the next episodes will roll out on May 13 and May 20.
