By The Korea Times

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Netflix is bringing back Crime Scene, the hit Korean series which aired from 2014 to 2017 in which players pieced together clues to crack brain-teasing murder cases.
The new series, Crime Scene Zero, aims to level up the thrill and accessibility of the mystery-solving for Netflix’s global audience.
During a press conference in Seoul, producer Yoon Hyun-jun said the new season was guided by a “back-to-basics” mindset.
“What Netflix offers is the chance to reach a much larger audience, but at the same time it’s about evolution with a beginner’s spirit,” he said.

Co-producer Hwang Seul-woo emphasised the balance between innovation and authenticity, crediting the show’s revival on Netflix to fans’ strong support.
“We focused on originality – the core mystery and an expanded scale – while making sure the players could be fully immersed,” Hwang said.
The new Netflix season features a core cast of familiar faces: Jang Jin, Park Ji-yoon, Jang Dong-min, Kim Ji-hoon and Ahn Yu-jin.
In each episode, players step into the roles of suspects and detectives, piecing together clues to unmask the culprit.

Jang Jin, the writer and director known for films such as Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005) and Someone Special (2004), returns with his signature sharp reasoning and wit.
“It’s a programme I love. I enjoyed the process like going to an amusement park, and I feel proud of the result,” he said.
Announcer-turned-entertainer Park Ji-yoon admitted she felt pressure to uphold the reputation of a show she has appeared on since its debut.
“I wanted to keep the flow that made it so popular,” she said.

Comedian Jang Dong-min said the Zero concept pushed him to approach the show with a beginner’s mindset, creating more intense competition. “This time it felt fiercer than any other season,” he said.
Actor Kim Ji-hoon said it was an honour to return to the franchise after 10 years. “I think fans who have nostalgia for Crime Scene will enjoy this as much as the past seasons,” he said.
Ahn Yu-jin of K-pop girl group IVE said: “I worked hard to do my part and learned a lot from the senior players with their impressive deduction skills.”

In addition to the core cast, new guests will appear throughout the season to keep the mystery unpredictable.
“Veteran players are skilled, but guests bring a feeling that even they can’t create,” Yoon said. “They’re new to deduction, and that adds a variable we wanted.”
Yoon said Netflix approached them with the idea of bringing the Crime Scene format to a wider audience. “We were already thinking about how to present the show to global viewers, and Netflix’s offer came at the perfect time,” he said.
However, he emphasised that the production team did not tailor the content specifically for international audiences.
“We didn’t think too much about how overseas viewers might receive it. That’s not the direction we wanted to take. We simply wanted to see whether the show, in its own form, would resonate with global audiences. There’s a lot of Korean wordplay in the show, and we’re curious to see how that gets translated and reaches international viewers,” he said.

To meet the expectations of a global platform, the team built its largest set to date, featuring a full-scale hospital, a bridge over the Han River in Seoul, and a riverside neighbourhood for staging on-site investigations.
“It’s the first time we’ve built something like this for Crime Scene,” Hwang said. “We tried to create spaces that feel realistic enough for players to immerse themselves in the setting.”
Yoon added: “It’s a set so elaborate it’s almost a shame to tear it down.”
Crime Scene Zero will consist of 10 episodes, released every Tuesday from Sep 23 to Oct 7 on Netflix.
Read the full story at The Korea Times