Son Ye Jin and Jo Yu Ri Start Filming Netflix Darkside of the K-pop Industry K-drama Variety

So I didn’t hear about this drama until now, when it’s already started filming and Netflix has released the script reading stills. It won’t arrive until 2026 but will add to the streaming giant’s slate of big name K-dramas for next year. The drama is titled Variety and stars Son Ye Jin and Jo Yuri, from the writer and PD of Mask Girl. Son Ye Jin plays a successful and ruthless agency president who created the top idol group and will do what it takes to re-sign them to new contracts. Jo Yu Ri is saesaeng fan of said idol group who follows their every move. That’s the synopsis for now in a nutshell and it’s likely dark considering the PD/writer’s last work. Netflix is definitely a smart home for thriller type K-dramas and it feels like K-pop is on the upswing again so great timing.

Comments

Son Ye Jin and Jo Yu Ri Start Filming Netflix Darkside of the K-pop Industry K-drama Variety — 10 Comments

swiftiepie on July 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM said:

Looks promising!

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Somebody on July 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM said:

I’m interested. As an avid 2nd-gen Kpop fan in the past, I’m somehow drawn to dramas on Kpop themes.

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Sfgshshdhshsh on July 22, 2025 at 1:36 AM said:

BLACKPINK is on mega stadium tour. K-pop peaked with them and bts. New gen can’t even compare blackpink girlies are so rich

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Popgo on July 22, 2025 at 6:52 AM said:

Son Ye Jin is on a roll. Great to see her pick up where she left off after her marriage and a baby. Still hasn’t wrapped the drama with Ji Chang Wook and already has script reading for her next work. Her movie with Park Chan Wook was also just announced for a Venice premiere.

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1+1 on July 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM said:

I didn’t like Mask Girl (it was easy for me to predict what was going to happen), but given that South Koreans are not usually gentle when it comes to depicting their social problems in fiction, I will check out this drama.

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- 1+1 on July 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM said:
  
  I forgot to add that even in the so-so K-dramas I’ve seen, a good approach to social commentary was employed.
  
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Hump Day on July 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM said:

I’m glad we are going to get a new women-centric drama. We need more of those in kdrama land! Definitely tuning into this one!

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Penny on July 24, 2025 at 6:05 AM said:

I hope this drama doesn’t shy away from delivering some hard truths about the kpop industry.

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- C on July 25, 2025 at 5:54 AM said:
  
  I agree maybe since it’s on netflix they will have the freedom to do so? But with kpop being trendy it’s a double edged sword; I wonder how far they will go with it when its not really selling K-pop to show how disgusting some of what goes on behind the scenes is
  
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MIN on July 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM said:

I look forward to seeing a good analysis of the human condition as was done in Perfect Blue. With the theme of idols, fame, power, pressure, para-social relationships, I’m sure it will be worth it.

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