{
  "id": 2087732,
  "title": "'Mousetrap' turns Korean folktale into Netflix thriller",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/mousetrap-turns-korean-folktale-into-netflix-thriller",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-20T06:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20260820/mousetrap-turns-korean-folktale-into-netflix-thriller"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Netflix is set to debut \"Mousetrap,\" a stolen-identity thriller based on a Korean webtoon. The series follows Moon-jae (Ryu Jun-yeol), a novelist whose identity is stolen by a mysterious entity called the Rat. Moon-jae partners with No-ja (Sul Kyung-gu), a loan shark, and Sun-yong (Lee Kyu-hyung), a detective, to uncover the true identity of the Rat and reclaim his life. Directed by Kim Hong-sun, known for action-packed drama in \"Dear Hongrang\" (2025) and hit shows \"The Guest\" (2018) and \"Voice\" (2017), \"Mousetrap\" draws inspiration from a classic Korean folktale in which a rat transforms into a human after consuming fingernails. The tale promises to deliver psychological suspense along with thriller elements as the protagonist fights to regain his identity. Kim revealed the drama at a press conference in Seoul, emphasizing the webtoon script's influence on the project.",
  "summary": "The stolen-identity thriller \"Mousetrap\" is officially primed for its global Netflix debut. The webtoon-based series follows Moon-jae (Ryu Jun-yeol), a novelist who loses his name, face and life to a mysterious entity known as \"the Rat.\" He teams up with No-ja (Sul Kyung-gu), a loan shark, and Sun-yong (Lee Kyu-hyung), a detective, embarking on a high-stakes hunt to uncover the identity of the…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Mousetrap\" is a stolen-identity thriller based on a Korean webtoon.",
    "Moon-jae, played by Ryu Jun-yeol, partners with a loan shark and detective.",
    "The story draws from a classic Korean folktale about a rat transforming into a human."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The adaptation of a classic Korean folktale into a Netflix thriller signals a fresh take on traditional storytelling, blending psychological suspense with modern thriller elements.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "'Mousetrap' turns Korean folktale into Netflix thriller",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/mousetrap-turns-korean-folktale-into-netflix-thriller-2089543",
        "published": "2026-08-20T07:02:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}