Coupang Play, South Korea's second-most-watched streaming platform behind Netflix, has launched its major year-end release with "Heroes Next Door," a comedic action series that reunites several beloved actors from "The Outlaws" film franchise. The 10-episode series combines lighthearted comedy with dynamic action sequences, positioning itself as the streaming service's flagship tentpole production for the holiday season.
The series follows a group of ordinary neighbors who harbor extraordinary secrets from their past lives. Leading the ensemble cast is Yoon Kye-sang, an alumnus of "The Outlaws" franchise, who portrays Choi Kang, a former special forces soldier who has transitioned into working as an insurance investigator. When dangers begin threatening their neighborhood, Choi Kang finds himself reluctantly pulled back into action alongside his fellow residents who each possess their own unique skills and backgrounds.
Coupang Play has strategically positioned "Heroes Next Door" as its premier year-end offering, building on the success of previous breakout series including Im Si-wan's "Boyhood" and Bae Doo-na's "Family Matters." The streaming platform is betting on the series to cap off a strong year of original programming and maintain its competitive edge in South Korea's increasingly crowded streaming market.
During a press conference held on Monday, Yoon Kye-sang explained that timing played a significant role in his decision to join the project. "I wanted to do action before I get any older," he candidly shared with reporters. The actor was particularly drawn to the complexity of his character, describing Choi Kang as someone whose calm exterior masks a completely different personality when faced with crisis situations. "He's someone whose everyday demeanor is completely different from how he behaves in moments of crisis. That duality was very appealing to me," Yoon elaborated.
"Heroes Next Door" effectively serves as an unofficial reunion for actors who appeared in "The Roundup" film series, one of South Korea's most successful and enduring crime franchises. The casting includes Jin Seon-kyu, another familiar face from the franchise, creating anticipation among fans who remember their previous collaborations. However, director Cho Woong emphasized that the casting decisions were based on performance chemistry rather than simply recreating the film dynamics.
"I had heard people say Jin Seon-kyu and Yoon Kye-sang have great chemistry, but I didn't purposefully pick the duo from the same franchise," director Cho Woong noted during the press event. He explained that the series' unique blend of tension and humor required actors who could seamlessly work together across different emotional registers. "Because the drama needs to deliver both tension and humor whenever an incident occurs, the actors' synergy was crucial. I simply cast what I believed to be the best possible combination."
The natural chemistry between the lead actors has been evident both on and off screen. Yoon Kye-sang spoke warmly about his working relationship with Jin Seon-kyu, expressing both professional respect and personal affection. "I respect Jin as an actor and also really like him as a person," Yoon shared. "Our chemistry is so good that I can't even tell whether it's because of that or if it's something almost fated."
Ahead of the series premiere, Yoon Kye-sang also acknowledged the success of cable channel ENA's recent hit series "Ms. Incognito," which concluded with impressive 7.1 percent nationwide ratings and ranked as the number two show on the channel. "Heroes Next Door" is scheduled to air simultaneously on both ENA and Coupang Play, creating a dual-platform strategy for maximum audience reach. Yoon revealed his connection to ENA's previous success, noting, "I worked with the 'Ms. Incognito' director on 'The Kidnapping Day,' so we have that connection. I watched the premiere and the ratings were so high. I hope our series can hit that level too."
New episodes of "Heroes Next Door" are being released every Monday and Tuesday over a five-week period, with the series having premiered on November 17 exclusively on Coupang Play. The release strategy follows the traditional Korean drama format of twice-weekly episodes, allowing viewers to follow the story's progression while building anticipation between releases.
