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On the morning of May 14, the press conference for Nine Puzzles was held in Seoul. Kim Da Mi, Son Suk Ku, Kim Sung Kyun, Hyun Bong Sik, and director Yoon Jong Bin attended.
Nine Puzzles is a mystery thriller that follows Yun Yi Na (Kim Da Mi), a criminal profiler who was the sole witness of an unsolved case from ten years ago, and violent crimes Detective Han Saem (Son Suk Ku), who was the lead investigator at the time and continues to suspect her as the culprit. They delve into the secrets of a serial murder case that begins again with a mysterious puzzle piece.
Talking about the K-drama, director Yoon Jong Bin explained, "I wondered whether such unique characters could even exist in real life. My conclusion was that if you look at this from a realist perspective, viewers might find it unreal. So I thought it was necessary to elevate the tone of the work to something more cartoon-like. Through the art direction and costumes, we aimed to convey to the audience early on that this world is detached from reality."
Kim Da Mi also chimed in, saying, "The spaces were unlike anything I'd seen before. They felt very unique and strange in a way, and acting within them was a new experience and fun." Son Seokgu added, "I think the word 'strange' really fits. You can't quite define the genre strictly as a mystery — it feels like there's something more to it than that."
Son Suk Gu takes on the role of Detective Kim Han Saem, who suspects Yi Na as the prime suspect of the case from ten years ago. He mentioned director Yoon Jong Bin as the decisive reason for joining the project. "The script was great, but I've been a huge fan of director Yoon Jong Bin for a long time. When he offered me the role, it was an honor — he was the key reason I decided to do it," he said.
Hyun Bong Sik plays Choi San, the youngest member of the Violent Crimes Unit 2, breaking away from the typical "youngest team member (maknae)" trope. Hyun Bong Sik said, "The script was very gripping, and the role of the youngest detective that the director gave me was fun. I've always played team leader roles until now, so getting to be the youngest was such a joy."
Explaining why he chose Kim Da Mi for the role of Yi Na, the director said, "If Kim Da Mi is seen in the role, I felt people wouldn't dislike the character but rather accept her as 'a unique person.' That's why I offered her the part. And looking at the end result, I think she's been portrayed as a lovable, odd, yet distinctly unique character — not someone you'd find unlikable."
Kim Da Mi mentioned the script as her reason for joining the project. "When I first read the script, I became really curious about what happens next. I kept reading non-stop. Because I wanted to know, 'Who's the culprit?', I found it really fun. And the character, being a unique profiler, felt like a fresh challenge to take on as an actress."
Nine Puzzles also features a dazzling lineup of top actors making special appearances. Kim Ye Won, Kim Eung Soo, Noh Jae Won, Park Gyu Young, Park Sung Woong, Baek Hyun Jin, Lee Sung Min, Lee Joo Young, Lee Hee Joon, and Ji Jin Hee are all included. These actors will each take on roles central to the individual episodes, becoming the key figures in the puzzle.
Director Yoon said, "When I first saw the script, I saw that it was an 11-episode series, so there were a lot of characters. But they weren't just characters who show up briefly and disappear — they're all connected. Each episode has its own central character, and if actors without a strong on-screen gravitas take on those roles, viewers might quickly forget them since their screen time is short. So, we needed actors with substantial on-screen gravitas and strong acting skills, but the roles themselves aren't large. I found myself in trouble, because I needed so many people for the cast. I mobilized all my personal connections. Practically everyone with whom I've built connections in my 20-year-long career appears, and it was a really tough [casting work]."
Given that Nine Puzzles is a suspense thriller centered around a culprit whose identity is shrouded in mystery, the K-drama is highly spoiler-sensitive. In fact, the K-drama had its review screenings withdrawn due to the risk of spoilers leaking out.
Director Yoon remarked, "I'm not sure if spoilers can really be prevented just by trying to protect them. People who watch the show in the first week will start guessing who the culprit is and posting on online forums — that's beyond the production team's control. We don't have the authority to stop that. So I recommend viewers avoid reading reviews until all the episodes of Nine Puzzles have been released."
Regarding the decision to release the series over three weeks, director Yoon commented, "Disney is a big company, so I'm sure they are looking at a bigger picture. There must be a reason they chose this release format."
Son Suk Gu added, "If you're cautious about spoilers and watch while trying to figure out the culprit, you'll have a more enjoyable experience."
Nine Puzzles will be available exclusively on Disney+, with six episodes releasing on May 21, followed by three on May 28, and the final two on June 4, for a total of eleven episodes.
