The Netflix series "Dongnung" starring actors Nam Joo-hyuk, Noh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo, and its mascot "Kkeomeoksali" are gaining unprecedented popularity.
The Netflix series "Dongnung" (directed by Choi Jung-gyu, written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won) follows the story of Gucheon (played by Nam Joo-hyuk), who has the ability to traverse between the world of ghosts, and Saenggang (played by Noh Yoon-seo), a court lady with secrets, as they are summoned by the King (played by Cho Seung-woo) to uncover a curse that haunts the Eastern Palace. In its second week of release, it has risen to the 2nd position on Netflix's Global TOP 10 Non-English Shows list, continuing to generate hot topics. The series has made the TOP 10 list in 69 countries worldwide, including South Korea, and has held the 1st place position for two consecutive weeks in the integrated TV-OTT drama topic rankings.
Global viewers are praising the worldview that combines Korean aesthetics with fantasy and the storyline filled with plot twists. Particularly, as attention focuses on the detailed production processes including art direction, lighting, music, and CG, the popularity of "Kkeomeoksali," a scene-stealer that proved invaluable by Gucheon's side, is soaring. Writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won shared that they created Kkeomeoksali, an entity derived from urban legends, as a cute and amusing companion ghost that resembles a puppy. Kkeomeoksali has earned nicknames such as "Joseon Groot" and has established itself as a mascot.
The actors themselves have shown special affection for Kkeomeoksali. Nam Joo-hyuk mentioned that from the moment he read the script, he was curious about how it would be realized on screen, and because it was a special presence by Gucheon's side, he developed a particularly strong attachment to it. Noh Yoon-seo, who plays Saenggang, noted that despite appearing small and cute, the character possesses a surprising charm strong enough to defeat other ghosts, and expressed high expectations for the chemistry it would show with Gucheon.
Fans are also expressing their affection by creating various fan-made content including knitted keychains, AI fan videos, and 3D-printed figurines. In response, Netflix's official SNS has launched a "Decorating My Companion Kkeomeoksali" contest, providing diverse entertainment.
With fans' support, Netflix has confirmed the release of official Kkeomeoksali merchandise. Five types of Kkeomeoksali keychains and two types of Musinsa Standard collaborative t-shirts are scheduled to be released through MUSINSA DROP in August, with detailed schedules and purchase methods to be announced later.
Meanwhile, "Dongnung" is currently streaming exclusively on Netflix.
