Actors Park Jeong-min and BLACKPINK's Jisoo team up in the groundbreaking zombie rom-com series Newtopia. The two portray lovers navigating a zombie-infested world, promising audiences a fresh take on the genre.
Newtopia follows the story of soldier Jae-yoon and his girlfriend Yeong-joo (played by Jisoo) as they traverse Seoul amid a zombie outbreak. Blending romance into the familiar zombie genre, the show has already captivated public attention for its unique premise. Particularly notable is the fusion of comedy and romance within a traditionally dark and tense genre, sparking high expectations.
The Newtopia press conference for Newtopia was held on the morning of the 7th at the Grand Ballroom of Conrad Seoul. Actors Park Jeong-min and Jisoo, who attended the event, posed for the cameras, captured by our in-house team of Wikitree reporters.
At the press conference, Park Jeong-min shared his excitement about working with Jisoo, describing it as a long-held dream. "I've been a fan of Jisoo for a while," he revealed. "When we first met on Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman, I couldn't even speak to her. I was told she was being considered for a celestial role, and I thought, 'Who am I to even dream of such a pairing?'"
Park expressed his joy at finally getting the chance to act alongside Jisoo in a romantic role, and the chemistry between the two is expected to drive the series. In Newtopia, their characters grow closer while fleeing from zombies in a chaotic, danger-filled city.
When asked about the limited romantic scenes, Park joked, "It's unfortunate! Please help make Season 2 happen." Meanwhile, Jisoo described her character as "a woman who discovers love in the face of disaster and rushes fearlessly toward Jae-yoon." She added, "It's an honor to act alongside Park Jeong-min."
The first teaser trailer released the same day drew enthusiastic responses online. Comments included:
Newtopia is the latest release from Coupang Play, following the massive success of Family Matters, a thriller that saw a 225% surge in viewership within a week of its release, making it the platform's most-watched series to date. With Newtopia, expectations are sky-high for another blockbuster hit.
Based on Han Sang-woon’s web novel Influenza, Newtopia marks director Yoon Sung-hyun's first foray into the zombie genre. Known for Bleak Night and Time to Hunt, Yoon explained, "I’ve always loved zombie stories, but I was instantly hooked by Newtopia’s script. Classic zombies from the '70s and '80s were slower, more humorous, and even endearing, which I wanted to reimagine in this series."
Newtopia is set to premiere on Coupang Play on February 7 at 8 PM.
