Netflix is preparing to bring a new Korean-Japanese crime thriller to international audiences with The Blue Road, an upcoming live action series inspired by a manhwa originally published in 2002. The streaming platform has unveiled a teaser offering an early look at the investigation at the center of the story. Scheduled to premiere globally on November 20, 2026, at 1:00 a.m. PST, the series features South Korean actor Seok-gu Son and Japanese actor Eita Nagayama in the leading roles.

The story brings together two detectives from different countries as a disturbing sequence of murders unfolds across South Korea and Japan. Seok Kim, portrayed by Seok-gu Son, works for the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, while Inose, played by Eita Nagayama, represents the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Their investigation becomes increasingly complicated when mysterious messages written in Korean and Japanese are discovered at the crime scenes. The teaser also highlights the contrasting approaches of the two investigators, whose disagreements threaten to complicate their efforts to identify the person responsible.

Behind the camera, Joon-hee Han, known for directing the Netflix series D.P. and the film Coin Locker Girl, takes charge of the adaptation. The production draws inspiration from Purungil (Ao no Michi), a five-volume comic created through a Korean-Japanese collaboration in 2002. Written by Keishi Edogawa and illustrated by Korean artist Kaya Kwon, the original work combines a dark detective narrative with themes of cultural differences, mistrust and international cooperation.

In the original manhwa, the mystery begins when Japanese authorities discover a severely disfigured body in Tokyo, accompanied by a message written in Korean using blood. A comparable murder subsequently occurs in South Korea, where investigators encounter a message written in Japanese. The similarities suggest that both incidents are connected, forcing detectives from the two countries to cooperate despite their differences. With its cross-border setting, unsettling criminal mystery and experienced creative team, The Blue Road is positioning itself as a notable addition to Netflix's growing lineup of Asian live action adaptations.