Ryu Jun Yeol's Dual Role Pays Off as 'Mousetrap' Enters Top 10 in 49 Countries on Netflix

The Netflix series drawing attention for actor Ryu Jun Yeol's dual-role performance is receiving a strong response both domestically and internationally.

According to FlixPatrol on September 1, the Netflix series "Mousetrap", which premiered on August 28, ranked 6th globally in TV shows just 4 days after its release and entered the Top 10 in 49 countries including South Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, India, Thailand, France, and Hong Kong.

Viewers are praising the gripping entertainment delivered by trusted actors such as Ryu Jun Yeol, Sul Kyung-gu, and Lee Kyoo-hyung, alongside genre veteran creators including director Kim Hong-sun of "Dear Hongrang" and "Voice", and writer Lee Jae-gon of "A Model Family" and "Special Affairs Team TEN".

Major foreign media outlets have continued their favorable reviews, stating, "The unexpected teamwork and the unidentified figure they track captivate us" (Decider), "It reinterprets an old folklore within the context of modern social technology and identity manipulation" (K-Waves & Beyond), "It meticulously unfolds a chilling identity-theft story through a solid mystery, fast-paced action, and unexpected twists" (Mashable), "It effectively uses eerie sound effects and suspenseful music in chase scenes, and the visual aesthetics are also excellent" (The Review Geek), and "It raises questions about what elements form a person's identity and how much the people around them influence that formation" (Leisure Byte). Global viewers also shared positive reviews, saying, "I binged it without realizing how time was passing" and "It is a suspenseful mystery thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish."

This project is a tracking thriller depicting the story of Mun-jae (Ryu Jun Yeol), a novelist whose name, face, and life are entirely stolen by a mysterious entity known as Mousetrap, loan shark No-ja (Sul Kyung-gu) who tries to recover lost money, and detective Sun-yong (Lee Kyoo-hyung) as they chase down the identity of Mousetrap. It is based on the webtoon of the same name, which originated from the folk tale about a field mouse that ate a fingernail.

The series maintains the original work's fresh concept—where a life is stolen by a mysterious entity—and its mysterious atmosphere, while adding detailed character settings and relationships to heighten immersion into the characters' psychology. Critics note that the engaging progression and the passionate performances of the actors encourage binge-watching.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)