TVING Crime Thriller ‘Villains’ Unveils Teaser Poster, Starring Yoo Ji Tae, Lee Beom Soo, and Lee Min Jung in a Deadly Supernote Game
‘Villains’ is a new TVING original crime-action series centered on an ultra-precise counterfeit bill known as the Supernote. The story follows a group of morally compromised players who clash over the same batch of counterfeit money, engaging in brutal confrontations and intricate mind games as they trade and steal from one another. The series premieres on December 18 exclusively on TVING in Korea and will be simulcast across 17 Asia-Pacific territories via HBO Max, as well as on Disney+ Japan, positioning the show for a broad international audience that enjoys tense crime thrillers.
Korean outlets describe ‘Villains’ as a ‘war over ultra-precise counterfeit money’, with the Supernote at its center. Some characters aim to exchange these near-perfect counterfeits for real cash, while others target the laundered money to steal it back, creating a dangerous cycle in which fake and real bills constantly change hands among criminals. The tagline, ‘The ‘super’ crime of the worst begins,’ emphasizes that the series is less about good versus evil and more about ruthless villains outwitting one another in a deadly survival game.
The drama is directed by Jin Hyuk, known for hit series such as ‘Sisyphus: The Myth’, ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’, and ‘Master’s Sun’, which balanced commercial appeal with strong genre flair. The script is penned by Kim Hyung Joon, who previously wrote and directed the crime thriller film ‘No Mercy’, bringing his experience with dark, morally complex narratives to the project. Industry watchers also note that ‘Villains’ wrapped filming several years ago but was shelved due to cast-related controversies, only to finally secure an OTT release window this year, making its eventual premiere a long-awaited event.
Yoo Ji Tae plays J, a mastermind criminal designer with a flawless 100 percent success rate. He is the architect behind a notorious ‘casino dealer counterfeit bill case’ that once shocked the nation, described as the man who set the entire board of desire in motion and triggered the Supernote crisis. Positioned as a shadowy figure pulling the strings from behind the scenes, J is both the prime target of law enforcement and a key rival whom other villains hope to manipulate or overthrow.
Lee Beom Soo portrays Cha Ki Tae, a former head of the National Intelligence Service’s financial crimes task force whose life was ruined after being caught up in the casino counterfeit case. With the Supernote resurfacing, he relentlessly pursues both the bills and J, the elusive mastermind. Lee Min Jung plays Han Soo Hyun, a top-tier currency design artist whose life was derailed by a single incident; after years of biding her time, she steps back into the game determined to overturn the entire scheme. Each of the three leads carries personal scars and ambitions, yet they all fixate on the same counterfeit note—an idea visually captured in the teaser poster, where they stand back-to-back while facing the same unseen target.
Some coverage further notes that actor Kwak Do Won, who has been on hiatus following a drunk-driving incident, also appears in ‘Villains’ as corrupt detective Jang Jung Hyuk, a cop who steals from thieves. However, he is notably absent from the latest promotional materials and posters. Commentators view this as a compromise by the platform and producers in handling works involving controversial cast members, while simultaneously fueling curiosity about how prominently his character will feature in the final cut, adding an extra layer of off-screen discussion around the series.
Taken together, Korean media and international entertainment sites highlight ‘Villains’ as a crime drama where there are no absolute heroes—only villains operating at different levels. By combining the Supernote counterfeit concept with institutions like the national intelligence service and a top currency designer, the series aims for a cinematic tone within the K-drama format. With the teaser poster and initial plot details now revealed, anticipation centers on how the three leads will embody their characters’ clashing desires and schemes, and whether TVING can leverage the show to deliver a dark crime thriller with strong international reach in the year-end lineup. For viewers tracking Korean drama and OTT trends, ‘Villains’ is shaping up to be one of the key titles to watch in the 2025 winter season.
【KStarLoud Analysis】The strongest asset of 'Villains' isn’t merely its counterfeit-money premise, but its return to a narrative structure rarely seen in recent K-dramas—one where multiple villains drive the story rather than a clear-cut hero-villain dichotomy. All three leads operate in moral gray zones, a style reminiscent of Western titles like 'Ozark' or 'Money Heist', giving the show strong international appeal. Additionally, because the drama was filmed years ago and only recently secured release, its pacing, cinematography, and production design may retain qualities of an earlier era of K-dramas—potentially standing out amid the ultra-polished OTT titles of 2025. If TVING leverages its HBO Max APAC distribution effectively, 'Villains' could become a key title elevating the platform’s brand presence across the region.