The Uncanny Counter (2020)

The Uncanny Counter (Korean: 경이로운 소문) is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Jo Byeong-kyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran, Ahn Suk-hwan, and Yoo In-soo. Based on the Kakao Webtoon webtoon Amazing Rumor by Jang Yi, it centers on the titular character So Mun, a high school student with a disability who is enlisted to be part of the Counters, a group of paranormal hunters who search for and fight against evil spirits that escape from the afterlife to prey on humans. The first season aired from November 28, 2020, to January 24, 2021, on OCN's Saturdays and Sundays at 22:30 (KST) for 16 episodes. The second season aired from July 29 to September 3, 2023, on tvN's Saturdays and Sundays at 21:20 (KST) timeslot for 12 episodes. It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.

The series became the highest-rated OCN series so far.

Series overview

Synopsis

Season 1

In the fictional city of Jungjin, a group of four demon-hunters called the Counters bear the arduous task of searching for and banishing evil spirits (akgwi) that escaped the afterlife to gain immortality. These evil spirits possess local human hosts who have committed murder or have a strong desire to murder, encourage their host's desire to kill, and consume the spirit of the victim. The Counters were once in comas when a partner spirit from Yung, the boundary between the afterlife and the world of the living, possesses them and gives them perfectly healthy bodies and consciousness along with superhuman strength and supernatural abilities. Three of the Counters — Ga Mo-tak, Do Ha-na, and Chu Mae-ok — pose as workers in Eonni's Noodles, a noodle restaurant which serves as their hideout.

One day, the fourth Counter Jang Cheol-joong is killed in a battle against a strong "Level 3" evil spirit. As his spirit gets consumed by his killer, his Yung partner Wi-gen struggles to find a new comatose human to possess. Uncannily, she is quickly drawn towards high school boy So Mun who, despite being disabled, is nevertheless perfectly healthy and alive. As soon as Wi-gen possesses him, the unknowing Mun starts noticing bizarre changes to his body and starts seeing Wi-gen in his dreams. Soon, Mun finds the answers in Eonni's Noodles, and as he becomes the replacement to the late Cheol-joong, he finds himself on a thrilling journey of battling against bloodthirsty demons, reconnecting to his past, and uncovering the ugly truth behind a major redevelopment project in Jungjin.

Season 2

Three years after the events of Season 1, the Counters are actively catching evil spirits that still linger around Jungjin. Mo-tak has returned to the police force, thereby requiring the recruitment of another Counter since he found it difficult to balance between two places. At the same time, in China, three humans possessed by evil spirits — Hwang Pil-kwang, Gelli Choi and Wong Li Qiang — were hunted by the Chinese Counters but instead managed to kill them all, taking their souls and Counters' abilities. Meanwhile, a firefighter Ma Joo-seok and his wife Min-ji were one of the many families affected by the scam of Baekdu Construction, and Joo-seok seeks revenge on the ones responsible for Min-ji's death.

Cast

Main

Counters

Jo Byeong-kyu as So Mun

An 18-year-old high school student and the newest member of the Counters; part-time server at Eonni's Noodles. Physically disabled following a car accident that killed his parents seven years ago, he joins the Counters after being possessed by the Yung spirit Wi-gen due to his strong sense of justice, responsibility, and desire to protect those dear to him. He was frequently able to summon the Yung and was chosen in a healthy and not comatose state due to his piled-up anger and frustration, that might as well destroy every evil spirit. As a Counter, he possesses superhuman speed, short-range psychometry and the ability to sense evil spirits that enter Yung's "Territory" (but in a range minor to that of Ha-na's). He later acquires psychokinesis and the ability to touch and summon the Territory at will. Mun has a strong talent for drawing and is currently illustrating a superhero webtoon alongside his best friends Woong-min and Joo-yeon.

Yoo Jun-sang as Ga Mo-tak

The assistant cook at Eonni's Noodles. A former detective of Jungjin Police Station, after a near-fatal fall that caused his memory loss seven years ago, he joined the Counters after being possessed by Gi-ran, granting him superhuman strength and short-range psychometry. Mo-tak is notable for his gruff appearance but can be a joker occasionally. He was somewhat like a mentor to Mun after he got to know about his past and relationship with Mun. In Season 2, he returned to being a detective at Jungjin Police Station, thereby being able to provide easier cover for capturing evil spirits.

Kim Se-jeong as Do Ha-na

The server at Eonni's Noodles. The sole survivor after she and her family were poisoned, Ha-na joined the Counters after being possessed by Woo-Sik who granted her superhuman strength and psychometry. She is capable of sensing evil spirits even from hundreds of kilometers away, as well as being able to read and enter memories from years ago as if she was physically there.

Yeom Hye-ran as Chu Mae-ok

The chef at Eonni's Noodles. In the past, she ran a photography studio for a living. Now a grieving mother dealing with the death of her son Su-ho. She joins the Counters after being possessed by Su-ho's spirit. She gains powerful healing abilities. Exuding an extremely caring and positive personality that highly contrasts with Mo-tak and Ha-na, she serves as the team's advisor and a mother figure to Mun.

Ahn Suk-hwan as Choi Jang-mul

The first and the leader of the Counters in Korea; owner of Jangmul Retail. Jang-mul is one of the richest chaebol in South Korea. He manages the Counters' expenses and supports them in matters that need his influence. He retired from being a Counter, though his powers and responsibilities as a Counter remain.

Yoo In-soo as Na Jeok-bong (Season 2)

A clumsy new Counter who is unfamiliar with everything. He became a new counter on the recommendation of Mo-tak, who was moved by the spirit of sacrifice. He possesses the ability to sniff the scents of evil spirits.

Evil Spirits

Lee Hong-nae as Ji Chung-sin (Season 1 (All Episodes) & Season 2 (Ep. 1, 9))

A human possessed by a Level 3 evil spirit (akgwi). Chung-sin works in a junkyard and is frequently hired as a hitman by Mayor Shin through his adoptive father. His biological father ran the care home he was adopted from, yet both of his father figures were extremely abusive towards Chung-sin during childhood and provided very little affection to him growing up, instead honing him into a criminal servant for their own dirty deeds. He killed the late counter Cheol-joong in a fierce battle. He possesses an advanced level of psychokinesis which can effortlessly incapacitate individuals.

Ok Ja-yeon as Baek Hyang-hui (Season 1)

A human possessed by a Level 3 evil spirit. Hyang-hui is inclined to marrying rich men in order to murder them and steal their money. She has the power of psychometry and is able to communicate with the possessing evil spirit, as well as demonstrating superhuman strength. Naturally flirtatious, her charm often catches her victims off-guard leading to an easier murder.

Kang Ki-young as Hwang Pil-kwang (Season 2)

A third-level evil spirit possessing powerful psychokinesis that can absorb the Counters' abilities.

Kim Hieora as Gelli Choi (Season 2)

A third-level evil spirit specializing in speed who scratches, stabs, cuts, and kills. She can also read and erase memories.

Kim Hyun-wook as Wong Li Qiang (Season 2)

A bright psychopath with a creepy smile. After he kills a Chinese Counter and gains healing powers, Wong returns to Korea and begins killing people more brutally and harshly.

Jin Seon-kyu as Ma Joo-seok (Season 2)

A benefactor of So Mun and a hot-blooded firefighter who does not know how to ignore injustice.

Supporting

Yung

Moon Sook as Wi-gen

Mun's first Yung partner. Wi-gen is the leader of the Yung, the boundary between the afterlife and the world of the living. She is amazed by the fact that she was able to possess Mun despite the latter not being comatose.

Kim So-ra as Kim Gi-ran

Mo-tak's Yung partner. Gi-ran is an upright spirit who is greatly angered by Mo-tak and his fellow Counters' occasional rule-breaking.

Eun Ye-jun (Season 1) and Kwon Duk-in (Season 2) as Woo-sik

Ha-na's Yung partner. Woo-sik appears to be a young boy but he is mature in his mindset and personality.

Lee Chan-hyeong as Kwon Su-ho

Mae-ok's Yung partner and her biological son. Su-ho is in charge of keeping Yung's record of deaths.

Choi Kwang-je as Jong-guk (Season 2)

Jeok-bong's Yung partner. Jong-guk is a seemingly cowardly spirit who does not want Jeok-bong to do anything rash.

Woo Mi-hwa as The Prosecutor

Special appearances

Season 1

Jeon Seok-ho as So Gwon

Mun's father and a police officer who was an acquaintance of Mo-tak, who investigated Mayor Shin's corruption together. (Eps. 1-2, 11, 15-16).

Son Yeo-eun as Ha Mun-young

Mun's mother and a police officer. Despite the two of them being constantly busy with their line of work and having no time to bond with Mun, they deeply care and love him. (Eps. 1-2, 16).

Sung Ji-ru as Jang Cheol-joong

A late member of the Counters. Cheol-joong was the strongest Counter among the former quartet. He was killed by Chung-sin in a fierce one-on-one battle (Ep. 1, 16).

Lee Sun-bin as Heo Hee-young

A coffee shop owner whose parents were killed by a Level 2 evil spirit (Eps. 1, 3)

Park Ah-sung as Ha-jeong

A school bully with an earring, bullies Hyo-cheol on the way to school but gets blocked by So Moon, who teaches him a lesson. (Ep. 3)

Lee Jin-kwon as a Dajeong ENC employee. (Ep. 12)

Choi Go as an orphan

An orphan at the same care home Chung-sin grew up in, quickly seeing him as a father figure due to the lack thereof prior. (Ep. 13-14)

Son Ho-jun as Oh Jung-gu

A South Korean Counter who was delegated to work in Singapore. A former rock musician, he became a Counter when his Yung partner Dong-pal possessed him when he was comatose; he had healing powers, similar to Mae-ok. He was dispatched back to South Korea in order to heal a severely wounded Mae-ok, and later joined them on a mission against a Level 4 spirit. (Ep. 15)

Im Ji-kyu as Dong-pal

Mun's second Yung partner; the former Yung partner of Jang-mul and Jung-gu. Dong-pal became Jung-gu's partner after Jang-mul's retirement. (Ep. 15)

Season 2

Heo Dong-won as Heo Je-hoon

A school bus driver demon. (Ep. 1)

Eom Ji-yoon as Su-min

Jeok-bong's blind date. (Ep. 2)

Angelina Danilova as Jade

Wi-gen's daughter. (Ep. 12)

Episodes

Production

Development

Scriptwriter Yeo Ji-na left the series after 12 episodes due to "different opinions on the series' final storyline;" the 13th episode was written by director Yoo Seon-dong and the final three episodes of the season were written by Kim Sae-bom. On January 25, 2021, the series was officially renewed for a second season.

Through OCN and tvN, a special broadcast titled The Uncanny Return (경이로운 귀환) aired on February 7, 2021, at 22:40 (KST). The special broadcast stars Jo Byeong-kyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran, Ahn Suk-hwan, Choi Kwang-il, Ok Ja-yeon, Lee Hong-nae and Jung Won-chang.

Casting

In July 2020, Jo Byeong-kyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong and Yeom Hye-ran were confirmed to star in the series. The first script reading took place in October 2020.

Soundtrack

The following are the official track lists of The Uncanny Counter: Original Soundtrack and The Uncanny Counter 2: Original Soundtrack albums, which were released on January 24, 2021, and September 3, 2023, respectively, by labels Genie Music and Stone Music Entertainment . The tracks with no indicated lyricists and composers are the drama's musical score; the artists indicated for these tracks are the tracks' composers themselves.

Release

The first teaser was released on October 19, 2020, giving sneak peeks of the characters.

Viewership

The first episode of the series logged an average viewership ratings of 2.7% nationwide and 3.2% in metropolitan area, peaking at a high of 4.1%. The second episode logged a ratings of 4.35%, witnessing an unusual increase in average nationwide viewership compared to the ratings of the first episode. The audience rating for the third episode was 5.2% nationwide. It rose 0.8% from the ratings of the last two episodes. The 16th episode recorded a rating of 11% for nationwide audience, which was the highest for the series.

Season 1

Season 2

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

External links

Official website (in Korean) (season 1)

Official website (in Korean) (season 2)

The Uncanny Counter at IMDb

The Uncanny Counter at HanCinema

The Uncanny Counter season 2 at HanCinema