Hunter with a Scalpel (2025) is a South Korean psychological crime thriller series centered on Seo Se-hyeon (Park Ju-hyun), a brilliant forensic pathologist with antisocial personality disorder. While performing an autopsy, she uncovers evidence linking a murder to her father, Yoon Jo-kyun (Park Yong-woo), a serial killer she thought was dead. Racing against Detective Jung Jung-hyun (Kang Hoon), Se-hyeon hunts her father to conceal her dark past, navigating a tense cat-and-mouse game filled with moral ambiguity and family trauma.

Genre: Crime, Psychological Thriller, Drama

Publishers: STUDIO X+U, Soul Creative, U+TV, U+ Mobile TV, Disney+ (Streaming, June 16, 2025)

Main Characters:

  • Seo Se-hyeon (Park Ju-hyun): Genius forensic pathologist, haunted by her past.

  • Yoon Jo-kyun (Park Yong-woo): Se-hyeon’s psychopathic father, a serial killer.

  • Jung Jung-hyun (Kang Hoon): Determined detective, pursuing the killer.

  • Supporting Roles (Ryu Seung-soo, Choi Kwang-je, Bin Chan-uk): Police and forensic team members.

Hunter with a Scalpel, a 16-episode K-drama adapted from Choi Yi-do’s novel, premiered June 16, 2025, on U+TV and Disney+, captivating audiences with its dark, fast-paced storytelling. Directed by Lee Jung-hoon, the 30-minute mid-form series follows forensic pathologist Seo Se-hyeon as she confronts her serial-killer father’s return, blending gruesome crime scenes with psychological depth. Park Ju-hyun’s chilling performance and the show’s bold visuals earned it acclaim at Canneseries 2025, though some criticize its heavy-handed script and uneven acting, reflected in mixed reviews (36% Rotten Tomatoes). Fans on X praise its intense father-daughter dynamic and twist-heavy plot, with episodes 5-8 (June 23-26) heightening the suspense. Stream it on Disney+ for a thrilling, if graphic, ride.