Newtopia, starring Park Jeong-min and Jisoo, is a romantic fantasy zombie comedy that arrived on Coupang Play in 2025. The story centers on Jae-yoon, a late military enlistee, and his girlfriend Young-joo, whose relationship ends over the phone because of mounting misunderstandings. A zombie outbreak then erupts across the globe, prompting a national emergency declaration, and a plane crashes into the city center. Jae-yoon and his unit become stuck on top of a Seoul skyscraper, while Young-joo ventures through streets overrun by zombies in search of him. The central query posed by the show is whether their love can endure the apocalypse.
Newtopia mixes romantic comedy, zombie apocalypse, military action, and a bit of fantasy into one story. The idea should be a mess, and sometimes it is. Yet the way the story is told is what makes it work.
Trailer, via Prime Video.
Jae-Yoon and Young-Joo
The central bond drives the entire production. Park Jeong-min stars as Jae-yoon, and his portrayal gives the part of the late enlistee a grounded sincerity. He delivers the emotional heft of the split-up, even as the world around him falls apart. Jisoo takes on Kang Young-joo, Jae-yoon’s girlfriend, and she performs with such warmth that her determination to track him down feels real instead of staged. Their connection is what allows the romance to endure through the apocalypse.
This series treats a zombie epidemic as setting, not spectacle. The undead populate the story, yet the narrative keeps its eye on Jae-yoon and Young-joo instead. That decision works in the show’s favor. Their meeting at last carries weight because the writers have built toward it, rather than staging it for shock value.
The Supporting Cast
A capable cast carries the whole production, with each performer contributing something distinct to their character. Im Sung-jae brings a steady, contained force to Ra In-ho, the man who takes over Jae-yoon’s position, giving the military portions of the story a sense of weight. Hong Seo-hui steps into the part of Oh Soo-jeong, a worker at the VIP lounge, whose role adds a human touch to the corporate satire the show builds its case around. Lee Hak-ju takes on two roles at once: Sung Tae-sik and Alex, the head of Alex Entertainment, showing a magnetic presence that suits both sides of his personality equally well. Tang Joon-sang plays Sam-soo, a devoted ally to Young-joo, while Kim Jeong-jin plays Hwang Gyeong-Sik, supported by Bin Chan-uk as Kwak Gye Yeong and Kwon Seung-woo as Park Seong-uk.
None of these characters exist merely to fill space on screen. Every one of them receives a chance to stand out, and the show counts on its viewers recognizing who they are. That faith pays off.
The World Around Them
The city of Seoul is rendered with a distinctive visual style that drew critical praise for its confident mise-en-scène. The color palette moves between the everyday and the apocalyptic, with the skyscrapers, streets, and ruined city center all rendered on a scale that makes the world feel inhabited.
The zombies are dangerous, yet they are not the sole peril here. A plane crash has struck the city center, bringing another hazard into the mix. Both dangers are managed with a calm and steady approach. The pace moves slowly, which works to either benefit or frustrate the viewer depending on their patience.
The Script’s Weak Spots
The film’s visual design drew praise from critics, yet its story failed to hold attention. The writing has been called “lazy,” and the lead actors show a limited ability to convey genuine feeling. Such faults exist, yet they do not sink the picture.
The show falters in its middle portion. Episode one introduces both the central bond and the end of days, while the concluding installments give viewers their reward. Between those two points, the pace flags, weighed down by excessive explanation and lacking sufficient action. This is a timing issue rather than a failure of narrative construction.
The Payoff
The last episodes reunite Jae-yoon and Young-joo, and the payoff feels earned. The series closes with a hopeful tone, which makes for a fitting end to a show that had trouble finding its footing in the middle.
What sets this series apart is also what holds it back. It aims to deliver a romantic comedy, an action thriller, and a zombie apocalypse movie all within a single story. That scope is impressive, even if it pushes the pacing to a frantic pace. The show attempts far more than it can fully realize across its limited runtime, leaving it consistently solid rather than truly remarkable.
Key Facts
- Title: Newtopia (Korean: 뉴토피아)
- Premiere: February 7, 2025
- Last episode: March 21, 2025
- Network: Coupang Play
- Streaming: Also available on Amazon Prime Video in selected regions
- Season: 1 season, 8 episodes
- Score: 8 of 10
The Verdict
Jae-yoon and Young-joo’s love story carries Newtopia through its weaker stretches. The leads are excellent, the world is vivid, and the ending delivers, but the middle section drags and the script is thin in places. Still, the show’s heart is strong enough to make the journey worthwhile. It is a show that rewards attention, even when it demands patience.
Newtopia earns its 8 of 10.
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