Dead-End Job, starring Lee Jae-wook, Go Min-si, Kim Min-ha and Lee Hee-joon, has nabbed the number one spot on Netflix’s Non-English TV Shows by its second week in the top 10. Meanwhile, ratings behemoth Doctor X, the second K-drama on the list, is still holding on to a spot in the Top 10 in its fifth week. It’s quite a feat for South Korean actor Lee Jae-wook, who officially enlisted for his mandatory military service on May 18, 2026, and is expected to be discharged in November 2027. Despite his enlistment, he’s managed to deliver consecutive dramas, going from Doctor on the Edge to a global hit with Dead-End Job.
The story follows debt-ridden young man Byeon Hyeok-jun, who, with nowhere else to turn, accepts a part-time job at a mysterious agency offering an hourly wage 50 times the minimum. However, he soon discovers that every assignment comes with its own set of deadly rules. Given the popularity of survival shows, this success doesn’t come as much of a surprise. And it’s also rather poetic to see Go Min-si, dubbed the ‘daughter of Netflix’ for her appearances in numerous Netflix productions, including THE Sweet Home franchise, leading another survival thriller. Adding to the appeal, the creative team behind the series is also made up of familiar names responsible for other Netflix K-drama hits.
It’s short at just eight episodes, thrilling and easy to binge. Yet beyond the momentary scares, Dead-End Job also shines a light on the harsh realities of everyday life where poverty is the far more persistent nightmare.
