Missing: The Other Side

Behind the Scenes of Missing: The Other Side (2020): Casting Secrets and the Mystery of Duon

Missing: The Other Side (2020) blended fantasy, thriller, and crime into a uniquely eerie K-drama, but its production was just as intriguing as its plot. With a cast of powerhouse actors and a premise centered on a village where the missing and the dead coexist, the series quickly became a standout. latestnetflix.com's read is that here’s what we know about the making of this supernatural mystery—and the behind-the-scenes choices that shaped it.

The Casting Coup: Go Soo and Huh Joon-ho’s Dynamic

The series hinges on the chemistry between its leads, particularly Go Soo as Kim Wook, a con artist with a hidden past, and Huh Joon-ho as Jang Pan-seok, a detective entangled in Duon’s secrets. According to a production discussion , the show’s PD revealed that casting these two was a deliberate move to balance tension and depth. Go Soo, known for his versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles, was chosen to bring a "dual nature" to Wook—charming yet morally ambiguous. Meanwhile, Huh Joon-ho, a veteran of crime thrillers, was tapped to ground the supernatural elements with his signature gravitas .

The PD also hinted at the challenges of creating Duon, the village where the dead and missing reside. The setting was designed to feel like a "living paradox," requiring the cast to navigate both the mundane and the otherworldly . While specifics about on-set challenges remain scarce, the actors’ performances suggest a collaborative effort to blur the line between reality and the afterlife.

The Enigmatic Village of Duon: A Character of Its Own

Duon isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a central character. The village, where time moves differently and the dead interact with the living, was reportedly inspired by Korean folklore about liminal spaces . The series’ original Korean title, Missing: They Were There, underscores this theme, framing Duon as a place where the disappeared aren’t just gone—they’re present in another form .

Production details about how Duon was brought to life are limited, but the trailer and snippets from press materials suggest a heavy reliance on practical effects and atmospheric cinematography. The village’s eerie, dreamlike quality was likely achieved through a mix of set design and post-production, though the exact techniques remain unconfirmed. Rumors swirl about the use of real abandoned locations, but without explicit evidence, this remains speculative.

A Surprise Hit with a Cult Following

Despite its niche premise, Missing: The Other Side garnered a strong following, earning a 7.3/10 rating on SensCritique . Fans praised its blend of genres, with many highlighting the performances of Lee Jung-eun (as the sharp-tongued village leader) and An So-hee (as a mysterious young woman with ties to Duon) . The series’ success even led to a second season in 2022–2023, though details about its production are scarce .

What’s clear is that the show’s appeal lies in its ambiguity. Unlike typical K-dramas, it refuses to spell out every twist, leaving viewers to piece together the rules of Duon themselves. This approach, while polarizing, cemented its status as a cult favorite .

The Unanswered Questions

For all its intrigue, Missing: The Other Side leaves much unsaid. Who exactly created the series? What inspired its unique mythology? And how did the cast prepare for roles that straddle life and death? The evidence doesn’t provide answers—only tantalizing hints. For now, fans are left to rewatch and speculate, much like the characters who navigate Duon’s mysteries.

One thing is certain: the show’s legacy endures, proving that sometimes, the most compelling stories are the ones that linger just out of reach.