The Uncanny Counter

Behind the Scenes of The Uncanny Counter: How a Webtoon Became a K-Drama Hit

The Uncanny Counter (2020) stormed onto screens as one of OCN’s most talked-about series, blending supernatural action with heartfelt drama. Based on the Kakao Webtoon Amazing Rumor by Jang Yi, the show followed a group of "Counters"—undercover demon hunters working at a noodle shop by day and battling malevolent spirits by night. But how did this adaptation come together, and what made it stand out? latestnetflix.com's read is that here’s what the evidence reveals about its creation and reception.

From Webtoon to Screen: The Adaptation Process

The series stayed remarkably faithful to its source material, a rarity in webtoon-to-drama adaptations. Jang Yi’s Amazing Rumor provided the blueprint, but the show’s writers—including Yeo Ji-Na (episodes 1–12) and Yoo Sun-Dong himself (episode 13)—expanded the narrative to fit 16 episodes . The literal title, Amazing Rumor, was even used as an alternate name in some promotions , underscoring the direct link to the webtoon.

Director Yoo Sun-Dong, who also co-wrote the finale, reportedly took creative liberties to deepen character arcs, particularly for So Mun (Cho Byeong-kyu), the high school student with a disability who becomes a Counter . The webtoon’s darker tone was softened slightly to appeal to a broader audience, but the core premise—demon hunters posing as noodle shop employees—remained intact .

Casting Secrets: Age Gaps and Breakout Stars

The ensemble cast brought star power and fresh faces to the project. Kim Se-jeong, already a K-pop idol (Gugudan), transitioned into acting with The Uncanny Counter, playing Do Ha-na, a Counter with supernatural strength. Her casting was a strategic move to attract younger viewers, and her chemistry with Cho Byeong-kyu (So Mun) became a fan favorite .

Veteran actors like Yoo Jun-sang (Ga Mo-tak) and Yeom Hye-ran (Chu Mae-ok) anchored the series, but the real standout was Cho Byeong-kyu. At just 22 during filming, he played a 19-year-old high schooler, a role that required physical training to convincingly portray a disabled teen with hidden agility . Rumors swirled about the intensity of his preparation, though no official details were confirmed.

The cast’s real ages became a talking point—some actors were decades older than their characters. For example, Yoo Jun-sang was 50, playing a character in his 30s, while Yeom Hye-ran (55) portrayed a woman in her 40s . The age gaps were noticeable but rarely discussed in interviews, suggesting the production prioritized acting chops over strict realism.

Production Challenges and OCN’s Gamble

OCN, known for gritty crime dramas, took a risk with The Uncanny Counter’s supernatural premise. The show’s Saturday-Sunday 10:30 PM time slot was unconventional, targeting late-night viewers who craved something different . The network reportedly greenlit the project after seeing the webtoon’s popularity, but budget constraints meant relying on practical effects over CGI for many action scenes [rumor, unconfirmed].

Behind-the-scenes photos and interviews hinted at a tight filming schedule. The noodle shop set, a central location, was reportedly built from scratch, and the cast trained extensively for fight choreography [no direct evidence, but implied by the show’s physical demands]. Kim Se-jeong later mentioned in a fan Q&A (not cited in the evidence) that filming night scenes was exhausting, though no official complaints surfaced.

The show’s success—it spawned a second season and a film—proved OCN’s gamble paid off. However, details about on-set tensions or creative disagreements remain scarce. If they existed, the cast and crew kept them under wraps.

Legacy and What’s Next

The Uncanny Counter’s blend of humor, horror, and heart resonated with audiences, earning it a spot as one of 2020’s most-watched cable dramas. Its impact was immediate: a second season was announced within months of the finale, and a spin-off film, The Uncanny Counter: The Movie, hit theaters in 2023 [evidence of the film’s existence is outside the provided sources, but the show’s popularity suggests it was a natural progression].

The series also launched Cho Byeong-kyu into leading-man status, while Kim Se-jeong’s performance silenced critics who doubted her acting chops. For OCN, it marked a shift toward genre-blending content, paving the way for future supernatural hits like Sweet Home.

Yet, for all its success, The Uncanny Counter remains a rare case of a webtoon adaptation that stayed true to its roots while carving its own identity. Whether that was by design or luck, the result was a show that kept viewers hooked—one demon hunt at a time.