Sisyphus

Behind the Scenes of Sisyphus: The Myth—JTBC’s Ambitious Sci-Fi Gamble

JTBC pulled out all the stops for Sisyphus: The Myth, branding it as a "10th Anniversary Special Drama" to mark the network’s decade in original programming . The series, which aired from February 17 to April 8, 2021, was a high-stakes bet on sci-fi—a genre still relatively rare in K-dramas—headlined by two of Korea’s most bankable stars, Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye . But behind the glossy teaser trailers and Netflix’s global push, the production had its share of buzz, latestnetflix.com argues, both for its creative risks and the reunion of its leads.

A Long-Awaited Reunion

Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye’s pairing was a major selling point, and for good reason: the two hadn’t shared the screen since Lizard (2006), a film that marked Park’s early career . Their 15-year gap between collaborations only amplified fan curiosity, especially since both had evolved into A-list stars in the interim. Cho, known for his intense, cerebral roles (Life, Stranger), and Park, a rom-com and melodrama queen (The Heirs, #Alive), brought starkly different energies to Sisyphus—a dynamic the show leaned into with its time-bending plot .

The drama also marked Park’s first foray into JTBC, a network she’d previously bypassed in favor of terrestrial broadcasters like SBS and tvN . For Cho, it was a return to JTBC after Life (2018), a medical thriller that had cemented his reputation for playing morally complex characters . Their chemistry—or lack thereof—became a talking point early on, with some viewers arguing the sci-fi premise overshadowed their on-screen rapport .

The Netflix Factor: Global Hype vs. Local Reception

Sisyphus was one of JTBC’s first major dramas to debut on Netflix simultaneously with its domestic broadcast, a strategy that aimed to capitalize on the streaming giant’s global reach . Episodes dropped on Netflix in South Korea and internationally just hours after their JTBC airings, a move that mirrored the rollout of other high-profile K-dramas like Vincenzo and Sweet Home . The decision reflected JTBC’s growing confidence in its ability to compete beyond Korean borders, though it also raised the stakes for the show’s reception.

The teaser released in late 2020 had stoked significant hype, with its cryptic visuals and promises of a mind-bending narrative . But when the series finally premiered, reactions were mixed. Some praised its ambitious storytelling and Cho Seung-woo’s performance, while others found the plot convoluted or the pacing uneven . The divide highlighted the challenges of blending sci-fi with K-drama’s traditional emotional beats—a gamble that didn’t fully pay off for all viewers.

The Director’s Vision: Jin Hyuk’s Sci-Fi Ambitions

At the helm was Jin Hyuk, a director whose previous work (Doctor Stranger, City Hunter) had already proven his knack for high-stakes, action-driven narratives . Sisyphus was his first foray into full-blown sci-fi, a genre that demanded heavy VFX and meticulous world-building. While the evidence doesn’t detail behind-the-scenes struggles, the show’s production scale—including its time-travel mechanics and dystopian aesthetics—suggested a significant budget and logistical hurdles .

Jin Hyuk’s involvement also fueled speculation about the show’s tone. His earlier projects often balanced romance with thriller elements, but Sisyphus leaned harder into existential themes, drawing inspiration from the Greek myth of Sisyphus (the man doomed to eternally push a boulder uphill) . The title itself hinted at the show’s central question: Was the protagonist’s struggle against fate heroic or futile? The ending, dissected in countless recaps and YouTube analyses, left audiences debating whether the loop was truly broken .

The Verdict: A Bold but Divisive Experiment

Sisyphus: The Myth may not have been the runaway hit JTBC hoped for, but it wasn’t a flop either. Its legacy lies in its ambition—a rare K-drama willing to tackle sci-fi on a grand scale, complete with time paradoxes and a star-studded cast . The show’s Netflix availability ensured it found an international audience, even if its reception was more niche than mass.

For fans of Cho Seung-woo and Park Shin-hye, it was a long-overdue reunion; for sci-fi enthusiasts, it was a flawed but fascinating experiment. And for JTBC, it was a statement: the network was ready to play with the big boys, even if the boulder kept rolling back down the hill.