The Chilling Comeback of That Person to Cool Down This Summer: 'Wednesday' and New OTT Releases for the First Week of August 2025 (7/30~8/6)

Taylor Content Editor Hong Seon

The summer vacation season has returned! From famous domestic tourist spots to overseas attractions, it seems everyone is heading out to recharge their energy for this summer. Alternatively, some may prefer to spend their vacation comfortably binge-watching works they haven't seen at home or in their accommodations. For those individuals, we have prepared refreshing new releases this week. 〈Squid Game〉 and 〈Stranger Things〉 are joined by the return of that person, now known as the big three on Netflix, and the OTT debut of another demon hunter (?), along with the intense courtroom chemistry between a prickly mentor and a highly adaptable mentee. New releases that will enrich your precious summer vacation, more valuable than gold, are waiting for you.

(The release dates and platforms are based on South Korea)

Wednesday Season 2 – Wednesday in a Chilling Land

Streaming: Netflix

Release Date: August 6 (Wed) / Not suitable for minors

Running Time: -

Cast: Jenna Ortega, Emma Myers, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and others

#AmericanDrama #NetflixOriginal #YouthDrama #Mystery #Chilling

It’s more chilling and bizarre than the previous season. However, the feeling that it will be even more fun remains. Many have been waiting for 〈Wednesday〉 to return for Season 2. As the new semester begins, Wednesday Addams returns to Nevermore Academy, facing the mysteries surrounding her while uncovering hidden truths in a story filled with time-suspending fun.

〈Wednesday〉 has been loved as a series that reached the number one spot in Netflix's global TOP 10 TV English category, with over 1.7 billion hours of viewing time. It promises a fantastic story beyond just a spin-off of 〈The Addams Family〉, once again hinting at a binge-worthy experience on Netflix. Directed by Tim Burton, who also directed the previous season, Jenna Ortega's adorable yet chilling performance, which is nearly 100% in sync with Wednesday, is expected to delight fans. Netflix's confidence in 〈Wednesday〉 also raises expectations for the work. Before the release of Season 2, Season 3 has already been officially confirmed, and the main cast is currently meeting fans in various countries, including South Korea. In this time of exhausting heat, how about diving into the refreshing mystery fantasy offered by Wednesday and the Addams Family? 〈Wednesday〉 Season 2 will release Part 1 on August 6, followed by the remaining episodes on September 3.

Holy Night: Demon Hunters – Ma Dong-seok, Now Even Beating Up Demons

Streaming: Netflix, Tving, Wavve

Release Date: July 31 (Thu) / Suitable for ages 15 and up

Running Time: 92 minutes

Cast: Ma Dong-seok, Seo Hyun, Lee Da-wit, Kyung Soo-jin, Jung Ji-so, and others

#KoreanFilm #Horror #Action #Occult

While not singing K-pop (?), another demon hunter who beats up evil spirits is landing on OTT. 〈Holy Night: Demon Hunters〉 is an occult action film where a team of dark fixers, known as 'Holy Night', takes down evil forces in a city thrown into chaos by a group that worships evil.

Ma Dong-seok, who has become a trusted actor with the mega-hit 〈The Outlaws〉, appears this time as a hunter who beats up evil spirits instead of criminals. With a powerful punch that even the embodiment of evil cannot escape, unexpected humor arising from his witty remarks, Ma Dong-seok's charm is hard to hide even in the occult. The narrative flow and genre fun feel familiar from the 〈The Outlaws〉 series, but the known flavor remains delicious. Along with Ma Dong-seok, Seo Hyun and Lee Da-wit’s unique performances in fighting evil, and Jung Ji-so’s chilling performance as a girl possessed by evil spirits, make the work more engaging.

Esquire: Lawyers Dreaming of Becoming Lawyers - A Cold City Lawyer, But Warm to My Mentee

Streaming: Netflix

Release Date: August 3 (Sun) / Suitable for ages 15 and up

Running Time: 12 episodes

Cast: Lee Jin-wook, Jung Chae-yeon, Lee Hak-joo, Jeon Hye-bin

#KoreanDrama #LegalSeries #Inspiring #Office #Mentor #Sincere

Following 〈Seocho-dong〉, a drama that interestingly unfolds the meeting of courtroom drama and office life has arrived. 〈Esquire: Lawyers Dreaming of Becoming Lawyers〉 (hereafter 〈Esquire〉) tells the story of a righteous and bold rookie lawyer, Hyo-min, who grows as a legal professional through the cold and rational yet top-notch partner lawyer, Seok-hoon. Directed by Kim Jae-hong of 〈The Heirs〉 and written by Park Mi-hyun, it will deal with the law while fiercely addressing human stories.

From the trailer, Lee Jin-wook's presence as the cold Seok-hoon stands out. A professional at work, but a devil itself to junior lawyers, he is a strict mentor, yet his warm emotions hidden beneath his exterior will bring unexpected fun and emotion to the case clues and human relationships. Hyo-min, who receives many scoldings from Seok-hoon but grows one step further through mistakes, is portrayed by Jung Chae-yeon, delivering a relatable story of a newcomer. Additionally, the various episodes within the workplace featuring talented actors like Lee Hak-joo and Jeon Hye-bin will add to the unique charm of 〈Esquire〉. 〈Esquire〉 will air on JTBC's Saturday drama at 10:40 PM on August 2, followed by its release on Netflix the next day, August 3.

Phantom: The Musical Live – Enjoying a Premium Musical Performance at Home

Streaming: Disney+

Release Date: August 6 (Wed) / Suitable for ages 12 and up

Running Time: 177 minutes

Cast: Kyuhyun, Lim Sun-hye, Yoon Young-seok, Shin Young-sook, and others

#Musical #LivePerformance #Romance #Tragedy #Mystery

Disney+ will sequentially release musical live performance films in August. Capturing the atmosphere of the live performance in high-quality video, it is expected to bring great joy to subscribers. Among them, on August 6, 〈Phantom: The Musical Live〉, based on the novel 「The Phantom of the Opera」, will be the first to be released in living rooms.

The work captures the secrets and love of Erik, who hides in the basement of the theater due to his hideous face, with Kyuhyun and Lim Sun-hye playing the roles of Phantom Erik and Christine, respectively, continuing a sad yet beautiful romance. In particular, Kyuhyun delicately portrays the complex nature of the Phantom, twisted by wounds, through song and dance, enhancing the immersion of the work. The integration of various genres, including opera and ballet, alongside the musical, showcases the power of stage art. In addition to 〈Phantom: The Musical Live〉, on the same day, 〈Elisabeth: The Musical Live〉, on August 13, 〈The Count of Monte Cristo: The Musical Live〉 and 〈The Man Who Laughs〉, and on August 20, 〈Excalibur〉 and 〈Marie Antoinette〉 will be sequentially released on Disney+.