Netflix Series ‘Mousetrap’ Ranks No. 5 Among Global Top 10 Non-English Shows!

‘Mousetrap’ is a tracking thriller about Moon-jae, a novelist who has his name, face and entire life stolen by a mysterious entity known as ‘Mousetrap’; No-ja, a loan shark trying to recover money he has lost; and detective Soon-yong as they pursue the truth behind Mousetrap. The series recorded 2,000,000 views — calculated by dividing total viewing time by the show’s total running time — after its release on Aug. 28 (Friday), making it the No. 5 non-English show on the global Top 10 list. It also ranked among the Top 10 in 13 countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar, demonstrating its strong popularity.

Newly released stills capture everything from the cast’s passion and the warm atmosphere on set to intense action sequences. In one image, Ryu Jun-yeol, who plays Moon-jae, and Park Yoon-ho, who plays Yoo-min, look over a script together. Along with their memorable performances, the image recalls the relationship between the two characters, who engage in sharp conflict in the series. The actors’ interactions as they listen to director Kim Hong-sun’s direction and exchange ideas offer a glimpse of their serious thoughtfulness and sincere passion for the production. Other stills show Seol Kyung-gu, who plays No-ja, sitting in a dirt-covered tunnel, and Lee Kyu-hyung, who plays Soon-yong, filming with a flashlight on a dark night, hinting at the intensity of their performances. Meanwhile, images of the cast smiling brightly as they pose with V signs reveal a contrasting charm distinct from the scenes charged with tension and convey the warm atmosphere on set. Another series of stills recalls the thrilling action sequences staged regardless of location or weapon: Moon-ja appears to threaten someone with a knife, No-ja charges fiercely with an ax, and the two engage in a bare-knuckle brawl. In particular, Seol Kyung-gu’s work with the martial arts director heightens anticipation for his action performance, completed with his unfettered movements.

〈Mousetrap〉​ has won praise from domestic and international media and viewers for its intriguing folklore-based premise, compelling ensemble of characters, and unpredictable pursuit and confrontation surrounding the mysterious ‘Mousetrap.’ Korean media outlets praised the cast’s performances and the immersive story, writing, “Ryu Jun-yeol’s dual role heightens the viewer’s immersion. Despite having the same face, the two characters feel entirely different. Because every clue is resolved and the story leaves no gaps, it maintains a high level of immersion through the finale.” (Kim Ye-eun, Xportsnews); “A wide range of tension emerges as people with different goals investigate the same subject. The production adds thrills and entertainment to the source material’s contemplative atmosphere, creating a layered narrative.” (Lim Yoo-jin, SportsQ); “The complex emotions that arise as the story unfolds — tension, fear, thrills and humor — captivate viewers. This roller coaster leaves no room for boredom.” (Song Oh-jung, Sports Today); and “This tense pursuit, which unfolds through empathy with each character’s psychology, delivers powerful immersion.” (Kang Sun-ae, SBS Entertainment News).

International media have also praised the series. Decider wrote, “The tension felt by a man who discovers that his identity has been stolen is vividly conveyed.” Mashable said it “carefully builds the chilling reality of identity theft through an unhurried, well-constructed mystery, intense action and solid twists.” Midgard Times called it “a production that creates a remarkably modern sensibility despite being inspired by a very old story.” The Sunday Guardian wrote that it “explores such an appealing premise that viewers will press play immediately without a second thought.”