Is K-Drama ‘The Match’ Coming to Netflix in 2025? Why Has It Been Delayed?

Is K-Drama ‘The Match’ Coming to Netflix in 2025? Why Has It Been Delayed?

Will The Match find its way to Netflix in 2025?

The Match – Picture. Netflix

Initially set to be released on Netflix in 2023, we’re now in 2025, and still, the K-Drama film The Match has yet to be released on Netflix. What’s taking so long? A controversy surrounding one of the lead actors in the movie has resulted in the movie being delayed indefinitely.

The Match is an upcoming South Korean sports biopic directed by Kim Hyung Joo (KUNDO: Age of the Rampant) and written by screenwriter Yoon Jong Bin (Narco Saints).

When is the Netflix release date for The Match?

The Match was scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2023 and was part of Netflix’s line-up in their preview for K-drama content that year.

There are rumors online that The Match could be released on Netflix sometime in 2025, but it’s unclear if this will happen.

Why has The Match been delayed for so long?

The reason for the delay is due to the controversy surrounding lead actor Yoo Ah In, who in October 2023 was charged by South Korean authorities for drug use.

South Korea has a zero-tolerance policy on drug use, and using drugs recreationally is a criminal offense. Yoo Ah In was charged with the use of propofol, committing fraud to buy sleeping pills, and smoking marijuana. The controversy surrounding the actor resulted in him losing his role in Hellbound, and his scenes in Goodbye Earth were dramatically reduced in the editing room. In September 2024, he was sentenced to one year in prison. However, his ruling is scheduled for February 18th, 2025.

Will The Match be released?

With Yoo Ah In’s ruling scheduled for February 2025, his reputation is radioactive, resulting in any production associated with him distancing itself significantly.

If The Match is to be released, it won’t be until later this year. We would argue that the best time to release the movie would be soon after the release of Squid Game season 3. This is because the frontman actor, Lee Byung Hun, is the other lead actor in The Match. Given his popularity since Squid Game season 2 was released, it would be the perfect time to cash in on his popularity and release the film on Netflix.

A suggestion has been made online that if the distributor is worried about the potential backlash in South Korea, instead, The Match should be released internationally on Netflix everywhere outside of South Korea.


What is the plot of The Match?

The synopsis for The Match has been sourced from Kobiz:

It is the story of two legendary players of Go, Cho Hun-Hyun and his protege and future rival Lee Chang-ho.

Who are Cho Hun Hyun and Lee Chang-ho?

Cho Hun-hyun is a South Korean politician and world-famous Go player. Highly considered one of the best Go players of all time, Cho had reached a professional level at the tender age of 9. By 1995, Cho had amassed 1,000 career wins, won 11 international titles, and amassed over 150 professional titles. In his later years, Cho became a politician and was a member of the National Assembly as recently as May 2020.

Cho Hyu Hyun Lee Chang Ho The Match Netflix K Drama Coming To Netflix In

Cho Hun-Hyun (left) and Lee Chang Ho (right)

Lee Chang-ho, is also a South Korean Go player and also considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He is the protege of Cho Hun-Hyun, and a 9-dan rank. He is the second youngest professional in South Korean history after Cho, and the only player to have won all international competitions at least once.


Who are the cast members of The Match?

Lee Byung Hun will play the role of Cho Hun Hyun. While his face was covered for the majority of the season, Squid Game fans will recognize Lee Byung Hun as Hwang In Ho aka The Frontman. He will be returning to reprise his role in the second season of Squid Game.

Lee Byung Hun Squid Game Season Front Man Netflix

Lee Byung Hun

Yoo Ah In will play the role of Lee Chang Ho. One of South Korea’s most talented male actors, The Match was his fifth Netflix k-drama project. Netflix subscribers should recognize him from the movies Alive and Seoul Vibe and for starring in the horror drama Hellbound. He was also seen on Netflix in 2024 in a leading role in the K-drama Goodbye Earth.

Dystopian Netflix K Drama Goodbye Earth Season Yoo Ah In

Yoo Ah In

Moon Jung Hee will play the role of Jung Mi Hwa. This will be the third Netflix project for the actress after previously starring in the K-dramas Vagabond and Mystic Pop-Up Bar. Outside of Netflix, she has starred in movies such as Pandora, Dad for Rent, and Deranged.

In the supporting roles of The Match are the following;

  • Kim Kang Hoon (Racket Boys) as Lee Chang Ho (young)
  • Ko Chang Seok (The Good Detective 2)
  • Hyun Bong Shik (Narco Saints)
  • Byun Hong Jun (Under the Queen’s Umbrella)

When and where was The Match filmed?

Filming took place between December 16th, 2020, and April 6th, 2021.

Multiple locations across South Korea were used for filming.

  • Daegu, South Korea
  • Ulsan, South Korea
  • Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
  • Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
  • Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
  • Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Busan, South Korea

Are you looking forward to the release of The Match on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!

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