Netflix has confirmed production on the new period action film Dochabi (working title), drawing its name from the native Korean word for dokkaebi, the Korean goblin. The project marks another original Korean offering from the streamer and centers on intense martial action set against the Joseon-era borderlands.
Dochabi follows Tae-san, a former soldier living in hiding deep in the mountains alongside a Jurchen woman named Ahai near settlements formed by farmers. When the commander Yi Do-gwan begins hunting those farmers while concealed behind a mask, Tae-san rises to fight back and gradually becomes known as the protective figure called Dochabi.
Kim Do-hoon (Moving, Your Honor, Love Scout) takes the central role of Tae-san, a man drawn into a shadowy conspiracy of masked figures and wrongly branded as the invaders’ ringleader. He survives with near-monstrous resilience and battles like a phantom until he earns the moniker that shields the people around him. Jun Jong-seo (Burning, The Call, Ballerina) portrays Ahai, the agile Jurchen woman who shares Tae-san’s mountain refuge and matches him in martial skill as they fight side by side.
Lee Joon-gi (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Flower of Evil, Lawless Lawyer) steps into the part of Yi Do-gwan, the power-hungry border commander whose masked campaign drives the conflict. Lee Sang-yi (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Bloodhounds, Once Again) appears as Park Se-ryong, the inspector who probes rumors of the northern masked attackers and grows increasingly suspicious of Yi Do-gwan. Bae In-hyuk (My Roommate Is a Gumiho, Cheer Up, The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract) rounds out the principal cast as Crown Prince Yeolhwagun, a figure marked by responsibility and compassion for those suffering under the invaders.
The film is directed by An Tae-jin, whose feature debut The Night Owl earned strong critical attention for its historical thriller craft. It is written by Hwang Sung-gu, known for layered character work and sturdy storytelling in projects such as The King’s Warden, with additional writing contributions noted in production materials. Produced by Ondaworks, the company behind one of Korea’s highest-grossing films, Dochabi is positioned as a fresh period action drama built around high-stakes combat, conspiracy, and folklore-tinged survival.
The completed film will stream exclusively on Netflix.
Source: Netflix
