A new premiere plan has reportedly been set for the long-delayed sequel to Signal, ten years after the original drama became one of the most acclaimed crime series on Korean television. If the report holds, the first two episodes would air together in a special opening broadcast, with the remaining episodes following one at a time from the next day.
MyDaily reported on October 25 that The Second Signal had been set as a Monday-Tuesday drama, with its premiere moved back by one week from an earlier planned date. The reported new date is December 7, when Episodes 1 and 2 would air together, before the series settles into one episode at a time starting December 8.
The network at the centre of the report offered no confirmation when asked about the schedule later that same morning. In its response, tvN stated, "Nothing has yet been confirmed regarding the programming of 'The Second Signal.'"
A Cold-Case Story That Connected Two Timelines
Signal, which aired in 2016, followed detectives in the present day who connected through a mysterious walkie-talkie with a detective living in the past. Working across two timelines, the pair used what each era knew to reopen long-unsolved cold cases and change what happened next.
The Second Signal brings that premise back a decade later, returning to the same world rather than starting the story over. The sequel was first lined up as a centrepiece of the network's 20th anniversary year, which made its long delay all the more conspicuous.
The Original Trio Reunites for the Sequel
Kim Hye-soo returns as Cha Soo-hyun, the veteran detective who led the cold-case team in the original series. Lee Je-hoon returns as Park Hae-young, the criminal profiler whose connection across time drove much of the first season's tension.
Cho Jin-woong returns as Lee Jae-han, the detective in the past whose transmissions set the original story in motion. His role sits at the centre of the sequel as well, which is why questions about his scenes have shaped so much of the discussion around the broadcast.
The sequel is written by Kim Eun-hee, who created the original series and wrote its scripts. Ahn Tae-jin directs the new season, taking the story Kim Eun-hee built in 2016 into its second chapter.
A Finished Drama Held Back by Controversy
The Second Signal had originally been scheduled to premiere in June, timed to the network's 20th anniversary. Filming had already finished in August of last year, so the drama was complete and waiting for a slot when its future was thrown into doubt.
That doubt followed disclosures about Cho Jin-woong in December of last year, when a juvenile criminal record from his school days came to light. Reports also surfaced about incidents from his adulthood, including an assault-related dispute and a drunk driving record.
Cho Jin-woong ultimately acknowledged responsibility for his past and announced his retirement from acting. The announcement left a finished, heavily anticipated sequel with one of its three leads retired and no clear path to broadcast.
Why the Signal Sequel Would Air Without Major Edits
The production team discussed several ways to handle Cho Jin-woong's scenes once the controversy broke. The options considered included editing his scenes out of the finished drama and using artificial intelligence technology to alter them.
It was ultimately decided that his scenes would air without any such editing, reportedly because his part in the story is too large to remove or rework. MyDaily also reported that a pre-recorded production presentation with the other cast members, excluding Cho Jin-woong, is now being considered, after an earlier idea of releasing the drama with no promotion at all.
For now, the December schedule remains a report rather than an announcement, and the network's brief response leaves every part of it unconfirmed. What is confirmed is the shape of the story waiting to air: a completed sequel, a reunited cast and a premiere question that has followed The Second Signal for months.
