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| ▲ This still of the Wavve original series fantasy thriller "S Line" is provided by the OTT giant. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 16 (Yonhap) -- Invisible red lines exist in the world—lines that most people cannot see. These lines usually connect romantic or marital partners, but sometimes they link friends or even mentors and mentees.
The Wavve original drama "S Line" presents a provocative premise: red lines appear between people who have had sexual relations, and some individuals are able to see them.
The main character, Hyun-eup (played by Arin), has been able to see these lines since birth. However, this ability has not been a blessing. As a child, she drew a red thread between her father and aunt in a family portrait, which led to her family’s breakdown. Since then, she has lived as a hikikomori, secluded in her home.
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| ▲ This poster of the Wavve original series fantasy thriller "S Line" is provided by the OTT giant. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
One day, a series of murders occurs in her neighborhood. Hyun-eup realizes her ability could be useful to someone, prompting her to finally step outside her home.
Others come to see the "S Line" through a special pair of glasses. Jung-min (Lee Ga-seop), a math teacher living upstairs from Hyun-eup, obtains a pair and begins hunting down his ex-lovers one by one to erase the red line attached to his head. High school student Sun-ah (Lee Eun-saem) uses the glasses to transform from an outcast to a popular student.
As the web of connections deepens, Detective Ji-wook (Lee Soo-hyuk), who senses something strange is going on, and a mysterious teacher named Gyu-jin (Lee Da-hee) become entangled in the story.
"S Line" is based on a webtoon of the same name. Along with "A Killer Paradox" and another webtoon "Unresolved," it forms part of creator Kkomabi’s "Death Trilogy." While the drama shares the webtoon's core concept—that red lines connect sexual partners and disappear when one dies—it introduces changes, notably that only a select few can see the lines, unlike in the original, where everyone could.
The characters’ responses to the "S Line" vary. Hyun-eup finds it painful to see people's hidden sides and withdraws, while Sun-ah exploits the lines to blackmail classmates and extort money from teachers.
Though grounded in fantasy, the drama explores how people react when they gain knowledge of others’ secrets. Director Ahn Joo-young said at a recent press conference, “The original webtoon examined how people change when they can see the ‘S Line.’ In the drama, we also focused on how new desires emerge and drive change.”
The drama uses computer graphics (CG) to depict a fantastical world filled with trembling red lines. One particularly striking scene shows Sun-ah exploring the streets at night through the glasses, witnessing red threads entangling seemingly unrelated people—suggesting deep, private connections behind innocent façades.
While the original webtoon was structured as an omnibus, covering episodes in the realms of marriage, religion, entertainment, and the military, the drama weaves in thriller elements with new characters, such as police officers and students, and the concept of the glasses.
Hyun-eup suffers visions of her mother with bloodied hands whenever under psychological stress. The drama also tackles heavy subjects such as serial killings, school violence, self-harm, and underage relationships. As Detective Ji-wook narrows in on the truth behind the "S Line," the series develops a strong investigative tone.
Despite its webtoon roots, the drama deviates heavily from the source material (except for the base concept), leaving viewers guessing what will happen next.
"S Line" became the first Korean production to win Best Original Music at the Cannes International Series Festival in May. Its soundtrack ranges from eerie and unsettling to emotionally resonant, reflecting Hyun-eup’s inner turmoil.
The series comprises six episodes, with the first two already released. Two new episodes will be unveiled each Friday.
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