The Crime Scene series, now entering its 11th year, has carved out a unique place in Korean entertainment history by pioneering the “role-playing mystery variety” genre. Unlike traditional mystery shows, Crime Scene allowed cast members to step into different roles, sometimes as detectives and sometimes as suspects, unraveling cases filled with twists and dramatic reveals.
Originally launched on JTBC in 2014 after PD Yoon Hyun-jun moved from KBS, the show built a loyal fanbase across three seasons. However, the escalating production costs became unsustainable for cable television, leading to a hiatus after Crime Scene 3 in 2017. The series resurfaced seven years later as Crime Scene Returns on TVING, and now it makes its boldest leap yet as a Netflix Original under the new title Crime Scene Zero.
At the production press conference on September 16 ahead of its September 19 global premiere, PD Yoon revealed the reasoning behind the title change. Originally planned as “Season 5,” the name shifted to “Zero” to symbolize a return to the beginning — emphasizing the show’s roots, essence, and evolution.
To reflect this philosophy, the cast lineup includes familiar veterans: Park Ji-yoon, who has been a mainstay since earlier seasons; director Jang Jin and comedian Jang Dong-min, both from Season 2; actor Kim Ji-hoon, returning after nearly eight years since Season 3; and IVE’s An Yu-jin, who made a strong impression in the last season. Special guests will also join, including Jung So-min, Park Sung-woong, Joo Hyun-young, Ha Seok-jin, and Hwang In-youp.
With Netflix’s global reach and massive resources, the production scale has grown dramatically. At the recent 2025 Netflix Variety Festival, a full bridge set dubbed “Hangang Bridge” was revealed — strong enough to hold actual cars. The new season also features a two-story hospital set, raising the stakes for immersive storytelling. Director Jang Jin remarked that the sets were so elaborate he even asked if they could be repurposed for films.
Despite only producing five cases (ten episodes) this season, PD Yoon apologized for not meeting fans’ demands for more. Still, he expressed confidence in the show’s enhanced quality and global impact, citing his recent successes with Culinary Class Wars and the Sing Again series.
By naming it Crime Scene Zero, the production emphasizes a return to the series’ origins while simultaneously evolving for a worldwide audience. Fans around the globe will be able to experience this new chapter starting September 19 at 4 p.m. KST on Netflix.
Sources: Daum
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