The Uncanny Counter

The Uncanny Counter is a South Korean fantasy action television series adapted from Jang Yi’s Daum webtoon Amazing Rumor. Its first season aired on OCN from November 28, 2020 to January 24, 2021 and ran for sixteen episodes. The drama follows four “Counters”, human employees of a noodle restaurant who are recruited by Yung, the afterlife realm, to hunt evil spirits that possess people. Their apparent workplace, Eonni’s Noodles, gives the team cover while making food and mutual care central to the group’s identity. The first season was directed by Yoo Sun-dong; the writers included Yeo Ji-na and Kim Sae-bom on staff.

Jo Byeong-kyu plays So Mun, a high school student whose damaged leg came from the car accident that killed his parents. Chosen as a Counter after Cheol-jung’s death, Mun is given exceptional physical strength and access to the Territory, a patch of energized ground that alerts the team to demons. Yoo Jun-sang plays Ga Mo-tak, a former police detective left with amnesia after an attempt on his life; Kim Se-jeong plays Do Ha-na, who can sense evil spirits and read memories through touch; and Yeom Hye-ran plays Choo Mae-ok, the group’s healer. Ahn Suk-hwan’s Choi Jang-mul is the oldest Counter and the owner of Eonni’s Noodles.

The first season’s main adversary is Ji Cheong-sin, played by Lee Hong-nae, a level three evil spirit who works with the murderous accomplices Baek Hyang-hui and Kim Yeong-nim. Mun’s search for the truth about his parents ties the supernatural hunt to a corruption case involving the Taesin Group and mayoral candidate Noh Hang-gyu. The series became OCN’s highest-rated drama at the time, and its strong response led to a second season being confirmed. It also drew attention for keeping a hero’s school life alongside stories about trauma, disability, grief, friendship and abusive power, rather than treating Counter work as a superhero spectacle.

The second season, titled The Uncanny Counter 2: Counter Punch, aired on tvN from July 29 to September 3, 2023, across twelve episodes. Yoo Sun-dong returned as director, while Jo Byung-kyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran and Ahn Suk-hwan reprised their Counter roles. The new season adds Yoo In-soo as Na Jeok-bong, a country-raised recruit whose ability involves smelling evil spirits, and pits the team against a powerful trio led by Hwang Pil-gwang, played by Kang Ki-young. Kim Hieora plays Gelly and Kim Hyun-wook plays Wong Yeok. Counter Punch tests the team against demons whose power and coordination challenge its internal bonds and resolve.