The drama I’m introducing today is a chilling new Korean thriller that gives an old folktale a modern, seriously creepy twist. Did your parents ever tell you,“If you throw away your fingernail clippings at night, a rat will eat them and turn into you”?
That very “fingernail-eating rat” legend is the inspiration behind this major new release. And with a cast that instantly gets your heart racing— Ryu Jun-yeol, Sol Kyung-gu, and Lee Kyu-hyung—how could anyone skip this? On top of that, some of Korea’s most trusted thriller creators are behind it, so I pulled together all the key details as fast as I could. If you love suspense, mystery, and chase thrillers, this is absolutely the kind of series that will get your pulse up.
Basic Information
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Episodes: 10
Original work: Kakao Webtoon Rat by Ludovico
Director: Kim Hong-sun
Writer: Lee Jae-gon
Synopsis: A reclusive novelist named Moon-jae, who has everything stolen from him in an instant by a mysterious figure known as “Rat,” teams up with the loan shark who was chasing him to hunt the impostor down and reclaim his life.
Cast: Ryu Jun-yeol, Sol Kyung-gu
Premiere date: August 28, 2026
Streaming: Netflix
What if a fake version of you stole your entire life?
Netflix Rat is, at its core, a suffocating chase thriller about tracking down a mysterious being that has stolen everything from you. The main character, Je Moon-jae, is a shut-in novelist who has lived in isolation for a full 10 years because of severe social anxiety. Then one day, his fingerprint no longer unlocks his smartphone, and even his only friend disappears, sending his already fragile world into total collapse. If you’ve been searching for Netflix Rat details, this setup alone is enough to hook you.
It turns out a mysterious entity known as “Rat” has stolen his name, face, identity, and even his assets—completely. It’s such an absurd and terrifying situation, and that’s when Moon-jae gets tangled up with No-ja, the loan shark who had been hunting him. Together, they launch a desperate pursuit to take back his real life.
I haven’t fully read the original webtoon yet, but the premise itself feels incredibly fresh, and after seeing Ryu Jun-yeol in the teaser, I honestly think this could be one of the most anticipated Korean thrillers of the year. I always keep up with his projects, and he’s one of those actors who makes every character feel completely different and fully lived-in.
Want the key Netflix Rat details, including the OTT platform and episode count?
The most important Netflix Rat details start with where to watch it: as the title suggests, this is a Netflix original series available exclusively on Netflix. The release date is confirmed for Friday, August 28, 2026, and I’m expecting it to drop at around 5 p.m. that day. A lot of people are especially curious about how many episodes Rat will have. While the official final count hasn’t been fully locked in publicly, media reports say it was produced as a 10-episode series. The director is Voice and The Guest,both famous for delivering top-tier genre storytelling—and honestly, The Guest is one of my all-time favorites— director Kim Hong-sun,while the script was written by Lee Jae-gon, the writer of A Model Family. It’s also rated adults only, so I think it’s fair to expect something darker, sharper, and much more intense.
A powerhouse cast with zero weak links
One of the biggest reasons this series feels so exciting is the acting showdown we’re about to get. First, Ryu Jun-yeol plays Je Moon-jae, the unlucky novelist who loses his identity overnight. In the teaser alone, his expression looks so completely shattered that it genuinely gave me chills. Then there’s the always-reliable Sol Kyung-gu, transforming into No-ja, a loan shark who starts out pressuring Moon-jae over unpaid debt but eventually joins forces with him. Their uneasy, offbeat alliance already sounds incredible. And Lee Kyu-hyung, known for his richly textured performances, joins the cast as detective Park Soon-yong, the relentless investigator who digs into this bizarre case to the very end, which should double the tension in the story.
Why the original webtoon makes this even more interesting
This drama is based on Rat, the hit Kakao Webtoon by Ludovico. If you already know the original, then you probably know the real appeal isn’t just a simple battle between a cruel villain and a helpless victim. As it turns out, Je Moon-jae also has a hidden past and a major twist behind why he spent 10 years shut away in his room.That’s what makes it so compelling: the protagonist isn’t purely innocent, and the psychological warfare with the fake “Rat,” who steals and corrupts other people’s lives in a chain-like spiral, sounds absolutely brutal.
Honestly, I’m so impressed by the way this old folktale has been reinvented as a modern crime thriller. It already feels like it could become more than just a chase story—something deeper, sharper, and more interested in human desire and instinct.
Personally, I’m really excited because it feels like we’re finally getting an all-time great chase thriller that can make your heart pound again. Ryu Jun-yeol’s delicate emotional performance—almost like a dual-role effect—and Sol Kyung-gu’s heavy, commanding charisma seem like the perfect combination to heat up the end of summer. If you love mystery series or high-tension pursuit thrillers, I’d absolutely recommend putting this on your watchlist.
(Source: Netflix)
#netflixrat #ryujunyeol #solkyunggu #ratguide #ratepisodes #ratott #netflixnewrelease #netflixthriller #koreandramarecommendation #webtoonadaptation #leekyuhyung #mysterythriller #chasethriller #augustreleases
Media Playground Recommended Pick