The Scarecrow (TV series)

The Scarecrow (TV series)

The Scarecrow (Korean: 허수아비) is an upcoming South Korean mystery thriller television series written by Lee Ji-hyun, directed by Park Joon-woo, and starring Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-joon, and Kwak Sun-young. The series follows a detective investigating a serial murder case with a former rival by his side, to uncover the true culprit. It is scheduled to premiere on ENA on April 20, 2026, and will air every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST). It will also be subsequently streaming on Genie TV.

Synopsis

The Scarecrow (TV series)

Kang Tae-ju, a former ace detective demoted to his hometown of Gangseong, refuses to compromise with injustice. He sees the Gangseong serial murder case as an opportunity to restore his reputation, but clashes with prosecutor Cha Si-young, a bitter rival from his school days. As they investigate, Tae-ju's character undergoes a transformation, and he encounters unexpected twists and turns in the case.

Cast

The Scarecrow (TV series)

• Park Hae-soo as Kang Tae-ju

Demoted to Gangseong, he investigates the serial murder case, only to discover the lead prosecutor, Cha Si-young, is the man he's desperate to catch, creating a conflict.

• Lee Hee-joon as Cha Si-young

A sharp, politically savvy prosecutor leads the Gangseong serial murder investigation, aiming to leverage the case into a political career.

• Kwak Sun-young as Seo Ji-won

Tae-ju's classmate, who is a reporter for the Gangseong Daily.

• Song Geon-hee as Lee Ki-beom

• Seo Ji-hye as Kang Sun-young

• Jung Moon-sung as Lee Ki-hwan

• Baek Hyun-jin as Kim Man-chun

• Yoo Seung-mok as Cha Mu-jin

Production

Development

Produced under Studio Anseillen, Park Joon-woo, known for his work on Taxi Driver and Crash (2024), was attached to direct the series and reunites with screenwriter Lee Ji-hyun, with whom he previously collaborated on Taxi Driver. It is based on the Lee Choon-jae serial murders.

Casting

In May 2025, Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-joon, and Kwak Sun-young were reportedly cast. The next month, Seo Ji-hye joined the cast. Four months later, Song Geon-hee was cast, and filming was in its final stage. By September 2025, Park, Lee, and Kwak were confirmed to lead the series.

Release

The Scarecrow (TV series)

The Scarecrow was reportedly scheduled to premiere on ENA in the first half of 2026, and will also be subsequently streaming on Genie TV. By March 2026, the premiere date was confirmed to be on April 20, and will air every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST).