The Hallyu community is getting excited about a new Kdrama set for release on Disney+. Because some of the best Kdramas are based on webtoons, we can't help but wonder what webtoon A Shop for Killers is based on. Here's what we know.
Is A Shop for Killers Based on a Webtoon Too?
A Shop for Killers is not based on a webtoon but a novel written by Kang Ji-Young. The novel, entitled The Killer's Shopping List, was adapted into a series in 2022.
After its success, the creator of the novel had the idea for a spinoff series called A Shop for Killers. The show was written by Ji Ho-Jin and Lee Kwon, the latter also directed the series.
When the K-drama was first announced, it was said to have the name The Killer's Shopping Mall. But it was later changed to A Shop for Killers, perhaps to lose confusion between the two titles.
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What is A Shop for Killers' Story About?
A Shop for Killers follows the story of an uncle and his niece. The niece is called Ji-An (played by Kim Hye-Jun), who suddenly gets a call from the police about her uncle's death.
Her uncle, Jeong Ji-Man (played by Lee Dong-Wook), has taken care of her since her parents died. Ji-Man leaves behind a shopping mall, which leads Ji-An to uncover her uncle's secrets.
In between, Ji-An's memory of her childhood and the life lessons taught by her uncle come flooding back to her.
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Do You Need to Watch The Killer's Shopping List Before A Shop for Killers?
Although the two shows are based on the same novel, they are standalone stories that are different from each other. But it's important to note that they both have the same vibes that the other produces.
In The Killer's Shopping List, the main character gets help from his mother to solve a murder. Meanwhile, A Shop for Killers introduces us to another familial relationship in the form of an uncle and niece.
But, no, you don't need to watch The Killer's Shopping List before watching A Shop for Killers. While the two share similarities, they are ultimately different from each other. For one thing, the two take place in different locations.
As pointed out in this Reddit link, the two K-dramas share the same timeline so there's a chance that some characters will crossover in them.
Interestingly, Park Ji-Bin is listed as part of the cast in both K-dramas. His character in each, however, is different.
In The Killer's Shopping List, he plays Saeng-Sun, an employee of MS Mart. Meanwhile, in A Shop for Killers, he is said to play Jeong-Min, a classmate of Ji-An's who has excellent hacking skills. He is the one to uncover the shopping mall's secret identity.
But it's also possible that the two are just actors who share the same names.
We don't know yet how these two characters are connected, but we're already looking forward to discovering some easter eggs in A Shop for Killers.
A Shop for Killers is now available to stream on Disney+.
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