A new Korean series has been released on Netflix and it's taking viewers through a wild ride. After all, it isn't everyday that K-dramas touch base on a dark story with taboo content like a serial killer, some gore, sex, and self-satisfaction.
But Somebody sets itself apart from the rest and it's already being regarded as one of the best Korean shows this year (aside from Extraordinary Attorney Woo, that is).
For those who have already watched the show, a burning question remains: is the Somebody app from Somebody K-drama, real? Here's what we know.
What Is the K-Drama Somebody About?
Somebody is a Korean crime thriller melodrama directed by Jung Ji-woo and written by Han Ji-wan.
Netflix's official synopsis of the show reads:
"When a software developer creates a dating app that a serial killer uses to find his next targets, she's drawn into a dark world of romance and murder. Watch all you want. A series from director Jung Ji-woo (“Eungyo”) starring Kim Young-kwang, Kang Hae-lim, Kim Yong-ji and Kim Su-yeon."
Somebody follows the story of Kim Sum (played by Kang Hae-lim), a software developer who creates a dating app that helps other people find their soulmate. Through the app, she meets and falls in love with Seong Yun-o (played by Kim Young-kwang), a serial killer who uses the app to find his victims.
While the show is fiction, it does open up the reality of the horrors a dating app can bring to someone who unfortunately meets the wrong person. This bears the question whether the app is real or not.
Is There a Real Somebody Dating App?
No, the Somebody app in the series is not a real one. Although the app has the features of a real dating app, the one created for the Somebody story has a unique feature that is far off from the chatting apps available today.
As explained by Sum in the first episode, the Somebody app has a built-in chatbot that keeps an eye on its user. This programs the chatbot to have a real conversation with another individual. The chatbot is also able to speak for its user so it gives him a voice in situations where he is too shy to speak up.
Is the Somebody Story Based on a Real Serial Killer?
More importantly, the character of Seong Yun-o in the series is not based on a true serial killer. In recent years, there have been some reports of serial killers in South Korea. However, none of these serial killers have been associated to using a dating app.
It does raise a concern, however, since there are already reports of assaults and murders associated with dating apps in the US. The most common one is the case of Khalil Wheeler-Weaver from New Jersey, who was found guilty of three murders, attempted murder, aggravated arson, kidnapping, and desecration of human remains. He was convicted in 2021 after a series of testimonies that revealed he used a dating app to find his victims. He has been sentenced to 160 years in prison.
Wheeler-Weaver is not the only serial killer who has been connected with dating apps. Another man, Anthony Robinson, was charged for the murder of a couple of women. He was also suspected in the deaths of three other women, whom he all met on a dating app. Robinson, convicted in 2021, is nicknamed as "the shopping cart killer" because he uses a shopping cart to dispose of his victims' bodies.
Is There a Somebody Trailer?
Yes, there is a trailer published on YouTube for Somebody. You can watch the thriller here:
Somebody is now available to stream on Netflix.
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