The short drama "Zankon" featuring iKON's Jin-an premieres on Dec 12, 2025, showcasing a unique vertical action format.

The Japan-Korea co-produced short drama "Zankon" episodes 1-4 screening and production announcement will be held on December 12, 2025 (Friday) at HADO ARENA Odaiba, with iKON's Jin-an, Kim Ye-hyun, Jo Se-i, Ahn Jae-mo, Block B's Je-hyo, and director Ahn Seong-gon attending. They revealed behind-the-scenes stories from production. This work marks Jin-an's first leading role in a vertical short drama. The story follows a popular streamer "Kangmu" who, obsessed with view counts, accidentally acquires a sword and encounters the soul of a female swordswoman "Arachi," engaging in battles against "Oni" lurking in modern society. Jin-an plays the protagonist Kangmu, Kim Ye-hyun plays the female swordswoman Arachi, Ahn Jae-mo plays the main villain "Odokushini" symbolizing human desires, and Je-hyo plays the "Watcher" possessed by a Joseon warrior. This work is a joint production by GOKKO Co., which operates the "Gokko Club," and Iwill Media Ltd., known for producing many hit works in Korea. Director Ahn Seong-gon explained, "This drama is a fantasy action genre set against the backdrop of the late Joseon period, where the female swordswoman Arachi, who hunted Oni, meets Kangmu, who finds the sword possessed by Arachi in modern Seoul. The soul of Arachi, through Kangmu, will again engage in Oni hunting, and the story unfolds with intertwined memories and emotions, creating a special bond with companions." He continued, "The biggest feature of this drama is that it is a vertical action drama, which I believe is a world-first attempt. We have created the process of fitting action into a vertical screen through discussions and research with the actors and staff. This time, the renowned actor Ahn Jae-mo appears as the villain Odokushini, representing Korean Oni. Unlike typical ghosts, this Oni symbolizes the injustices and evils present in society. Therefore, the drama depicts why humans engage in such evil actions. It also portrays the serious theme that while humans are inherently good, evil exists due to Oni, linking it to social issues," he passionately explained. Ahn Jae-mo, widely known for his activities in Japan, reigns as the main villain in this work, which overturns his usual image. He stated, "I put my utmost effort into playing the best villain. I hope you look forward to how the top Oni Odokushini and Arachi will battle. Will the world be consumed by Odokushini? What developments await?" Regarding his villain role, he mentioned, "The action scenes were wilder than any role I've played before. This monster is like the axis of evil, so I had to roar and act wildly, which strained my throat. There was a difficulty in needing to perform with all my strength. While I am known as a symbol of justice in Korea, I found it interesting to play a villain who is the axis of evil." Jin-an, making his drama debut and first lead role, shared, "I was nervous about my first drama and lead role, but I wasn't nervous during filming. I might be more nervous now (laughs). I think we were able to shoot as a team with a kind director and wonderful actors." When asked what he focused on while playing Kangmu, he said, "At first, he is weak and timid, but he grows stronger, so I worked hard to show that growth," adding, "The action scenes were difficult. I was scolded by the director for being too bad at first, but later he said, 'You look like a swordsman now.' I learned a lot from senior Jae-mo." Kim Ye-hyun, who plays Arachi, expressed, "I was really happy and grateful when I received the offer. At the same time, I was worried about whether I could fulfill the role, but I prepared hard, thinking I must not let down the director and my seniors who believed in me," and added, "I wanted to express Arachi's charisma strongly through my eyes." Je-hyo, who plays the "Watcher," mentioned, "My role is to observe whether the Oni are executing the bad actions instructed. When I am active in a group, I have a smiley impression, but in this work, I showed a tightened expression, thinking I had to express fear as a villain. I kept my distance from the co-stars so I could portray the bad expressions, so I pushed myself into a thoroughly separated state," sharing the struggles he faced during filming. Jo Se-i, who plays Te-ju, is the only cast member cast from Japan. Being half-Japanese, she had no trouble filming in Korean, saying, "Jin-an is also fluent in Japanese, so he sometimes supported me, and I didn't have any particular problems. He treated me like a younger brother. I love him," she smiled. She also commented, "It's a really new genre depicting Oni, but I want you to focus on the human relationships first. Before filming, there was a bit of distance among the cast, but we got very close, and I think that comes through in the drama." Finally, Jin-an reiterated, "I shot with wonderful directors, staff, and actors. It's really, really interesting. Please look forward to it," concluding the production announcement. ◆ Iwill Media Ltd. representative Jeong Yong-joo commented, "We at Iwill Media have made a big hit with the long drama 'Oni Palace' in Korea, and we are truly happy to co-produce this fantasy-themed vertical short drama with GOKKO and hold this production announcement. We have felt through the drama 'Oni Palace' that the fantasy genre is a very visionary genre for production companies creating entertainment in both Korea and Japan. Therefore, we hope to create many collaborations with many Japanese companies, including GOKKO, starting with this 'Zankon.' We look forward to many encounters in the future. ◆ GOKKO representative Tomo Tada commented, "We have continued to challenge the new expression of short dramas. In a short time and fast pace, how much can we move emotions? How much can we believe in the power of the story? That question is at the center of our work every day. And today, we announce 'Zankon,' born as a Japan-Korea joint project between GOKKO and Iwill Media. Korea is now a leading presence in global dramas and visual expressions. On the other hand, we at GOKKO have been deeply exploring the potential of short dramas in Japan. We are confident that when these two come together earnestly, a work with the heat of a short drama that transcends borders will be born. This work is not just a collaborative piece. It is a work created through repeated discussions as equal creative partners between Japan and Korea, from the script, direction, expression, to the details. This project expands the possibilities of short dramas, and it is our challenge and also the first step towards a new visual IP aimed at the world from Asia. We hope that today serves as the starting point, and we are grateful if you can feel even a little of the cruel worldview and the thoughts embedded in this project. ■ Work Information "Zankon" Distribution: Scheduled for early 2026 (POPCORN: exclusive distribution in Japan / global OTT) Cast: Kim Jin-an (iKON), Kim Ye-hyun, Jo Se-i, Ahn Jae-mo, Je-hyo (Block B), Clara, Kyuri (T-ARA), etc. Genre: Fantasy Action Short Drama Production: GOKKO Co. (Japan) / Iwill Media Ltd. (Korea) Director: Ahn Seong-gon ■ Related Links Gokko Club Instagram