Scalpel Hunter (2025) – Official Trailer Cuts Deep into a Dark Web of Secrets

The official trailer for Scalpel Hunter — the highly anticipated Korean psychological crime-thriller of 2025 — has arrived, and it’s as chilling as it is compelling. Known in Korean as Hunter with a Scalpel, the series blends forensic science, family tragedy, and cat-and-mouse suspense into an intricate web of secrets that promises to grip viewers from the very first episode.

A Sinister Inheritance

At the heart of the story is Seo Se-hyun (Park Ju-hyun), a gifted and meticulous forensic pathologist. Her quiet, methodical life is shattered when an autopsy leads to a horrifying revelation: the crime bears the unmistakable signature of her own father, Yoon Jo-gyun (Park Yong-woo), a notorious serial killer presumed dead decades earlier.

This discovery forces Se-hyun into an agonizing internal struggle — between her duty to justice and the instinct to protect the last shreds of her family’s dignity. The past she thought buried begins to claw its way back, pulling her into a psychological labyrinth she cannot escape.

Trailer Imagery and Tone

The trailer’s visual palette shifts between sterile, clinical whites and deep, ominous shadows. Surgical scalpels gleam under harsh light, crime scenes drip with tension, and flashbacks of a fractured childhood haunt the screen.

We hear Se-hyun’s voice, steady yet trembling:

“I was born the daughter of a psychopath.”

Her father’s voice follows, low and sinister:

“You’ll come to me on your own, daughter.”

This chilling exchange sets the stage for a narrative not only about catching a killer but about confronting the bonds of blood that tie us to our darkest selves.

Characters Under Pressure

• Seo Se-hyun (Park Ju-hyun) – A woman of science caught in a moral crossfire, her intelligence matched only by the emotional weight she carries.

• Yoon Jo-gyun (Park Yong-woo) – More than a murderer; a manipulative presence whose return unravels everything Se-hyun thought she knew about her past.

• Detective Jung Jung-hyun (Kang Hoon) – Determined to solve the case at any cost, he becomes both an ally and a threat as his investigation draws dangerously close to Se-hyun’s secret.

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Creative Team and Format

Directed by Lee Jung-hoon and written by Jo Han-young, Park Hyun-shin, Hong Yeon-yi, and Jin Se-hyuk, the series is a joint production of Soul Creative and STUDIO X+U. The drama will unfold across 16 tightly woven episodes, each about 30 minutes, ensuring a fast-paced yet layered viewing experience.

The premiere is set for June 16, 2025, with four episodes released weekly from Monday through Thursday on U+ Mobile TV and Disney+.

Themes and Appeal

Scalpel Hunter stands apart from conventional crime thrillers by making the central conflict deeply personal. The series is as much about emotional dissection as it is about forensic analysis — exploring the weight of inherited guilt, the limits of loyalty, and the cost of truth.

For fans of intense, character-driven narratives with psychological depth — think Stranger, Flower of Evil, or Beyond Evil — this series promises to be a must-watch event.

If you’d like, I can now also create a full magazine-style special feature for Scalpel Hunter (2025) — complete with a dramatic intro, behind-the-scenes insights, and a breakdown of every key moment from the trailer — so it reads like a premium entertainment publication. That would make it even richer and more engaging.