K-Drama Horror Spotlight: The Unique Blend of Manhwa and Streaming in Connect
Robert Young
Published May 17, 2026
By Published Apr 10, 2026, 11:55 PM EDT An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2026, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.
His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2026. follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Horror is commonly difficult to associate with the Disney brand, although that hasn't stopped its streaming distribution platforms from snatching some truly rewarding genre hits in less than a decade of existence. While Hulu is in the process of being phased out, it has continuously been releasing new originals into 2026 before its eventual integration into . In the case of one 2026 Hulu series (Disney+ internationally), the service's impressive horror output intersects with an increasingly popular new wave of streaming shows: K-dramas based on manhwa.
Even four years later, is a striking introduction for K-drama novices and veterans alike to a different vision of recurring medium star Jung Hae-in (Snowdrop, Love Next Door) as the vulnerable musician Ha Dongsoo coming to grips his bizarre biological gifts. An immortal humanoid known as a Connect, Dongsoo's body may grow and resemble that of a human, but is capable of spontaneous regeneration including sprouting tendrils that reattach severed limbs and organs.
When kidnapped as part of a black market organ harvesting operation, one eye is successfully extracted and transplanted into what turns out to be a serial killer, whose sight is now shared with Dongsoo. This shared vision sets off a thrilling pursuit between a man deemed a monster by society, and the genuine threat hiding in plain sight, brazenly putting his victims on display.
Disney and Hulu's 6-Episode Horror Series Is a Worthy Weekend Binge
With six episodes bearing an average runtime of 44 minutes, is an especially brief K-drama for those perhaps intimidated by the medium frequently featuring 60-75+ minute installments with over a dozen episodes. But with the series adapting a relatively short 82-chapter manhwa, Connect drops viewers into its bleak vision of Korea tormented by a serial killer seemingly ripped from the pages of a Thomas Harris novel.
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The villain of Connect quickly sets up Dongsoo's difficult quest, a serial killer known as Oh Jinseop whose corpse art tableaus are premeditated and intricately drawn and kept a tight secret at home. But on the surface, Jinseop is a compelling, if outwardly obsessive career man, played by further demonstrating the actor's range. Jinseop balances his calm malice with a quirky veneer, all while his right eye, stolen from Dongsoo, briefly shares their vision whenever triggered by a certain song tied to Dongsoo's memories. Through these visions, Dongsoo tries desperately to stop more innocents from being brutally murdered.
Connect is a fascinating K-drama in that it balances the rich world of South Korean horror concepts with the work of its bona fide legendary action and horror director from Japan, director Takashi Miike. While parts of its visuals are a bit jarring, namely early episodes' VFX to convey some truly spectacular violence, Connect's central body horror gimmick is well-presented, especially going into its final episodes as Dongsoo, far from a born fighter, must use his unique powers to stop a truly horrific enemy. But in the process, Dongsoo meets others from law enforcement and even possibly among his kind, who help him on his journey. But the ultimate truth is potentially far more sinister than one serial killer.
Connect Carefully Balances Body Horror and Mystery Thriller
Despite Dongsoo's history with his Connect abilities reaching back to a childhood incident in which a fatal fall from a tall tree was averted as other kids looked on in horror and disgust, he never truly embraced his talents until his shared sight with Jinseop. Seeing the detailed plans for elaborate public displays in which the serial killer put his mutilated victims proudly on display, Dongsoo quickly learned that inaction while this killer continued to operate in secret was a greater mistake than hiding his powers entirely.
Despite this, Dongsoo must still operate in the shadows; a tall order, given his missing eye which he is forced to conceal with a distinctive eye patch. Whether covered or not, this feature results in him sticking out badly in Korean society, one widely known for . But as he gathers his allies, namely Choi I-rang (played by Kim Hye-jun), and tries to draw the police's attention to the killer while doing his best not to draw suspicion himself, Dongsoo quickly learns his abilities as a Connect are both vital to his survival, and more sought-after than he initially expected.
Viewers are treated to multiple sequences in which Dongsoo creatively uses his shared vision to identify the villain, all while Jinseop isn't exactly oblivious, himself. A body horror game of cat and mouse ensues as Dongsoo learns that, while facing violent and dangerous threats ahead, he's able to shrug off harm that'd be absolutely fatal to anybody else. His creepy tendrils may be off-putting to see, but their ability to stitch his wounds perfectly, and reattach limbs on the fly, make Dongsoo a particularly tough man to keep down.
Connect's Ending Is Satisfying Yet Open-Ended
While fans will be delighted to know that Connect's primary murder mystery is resolved in its brief six episodes, the greater mystery about society's more secretive elements, and what they know about Dongsoo's powers, is never fully explored. In the final moments of the series finale, this gives viewers the answers they crave about whether Jinseop can be stopped, while leaving no end in sight for Dongsoo as a Connect in his world.
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Such a conclusion may be seen understandably as a frustrating ending to an otherwise engaging and concise K-drama, but Connect gets plenty done in its brief run. As more characters are introduced in Connect, with its most unscrupulous players leaving lasting scars on its principal mutant race, it's clear that one savvy human serial killer is far from the only darkness clouding Dongsoo's world.
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StreamingCast Go Kyung-pyo, Jung Hae-in, Kim Hye-jun, Kim Roi-ha, Yang Dong-geun, Jo Bok-rae, Jang Gwang, Sung Hyuk, Jang Hui-ryeong, Lee You-mi Creator(s) Takashi Miike Expand Collapse
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