The international thriller Mamul is officially going global. Starting May 9, the Mamul K-drama will air on Korea’s Drama Cube and JTBC2 after generating buzz in Japan with its TV Asahi premiere. A collaborative effort between Korean studio SLL and Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi, Mamul is the first joint production fully developed and produced by both companies. The series will also stream on Prime Video in over 200 countries—excluding South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (including Macau)—making it one of the most widely distributed Asian dramas to date.

Mamul dives into a bold and emotionally charged narrative. Aso Kumiko stars as a high-profile lawyer whose life takes a dangerous turn when she becomes romantically entangled with a murder suspect, played by Akihisa Shiono. With themes of desire, guilt, and blurred moral boundaries, the story unfolds as a gripping psychological love thriller that questions whether redemption can be found in the darkest corners of human connection.

Helmed by PD Jin Hyuk (Ok’s Wife) and penned by Japanese screenwriters Yusuke Taki and Takashi Ninomiya, Mamul K-drama reflects a seamless fusion of Korean cinematic tension and Japanese storytelling nuance. It’s a truly cross-cultural work, blending stylistic elements that elevate both the emotional gravity and visual execution of the drama.

The drama’s Japanese debut on April 18 was met with a strong reception. Its premiere earned a respectable 3.2% viewership and topped over a million streams on TVer in its first week—demonstrating growing international appetite for Asian co-productions.

Junseo Park, CEO of SLL’s Production Division, emphasized the significance of this global rollout:

“Mamul is the result of a co-production that combines TV Asahi’s meticulous production expertise with SLL’s innovative storytelling approach. Delivering Korean-Japanese content to global audiences shows that the competitiveness of Asian content is growing rapidly.”

As Mamul K-drama makes its way to screens around the world, it paves a promising path for future multinational projects in the K-drama industry—where layered storytelling and cultural synergy take center stage.