Signal (2016)
A Korean crime thriller that bridges past and present through a mysterious walkie-talkie, unraveling cold cases across time.
Signal - Series Information
- Original Title: 시그널
- First Air Year: 2016
- Last Air Year: 2016
- Created by: Kim Eun-hee, Kim Won-suk
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 17
- Status: Returning Series
- Original Language: Korean
- Spoken Languages: Korean
- First Air Date: January 22, 2016 (United States - TV-MA), January 22, 2016 (Germany - 16), January 22, 2016 (Spain - NR), January 22, 2016 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: tvN
- Alternative Titles: سیگنال (IR), 信號 (TW), אות (IL), 解碼追兇 (CN), Sigeuneol (KR), 解碼追兇 (HK), signal (US)
- Production Companies: AStory, Studio Dragon, BA Entertainment, Baram Pictures
- Production Countries: South Korea
Signal - Plot
Detectives from the present and a detective from the past communicate via walkie-talkie to solve a long-time unsolved case.
Signal - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a first look at this gripping time-crossing crime thriller.
There are those who are born monsters, but there are also those who are made into monsters by people.
Where to Watch Signal
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Signal - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Kim Eun-hee
- Kim Won-suk
Main Cast
- Lee Je-hoon
- Kim Hye-soo
- Cho Jin-woong
- Jang Hyun-sung
- Jung Hae-kyun
- Kim Won-hae
- Jung Han-bi
- Lee Yoo-jun
- Kim Min-gue
- Kang Chan-hee
Writers
- Kim Eun-hee
Executive Producers
- Jinnie Choi
Signal - FAQs
What makes Signal different from other crime dramas?
Signal blends cold-case crime investigation with a time-crossing walkie-talkie concept that lets detectives from different eras collaborate. Rather than a gimmick, the device drives genuine emotional stakes — changing the past ripples into the present, creating a tense butterfly-effect structure rarely seen in Korean television.
Is Signal based on real unsolved cases in South Korea?
Several storylines in Signal draw direct inspiration from real South Korean cold cases, most notably the Hwaseong serial murders — a decades-long unsolved case that gripped the nation. Writer Kim Eun-hee wove these true-crime foundations into the drama to give its fictional investigations an unsettling, grounded authenticity.
Where can you stream Signal online?
Signal is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. For free ad-supported viewing, it's also accessible on The Roku Channel and Tubi TV. Availability may vary slightly by region, so checking your local platform listings is always a good idea.
How was Signal received by critics and audiences?
Signal earned widespread critical acclaim upon release, praised for its tight writing, emotional depth, and the chemistry between its three leads. It became one of the highest-rated cable dramas in South Korean television history and is consistently ranked among the finest K-dramas ever produced by international audiences.
Who are the three main characters in Signal?
The drama centers on three detectives: Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon), a sharp profiler in the present; Cha Soo-hyun (Kim Hye-soo), a seasoned cold-case investigator; and Lee Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong), a principled detective from the past whose transmissions through the walkie-talkie set the entire story in motion.
Did Signal win any major awards?
Signal swept major Korean broadcasting awards in 2016. Kim Hye-soo won Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards, while the series claimed multiple prizes at the Grand Bell Awards and the Korea Drama Awards, including recognition for writing, direction, and ensemble performance. It remains one of the most decorated cable dramas of its era.
Is Signal worth watching for non-K-drama fans?
Absolutely. Signal works as a compelling crime thriller first and a K-drama second. Its time-travel mechanics serve the story rather than distract from it, the pacing is relentless, and the emotional payoffs are earned. Viewers unfamiliar with Korean television consistently cite it as the series that converted them into K-drama fans.
What are some shows similar to Signal?
Fans of Signal often enjoy Beyond Evil (2021) for its dark psychological crime storytelling, Times (2021) for a similar time-crossing communication premise, and My Name (2021) for intense Korean crime drama. For international alternatives, Emergence (2019) and Murder Notes (2023) offer comparable mystery-thriller energy.
More About Signal
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