Rakuten Viki adds Kong Hyo Jin-led thriller A Bona Fide Killer

Rakuten Viki will premiere the new Korean drama A Bona Fide Killer exclusively in Southeast Asia on July 31. The series pairs Kong Hyo Jin and Jung Jun Won in a story about a mother who is also a secret assassin, expanding Viki’s growing slate of webtoon-based K-dramas.

Why it matters: - Rakuten Viki is using A Bona Fide Killer to deepen its Korean drama lineup in Southeast Asia. - The series blends action, family drama and mystery, which fits the growing demand for genre-crossing K-dramas. - The show also adds another webtoon adaptation to Viki’s catalog, following titles such as Positively Yours and Spirit Fingers.

What happened: - Rakuten Viki announced A Bona Fide Killer, a new Korean suspense drama set to premiere exclusively in Southeast Asia on July 31. - The series stars Kong Hyo Jin as Yoo Bo-na and Jung Jun Won as her husband, newspaper reporter Kwon Tae-seong. - The story centers on Bo-na, a working mother who secretly lives as “Kingfisher,” a legendary sniper for a covert organization. - Tae-seong begins investigating the mysterious assassin known as Kingfisher, threatening Bo-na’s double life.

The details: - A Bona Fide Killer is based on the popular Kakao webtoon with a cumulative 180 million views. - Bo-na returns to her covert work after a three-year maternity leave. - The series follows her as she balances missions with marriage and parenting. - The cast also includes Sung Dong Il and Lee Sang Yi. - Director Yoon Jong Ho leads the project. - Yoon Jong Ho previously served as co-director on Flower of Evil and Lovely Runner. - Rakuten Viki reaches over 100 million registered users in 190+ countries and territories. - Viki’s entertainment news site Soompi is part of the same brand family.

Between the lines: - Kong Hyo Jin’s role marks a high-profile television return for one of South Korea’s most recognizable actresses. - Jung Jun Won follows his breakout turn in Resident Playbook with a more emotionally centered lead role. - The show reflects a broader industry pattern: Korean dramas are increasingly mixing thriller stakes with domestic life to widen their audience. - Viki is positioning itself around stories that travel well across markets, especially webtoon adaptations and emotionally driven genre shows.

What's next: - A Bona Fide Killer will debut on Rakuten Viki on July 31. - The series will stream exclusively in Southeast Asia at launch. - Viki is likely to keep building around webtoon-based Korean series as part of its regional programming strategy.

The bottom line: - A Bona Fide Killer gives Rakuten Viki a star-driven K-drama with built-in source material, broad genre appeal and a timely Southeast Asia launch.