NetflixCrime Scene Zero has just made its debut on Netflix, centering on a series of fictional murder cases and a team of celebrities in a role-playing game of deduction, debate, and improv. The aim? To unmask the hidden culprit in the name of a cash prize.
The variety show is technically Season 5 of the Crime Scene series, but this is the first time it’s airing to international audiences on Netflix. It joins the many hit reality titles from Korea, following on from Zombieverse, The Devil’s Plan, and Physical: 100.
You’ll see some familiar faces in the Crime Scene Zero cast, including Jang Jin, Jang Dong-min, Park Ji-yoon, and An Yu-jin, as well as some newcomers to the franchise. And there’s plenty more where that came from, with Part 2 set to drop next Tuesday (September 30).
Until then, Episodes 1-4 introduced us to new murder mysteries – here’s a rundown of all the games, results, and winners following its premiere. Warning: spoilers ahead!
Crime Scene Zero general rules
Each game in Crime Scene Zero follows the same basic format:
- One detective, a detective’s assistant, and five possible suspects
- Everyone plays a character with a set backstory and alibi
- Everyone must tell the truth – except for the real culprit, who can lie
- At the end, the players vote for who they believe is the killer
- The suspect with the most votes is locked up. If they’re guilty, the players who voted for them each receive two million won (around $1,500). If they’re innocent, the killer takes the whole 10 million won prize pot (around $7200)
Below is a breakdown of the first two mysteries in Crime Scene Zero Episodes 1–4, including the suspects, alibis, and final results.
Game 1 – Murder in the Abandoned Hospital
NetflixIn the first murder mystery, the victim is Jang Je-in, a 46-year-old director of Yeonjidol Village Psychiatric Hospital, which opened in 2006. She disappeared in 2013 when the hospital closed down.
Her body is discovered hanging from electrical wires on the exterior wall of the hospital. Cause of death: excessive blood loss. Estimated time of death: between 10:20pm and 11:30pm. Her body was reported at 11.35pm.
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Game 1 – Suspects and alibis
NetflixDetective Jang (Jang Jin) is the lead investigator of the case, with his assistant Kang (Kang Min-hee) providing him with the much-needed details. This includes the five key suspects in the case – you can find them listed below, alongside their alibis:
- Village Head Park (Park Sung-woong): Leader of Yeonjidol Village, where the hospital is situated
- Alibi: Busy running the eve festival, including a singing contest, ahead of inauguration day
- Cousin Jang (Jang Dong-min): Jang Je-in’s cousin and director of a mannequin factory
- Alibi: At home eating kimchi and drinking soju
- Doctor An (An Yu-jin): A physician who used to work with Jang Je-in in Seoul
- Alibi: Attending to a VIP patient
- Shaman Park (Park Ji-yoon): A spiritual guide from Yeonjidol and Jang Je-in’s old high school classmate
- Alibi: Praying at the shrine
- Pretty Boy Kim (Kim Ji-hoon): Jang Je-in’s boyfriend
- Alibi: Arrived at Yeonjidol Hotel around 11:40pm, after hearing the news
Game 1 – Results and the real killer
NetflixThe detective in the games gets two official votes that count towards the final session, with the first being cast after a preliminary hearing in which the players present their evidence. After this briefing, Detective Jang chooses Shaman Park as the main suspect.
Another round of clue-hunting unfolds, leading to the final votes, which are as follows:
- Doctor An chooses Village Head Park
- Shaman Park chooses Village Head Park
- Detective Jang chooses Shaman Park (again)
- Village Head Park chooses Cousin Jang
- Cousin Jang chooses Doctor An
- Pretty Boy Kim chooses Shaman Park
This means Shaman Park has the most votes, and the real killer is as follows:
- Shaman Park
Yes, Pretty Boy Kim and Detective Jang were correct, and are both awarded two million won each.
Game 2 – Murder at the Funeral Hall
NetflixThe second case takes place at the funeral for fictional patriarch Breadwinner Jang, the wealthy chairman of Jang’s Kimchi. During the ceremony, where the Jang family gather, his son Youngest Jang – the 33-year-old manager of the company’s future strategy department – is found dead in his father’s casket.
Cause of death: unknown. Estimated time of death: between 5am and 6am, the only hour the casket was left unattended.
Game 2 – Suspects and alibis
NetflixDetective An (An Yu-jin) is the lead investigator this time round, with assistant Kang providing her with the case file. This includes the five key suspects, who you can find below alongside their alibis:
- Eldest Jang (Jang Jin): The executive director of Jang’s Kimchi and the victim’s older brother
- Alibi: Keeping vigil at the funeral parlor as chief mourner
- Daughter Jang (Jang Dong-min): The head of menu development at Jang’s Kimchi and the victim’s older sister
- Alibi: Present at the funeral throughout, drinking soju earlier
- Lover Kim (Kim Ji-hoon): A team leader at Jang’s Kimchi and the fiancé of Daughter Jang
- Alibi: Helping out at the funeral hall, waiting for the procession
- Wife Park (Park Ji-yoon): The widow of Breadwinner Jang and the victim’s mother
- Alibi: Greeting mourners and preparing for the procession
- Daughter-in-law Joo (Joo Hyun-young): The wife of the deceased son
- Alibi: Greeting mourners and handling condolence money
Game 2 – Results and the real killer
NetflixOnce again, the detective gets two votes in this case. After the preliminary briefing, Detective An votes for Lover Kim as the top suspect.
Another round of clue-hunting unfolds, leading to the following final votes:
- Wife Park chooses Eldest Jang
- Eldest Jang chooses Daughter-in-law Joo
- Lover Kim chooses Daughter-in-law Joo
- Daughter-in-law Joo chooses Lover Kim
- Detective An chooses Daughter-in-law Joo
- Daughter Jang chooses Daughter-in-law Joo
This means Daughter-in-law Joo has the most votes. The real killer is as follows:
- Daughter-in-law Joo
In this case, the players who voted for her – Lover Kim, Daughter Jang, and Eldest Jang – each win two million won, while Detective An bags one million won (around $700).
There will be new mysteries and cases in Crime Scene Zero Part 2, which we’ll detail here when it drops on Netflix on September 30.
Until then, find out if any of the Better Late Than Single couples are still together, if any of the Better Late Than Single couples are still together, and check out the new TV shows streaming this month.