Credit: Netflix
Netflix is bringing the drama, the glamour, and the grit of 1980s Chungmuro with its upcoming series Aema , set to premiere globally on August 22nd. With the release of its main poster and trailer, Aema teases a fiery showdown and unexpected sisterhood between two women navigating the cutthroat world of erotic cinema.
Aema follows the behind-the-scenes story of how Korea’s iconic softcore film Madame Aema came to be. In a time when bold female narratives were stripped down—literally—Netflix’s new series flips the script, spotlighting the dark realities behind the spotlight.
Lee Ha Nee stars as Jeong Hee Ran, a top star at the height of her fame, while Bang Hyo Rin plays Shin Joo Ae, a hungry newcomer chasing her big break. Alongside them are Jin Sun Kyu as Koo Jung Ho, the hard-nosed head of production at Shinsung Films; Cho Hyun Chul as rookie director Kwak In Woo; and a supporting cast including Woo Ji Hyun, Lee Joo Young, Kim Jong Soo, Ahn Kil Kang, and more.
Credit: Netflix
The trailer opens with Hee Ran defiantly rejecting a script filled with gratuitous nudity. Her refusal sparks fury from Jung Ho, who strips her of her lead role and launches a massive casting call. Meanwhile, Joo Ae, a tap dancer dreaming of stardom, catches director In Woo’s eye and is cast as the new Aema.
As Hee Ran watches her position slip away, she refuses to back down. The rising tension between her and Joo Ae simmers through the trailer with the characters’ chaotic attempts to navigate the hurdles of filming unfold into a bittersweet comedy.
The trailer builds to Korea’s historic lifting of its midnight curfew, just in time for Madame Aema to debut as the country’s first late-night film. And with a chilling final line—“Jung Ho. Let’s go to hell together”—Hee Ran promises that she and Joo Ae aren’t going down quietly.
Netflix’s ‘Aema’ Series Confirmed for August 22 Release
