# Jirisan (TV series)

**Jirisan** (지리산) is a 2021 South Korean mystery thriller television series about national park rangers who investigate unexplained accidents, and eventually a serial killer, on Mount Jiri. It aired on tvN as a Saturday and Sunday drama from October 23 to December 12, 2021, in 16 episodes, and was billed as tvN's 15th Anniversary Special Drama.<sup>[1](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/jirisan/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.iq.com/album/jirisan-2021-bu850e1fm9?lang=en_us)</sup> The series stars [Jun Ji-hyun](https://www.edgepedia.org/jun-ji-hyun) as veteran ranger Seo Yi-kang and [Ju Ji-hoon](https://www.edgepedia.org/ju-ji-hoon) as rookie ranger Kang Hyun-jo, and was directed by Lee Eung-bok and written by Kim Eun-hee.<sup>[3](https://www.studiodragon.net/en/works/portfolio/jirisan/)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | 지리산 (Jirisan), also known internationally as Cliffhanger and Mount Jiri<sup>[2](https://www.iq.com/album/jirisan-2021-bu850e1fm9?lang=en_us)</sup> |
| Network and run | tvN, Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 pm, October 23 to December 12, 2021, 16 episodes<sup>[1](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/jirisan/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.studiodragon.net/en/works/portfolio/jirisan/)</sup> |
| Lead cast | Jun Ji-hyun as Seo Yi-kang, Ju Ji-hoon as Kang Hyun-jo, with Sung Dong-il as Jo Dae-jin and Oh Jung-se as Jung Goo-young<sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/jirisan/umc.cmc.zo4lv1k6oiuvlr4m8ae2412h)</sup> |
| Creative team | Writer Kim Eun-hee (Signal, Kingdom); director Lee Eung-bok<sup>[3](https://www.studiodragon.net/en/works/portfolio/jirisan/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup> |
| Budget | KRW 32 billion, about US$27 million<sup>[6](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2021/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_1-7_Nov_2021.pdf)</sup> |
| Ratings | Premiere 9.097% (Nielsen Korea nationwide), a record for a tvN weekend drama premiere; episode 2 at 10.663%; finale 9.2%<sup>[6](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2021/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_1-7_Nov_2021.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup> |
| Production companies | Studio Dragon, AStory, Baram Pictures<sup>[3](https://www.studiodragon.net/en/works/portfolio/jirisan/)</sup> |
| Filming landmark | The first television series to be filmed at Jirisan National Park<sup>[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13400300)</sup> |

## Premise and characters

The story is set in Jirisan National Park, Korea's oldest and largest national park, founded in 1967. Seo Yi-kang (Jun Ji-hyun) is the park's best ranger, a tracker who can navigate dirt roads, rock walls, and cliffs by instinct and locate a lost hiker from a single leaf or blade of grass; colleagues call her "Devil Seo."<sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/jirisan/umc.cmc.zo4lv1k6oiuvlr4m8ae2412h)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.iq.com/album/jirisan-2021-bu850e1fm9?lang=en_us)</sup> Kang Hyun-jo (Ju Ji-hoon) is a former army lieutenant from the military academy who joins as a rookie ranger with a secret he cannot tell anyone: after a training accident in which a comrade died, he began to see visions of deaths occurring on the mountain, and returned to Jirisan believing the mountain was calling him to save people.<sup>[2](https://www.iq.com/album/jirisan-2021-bu850e1fm9?lang=en_us)</sup>

The two leads work together on rescues while unraveling the truth behind a series of mysterious accidents and killings. The supporting ranger team includes Jo Dae-jin ([Sung Dong-il](https://www.edgepedia.org/sung-dong-il)), the leader; Jung Goo-young ([Oh Jung-se](https://www.edgepedia.org/oh-jung-se)); Park Il-hae (Jo Han-chul); and Lee Da-won ([Go Min-si](https://www.edgepedia.org/go-min-si)).<sup>[4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/jirisan/umc.cmc.zo4lv1k6oiuvlr4m8ae2412h)</sup> The narrative alternates between timelines, and after a snowfield accident leaves Seo Yi-kang in a wheelchair and Kang Hyun-jo in a coma, his wandering spirit continues to leave trail markers on the mountain.<sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/jirisan/)</sup>

**Writer's approach.** Kim Eun-hee wove real events on Jirisan into the mystery: potato-bomb accidents, floods, wildfires, heavy snow, a civilian massacre, and the illegal poaching of endangered species, producing what Yonhap News described as a tightly woven thriller with an eerie, mystical atmosphere built around Hyun-jo's spirit.<sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup> The portrayal of rangers risking their lives in rescue work during typhoons, floods, wildfires, and snowstorms was called a fresh subject.<sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup> The finale resolves the serial murder case, with the true culprit meeting his end on Jirisan, and closes a year later with the leads healthy and watching the sunrise with visitors.<sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup>

## Production and filming

Production came from AStory, Studio Dragon, and Baram Pictures, with So Jae-hyun as producer and a budget reported at KRW 32 billion (about US$27 million).<sup>[3](https://www.studiodragon.net/en/works/portfolio/jirisan/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2021/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_1-7_Nov_2021.pdf)</sup> According to IMDb, Mount Jiri was the first television series to be filmed at Jirisan National Park, with locations in [Jeollanam-do](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeollanam-do), Jeollabuk-do, and [Gyeongsangnam-do](https://www.edgepedia.org/gyeongsangnam-do).<sup>[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13400300)</sup>

The shoot lasted about ten months, beginning and ending on the mountain itself. Oh Jung-se noted the cast wrapped safely without major accidents, and Ju Ji-hoon said he had been preparing for more than a year and a half including early talks with the writer.<sup>[8](https://www.soompi.com/article/1503576wpp/watch-jirisan-cast-bid-farewell-to-the-drama-cast-and-crew-climb-the-mountain-at-sunrise-for-final-filming)</sup> The final scene, showing hikers greeting the new year's first sunrise, was filmed on location: the cast and crew hiked up in the dark with headlamps and gear and took a closing photograph at Cheonwangbong Peak.<sup>[8](https://www.soompi.com/article/1503576wpp/watch-jirisan-cast-bid-farewell-to-the-drama-cast-and-crew-climb-the-mountain-at-sunrise-for-final-filming)</sup> Other scenes used practical workarounds; a landslide sequence on a mountain road was filmed with a car surrounded by rain machines and screens, with staff pushing the vehicle by hand to imitate shaking and sharp turns.<sup>[8](https://www.soompi.com/article/1503576wpp/watch-jirisan-cast-bid-farewell-to-the-drama-cast-and-crew-climb-the-mountain-at-sunrise-for-final-filming)</sup>

**Realism in question.** Actual rangers and hikers pointed out departures from real ranger work. The drama's range of activity is narrower than the real job, and because Jirisan is a gentle, soil-covered mountain rather than a rock mountain like Bukhansan, no ranger rappels down cliffs with ropes as shown on screen.<sup>[9](https://www.harpersbazaar.co.kr/article/61169)</sup> Climbing scenes with ice axes and rock falls in the first episode drew criticism from hikers for lack of realism.<sup>[10](https://note.com/mamenosuke30/n/n3c9657dc3edd?hl=ko)</sup>

## Music

The music director was Gaemi (개미), who worked with Lee Jun-hwa; Gaemi had previously collaborated with director Lee Eung-bok on Sweet Home, Descendants of the Sun, and Secret.<sup>[11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYb0p8Qnuu4)</sup> The soundtrack's main theme song was sung by BTS member Jin, with other songs by Taeyeon, Paul Kim, and Gaho.<sup>[12](https://www.canalplusdistribution.com/medias/channels/iqiyi/iqiyi.pdf)</sup> OST Part 1 was "Destiny" by Kim Feel and Part 2 was "Memories" by Gaho.<sup>[11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYb0p8Qnuu4)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcNNtt0g2fQ)</sup> Jin's "Yours" was singled out by reviewers as a highlight of the drama's soundtrack.<sup>[14](https://once-upon-a-drama.com/2021/12/20/jirisan-drama-review/)</sup>

## Broadcast, distribution, and reception

**Ratings.** The series debuted on October 23, 2021 with a Nielsen Korea nationwide average of 9.097%, a record premiere for a tvN weekend drama, and rose to 10.663% the next night, its only episode to reach double digits.<sup>[6](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2021/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_1-7_Nov_2021.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[15](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2022/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_10-23_Jan_2022.pdf)</sup> It then settled in the 7.5 to 9.4 percent range for most of its run.<sup>[16](https://entertainment.trueid.net/synopsis/bqQDD6ElKNGy)</sup> The finale on December 12 scored 9.2%, the first time since the second week of the run that it broke past 9 percent.<sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[17](https://www.soompi.com/article/1503447wpp/jirisan-and-inspector-koo-finales-see-ratings-rise-uncle-and-the-king-of-tears-lee-bang-won-climb-for-2nd-episode)</sup> Yonhap attributed the failure of ratings to climb to controversy over awkward computer graphics in the early episodes and frequent indirect advertising (PPL), and the drama ended in single digits.<sup>[5](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)</sup>

**Critics and audiences.** Reviews were divided. The [South China Morning Post](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-china-morning-post) gave the finale review one star out of five, arguing the creators muddied a promising mountaineering suspense setup by adding supernatural phenomena from the opening episode and underusing both leads.<sup>[18](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3159592/k-drama-review-jirisan-despite-starring-jun-ji-hyun-and-ju?module=inline&pgtype=article)</sup> Its mid-season review similarly described a muddled story stitched together across timelines.<sup>[19](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3156461/k-drama-midseason-recap-jirisan-jun-ji-hyun-cant-save-messy)</sup> Other reviewers were more positive, praising the mountain scenery, the narrative's cleanliness, the warm bonds among the rangers, and the OST, and recommending the drama as a thriller.<sup>[14](https://once-upon-a-drama.com/2021/12/20/jirisan-drama-review/)</sup> On IMDb the series holds a 7.4/10 rating from about 1.9 thousand users.<sup>[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13400300)</sup>

**Distribution.** The drama was supplied worldwide to the Chinese streaming platform iQIYI and is labeled an iQIYI exclusive international release in addition to its tvN broadcast.<sup>[2](https://www.iq.com/album/jirisan-2021-bu850e1fm9?lang=en_us)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[20](https://www.kocca.kr/trend/vol24/file/BROADCASTING_TREND_INSIGHT_Vol_24.pdf)</sup> It later became available to stream on Rakuten Viki and Amazon Prime Video, with purchase options on Amazon Video.<sup>[21](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/jirisan)</sup>

## References

1. [지리산 | tvN, CJ ENM official program page](https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/jirisan/)
2. [Jirisan (2021) album page and wiki, iQIYI](https://www.iq.com/album/jirisan-2021-bu850e1fm9?lang=en_us)
3. [Jirisan | Shows | Studio Dragon](https://www.studiodragon.net/en/works/portfolio/jirisan/)
4. [Jirisan – Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/jirisan/umc.cmc.zo4lv1k6oiuvlr4m8ae2412h)
5. [전지현·이영애가 이끈 추리 드라마 '지리산'·'구경이' 종영, Yonhap News (December 13, 2021)](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20211213041100005)
6. [ContentAsia eNewsletter, 1–7 November 2021](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2021/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_1-7_Nov_2021.pdf)
7. [Jirisan (TV Series 2021) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13400300)
8. [Watch: "Jirisan" Cast Bid Farewell To The Drama + Cast And Crew Climb The Mountain At Sunrise For Final Filming, Soompi (December 13, 2021)](https://www.soompi.com/article/1503576wpp/watch-jirisan-cast-bid-farewell-to-the-drama-cast-and-crew-climb-the-mountain-at-sunrise-for-final-filming)
9. [산악 레인저, <지리산> 드라마와 얼마나 같을까? | Harper's Bazaar Korea](https://www.harpersbazaar.co.kr/article/61169)
10. [지리산 – 그대에게 보내는 시그널, note.com](https://note.com/mamenosuke30/n/n3c9657dc3edd?hl=ko)
11. [Kim Feel – Destiny (Jirisan OST Part.1), official MV, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYb0p8Qnuu4)
12. [iQIYI 2022 presentation (Canal Plus Distribution copy)](https://www.canalplusdistribution.com/medias/channels/iqiyi/iqiyi.pdf)
13. [Gaho – Memories (Jirisan OST Part.2), official MV, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcNNtt0g2fQ)
14. [Jirisan review, Once Upon a Drama (December 20, 2021)](https://once-upon-a-drama.com/2021/12/20/jirisan-drama-review/)
15. [ContentAsia eNewsletter, 10–23 January 2022](https://www.contentasia.tv/eNewsletter/2022/ContentAsia_eNewsletter_10-23_Jan_2022.pdf)
16. [เรื่องย่อ ซีรีส์เกาหลี Jirisan, episode ratings table, TrueID](https://entertainment.trueid.net/synopsis/bqQDD6ElKNGy)
17. ["Jirisan" And "Inspector Koo" Finales See Ratings Rise, Soompi (December 13, 2021)](https://www.soompi.com/article/1503447wpp/jirisan-and-inspector-koo-finales-see-ratings-rise-uncle-and-the-king-of-tears-lee-bang-won-climb-for-2nd-episode)
18. [K-drama review: Jirisan, South China Morning Post (December 14, 2021)](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3159592/k-drama-review-jirisan-despite-starring-jun-ji-hyun-and-ju?module=inline&pgtype=article)
19. [K-drama midseason recap: Jirisan, South China Morning Post (November 18, 2021)](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3156461/k-drama-midseason-recap-jirisan-jun-ji-hyun-cant-save-messy)
20. [BROADCASTING TREND INSIGHT Vol. 24, KOCCA](https://www.kocca.kr/trend/vol24/file/BROADCASTING_TREND_INSIGHT_Vol_24.pdf)
21. [Jirisan – watch tv show streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/jirisan)

---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › Korean contemporary drama › Thriller, crime, and mystery series*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license