Blab Entertainment
Lee Joon Leads Short-Form Drama The Tax Reaper on Lezhin Snack, Promising Fast-Paced Tax-Investigation Action
Lee Joon is set to headline a new short‑form drama based on the hit webtoon “The Tax Reaper.” The series, slated to debut on Lezhin Snack—a global short‑form platform—in the second half of 2026, centers on National Tax Service officer Shin Jae Hyun, who wields a supernatural knack for spotting tax evasion and battles corruption across chaebol families, political arenas, and even his own agency.
The project assembles a seasoned cast and experienced crew. Lee Joon, a former MBLAQ member who has appeared in films such as Gapdong and the Netflix series The Silent Sea, will portray Shin Jae Hyun, the head of an investigation team. Supporting roles include Kang Hee Goo as Yoo Jin Hwan, a strategist who wields influence over business and politics; Jang Jae Ho as Shin Woo Hyun, Shin Jae Hyun’s older brother whose ambition has led him to marry into a wealthy conglomerate; and Min Sung Wook as Min Chi Ho, a senior NTS official and Shin’s ally.
Director Kim Jae Hoon, who co‑directed the 2025 Netflix thriller Trigger, will helm the series. Production notes explain that the short‑form format will amplify the original story’s brisk pacing, allowing the narrative to focus on high‑stakes confrontations and a large‑scale conspiracy that ties together corporate and political power.
Lee Joon described the project as “refreshingly satisfying” and compared it to “chugging an ice‑cold beer in the middle of summer.” He added that the drama moves at a fast pace while offering something fresh and exhilarating.
Lezhin Snack, launched by Lezhin Entertainment in early 2026, is a global short‑form drama platform that aims to expand beyond genre‑specific audiences. The platform was introduced as part of Lezhin’s strategy to accelerate the global success of its content and to build a broader IP value chain. The launch of The Tax Reaper on Lezhin Snack follows the company’s broader push to bring webtoon‑based stories to short‑form video, a format that has gained popularity among younger viewers who prefer concise, high‑energy storytelling.
The narrative of The Tax Reaper centers on Shin Jae Hyun’s unique power to see the amount of tax evasion floating above people’s heads. The series will explore how he tracks down hidden wealth within major corporations and confronts a conspiracy that implicates powerful conglomerates, political figures, and even elements within the National Tax Service. The drama’s focus on tax investigation aligns with recent developments in South Korea, where the National Tax Service announced a 2026 operating plan that emphasizes tighter enforcement of high‑value and cross‑border tax risks.
The short‑form format is expected to deliver episodes that are concise yet action‑packed, a style that has proven successful for other Lezhin Snack originals. The platform’s global reach means that The Tax Reaper will be available to audiences outside South Korea from its premiere, potentially expanding the webtoon's fan base.
In addition to the drama, Lee Joon remains active on television, appearing in the current season of 2 Days & 1 Night. His involvement in the new project is seen as a continuation of his recent work in genre‑diverse roles, including the thriller Bulgasal.
The series’ release schedule has not yet been finalized, but it is expected to debut on Lezhin Snack sometime between July and December 2026. Production is underway, with the director and cast preparing to translate the webtoon’s fast‑paced narrative into a short‑form format that emphasizes rapid plot progression and high‑stakes confrontations.
The Tax Reaper represents a convergence of popular webtoon storytelling, a growing short‑form drama market, and a focus on tax‑related crime narratives that resonate with contemporary concerns about corporate and political accountability in South Korea.
The drama’s release will be closely watched by fans of the webtoon, viewers of short‑form content, and industry observers interested in how webtoon adaptations can be successfully translated into concise, high‑energy formats on global platforms.
The project assembles a seasoned cast and experienced crew. Lee Joon, a former MBLAQ member who has appeared in films such as Gapdong and the Netflix series The Silent Sea, will portray Shin Jae Hyun, the head of an investigation team. Supporting roles include Kang Hee Goo as Yoo Jin Hwan, a strategist who wields influence over business and politics; Jang Jae Ho as Shin Woo Hyun, Shin Jae Hyun’s older brother whose ambition has led him to marry into a wealthy conglomerate; and Min Sung Wook as Min Chi Ho, a senior NTS official and Shin’s ally.
Director Kim Jae Hoon, who co‑directed the 2025 Netflix thriller Trigger, will helm the series. Production notes explain that the short‑form format will amplify the original story’s brisk pacing, allowing the narrative to focus on high‑stakes confrontations and a large‑scale conspiracy that ties together corporate and political power.
Lee Joon described the project as “refreshingly satisfying” and compared it to “chugging an ice‑cold beer in the middle of summer.” He added that the drama moves at a fast pace while offering something fresh and exhilarating.
Lezhin Snack, launched by Lezhin Entertainment in early 2026, is a global short‑form drama platform that aims to expand beyond genre‑specific audiences. The platform was introduced as part of Lezhin’s strategy to accelerate the global success of its content and to build a broader IP value chain. The launch of The Tax Reaper on Lezhin Snack follows the company’s broader push to bring webtoon‑based stories to short‑form video, a format that has gained popularity among younger viewers who prefer concise, high‑energy storytelling.
The narrative of The Tax Reaper centers on Shin Jae Hyun’s unique power to see the amount of tax evasion floating above people’s heads. The series will explore how he tracks down hidden wealth within major corporations and confronts a conspiracy that implicates powerful conglomerates, political figures, and even elements within the National Tax Service. The drama’s focus on tax investigation aligns with recent developments in South Korea, where the National Tax Service announced a 2026 operating plan that emphasizes tighter enforcement of high‑value and cross‑border tax risks.
The short‑form format is expected to deliver episodes that are concise yet action‑packed, a style that has proven successful for other Lezhin Snack originals. The platform’s global reach means that The Tax Reaper will be available to audiences outside South Korea from its premiere, potentially expanding the webtoon's fan base.
In addition to the drama, Lee Joon remains active on television, appearing in the current season of 2 Days & 1 Night. His involvement in the new project is seen as a continuation of his recent work in genre‑diverse roles, including the thriller Bulgasal.
The series’ release schedule has not yet been finalized, but it is expected to debut on Lezhin Snack sometime between July and December 2026. Production is underway, with the director and cast preparing to translate the webtoon’s fast‑paced narrative into a short‑form format that emphasizes rapid plot progression and high‑stakes confrontations.
The Tax Reaper represents a convergence of popular webtoon storytelling, a growing short‑form drama market, and a focus on tax‑related crime narratives that resonate with contemporary concerns about corporate and political accountability in South Korea.
The drama’s release will be closely watched by fans of the webtoon, viewers of short‑form content, and industry observers interested in how webtoon adaptations can be successfully translated into concise, high‑energy formats on global platforms.
