After months of uncertainty, the highly anticipated second season of tvN’s hit crime thriller ‘Signal’ has finally received an official premiere date.
Titled ‘The Second Signal,’ the sequel will begin airing on December 7, 2026, marking the return of the beloved series nearly a decade after its original broadcast.
On November 6, tvN announced that the eight-episode drama would join its Monday-Tuesday programming lineup, with episodes scheduled to air at 10 PM KST.
The announcement comes after the production faced an indefinite delay following controversy surrounding one of its lead actors, Cho Jin Woong.
The sequel was initially planned as part of tvN’s 20th-anniversary programming and was expected to premiere earlier in 2026.
However, the controversy surrounding Cho left the project’s future uncertain, despite filming and post-production having been completed.
In its latest statement, tvN explained that it had carefully considered viewers’ concerns before deciding to broadcast the series.
The network also outlined changes to the premiere-week schedule and discussed the possibility of using technology to modify the actor’s scenes.
‘The Second Signal’ to Premiere With a Special Three-Episode First Week
According to tvN’s announcement, the drama will premiere on December 7 at 10 PM KST.
Instead of following the usual one-episode-per-day pattern from the beginning, the network has planned a special schedule for its first week.
Episodes 1 and 2 will air consecutively on December 7, with the first episode shortened and adjusted to a limited extent while preserving the overall flow of the story.
Episode 3, which marks the beginning of the main storyline, will follow on December 8.
After the premiere week, one episode will be broadcast every Monday and Tuesday.
With eight episodes in total, the revised schedule is designed to maintain the narrative’s progression while giving viewers an opportunity to follow the story across the week.
tvN also addressed the production team’s efforts to find ways to minimise concerns surrounding the controversy.
The network revealed that it had explored video-editing technology and even conducted tests involving artificial intelligence to replace a character.
However, the production team concluded that these methods had limitations when it came to naturally reproducing acting performances and maintaining the narrative flow.
As a result, the final version will retain the actor’s scenes rather than attempting a technological replacement.
In its statement, tvN emphasised that broadcasting the drama should not be interpreted as endorsing or justifying the issues involving the individual cast member.
The network acknowledged viewers’ concerns while also pointing to the contributions of the many actors, production staff, and crew members involved in completing the project.
Original ‘Signal’ Cast Reunites for Long-Awaited Sequel
First released in 2016, ‘Signal’ became one of tvN’s notable crime-thriller dramas.
The series followed detectives from different periods who communicated through a mysterious walkie-talkie, working together to investigate unresolved criminal cases.
The original drama starred Kim Hye Soo, Lee Je Hoon, and Cho Jin Woong.
Its gripping investigations, emotional storytelling, and time-crossing mystery earned it widespread attention, leaving viewers eager to discover what would happen next.
‘The Second Signal’ brings back the three original lead actors, with writer Kim Eun Hee returning to continue the story.
Director Ahn Tae Jin, known for the film ‘The Night Owl,’ joins the production.
The sequel was originally announced in March 2025, with filming beginning ahead of its planned 2026 release.
The story is expected to revisit the unresolved mysteries surrounding the original characters, particularly the fate of detective Lee Jae Han.
However, the project encountered a major setback in December 2025 after reports about Cho Jin Woong’s past came to light.
The actor acknowledged his past misconduct and announced his retirement from the entertainment industry, creating uncertainty about whether the completed drama would ever be released.
Following months of deliberation, tvN has now decided to move forward with the broadcast.
The network has acknowledged that its decision may not resolve every concern raised by viewers but has also considered the work of the many people who contributed to the series.
With its December 7 premiere confirmed, ‘The Second Signal’ is finally preparing to meet audiences after a prolonged wait.
The return of Kim Hye Soo and Lee Je Hoon, alongside the continuation of the original story, has brought the drama back into the spotlight ahead of its broadcast.
