'Cashero' Reinvents the Superhero: Lee Jun-ho's New Netflix Role Comes With a Heavy Price Tag

Superpower or Curse? Netflix's New Hero Drains His Bank Account to Save the Day

What if every heroic act cost you your life savings? Netflix's upcoming original series, 'Cashero', explores this exact dilemma, introducing a hero whose strength is directly tied to the cash in his wallet. At a press conference in Seoul on Monday, December 22, 2025, the director and cast members revealed how this unique premise aims to offer a fresh, relatable take on the superhero genre.

Based on the webtoon of the same name, the eight-part series centers on Sang-ung (played by Lee Jun-ho), an ordinary civil servant who inherits a strange power: he gets stronger based on how much cash he has. According to director Lee Chang-min, this concept was key to standing out. "I wanted to differentiate it from other similar works," he said. "It is a hero series where an ordinary man uses superpower to protect his everyday life." He described the ability as straddling "a superpower and a curse."

"It is not about fights between heroes. Rather, ordinary people put up their own fight with their own superpowers."
- Director Lee Chang-min

The core conflict arises from Sang-ung's very real-world problems. He finds himself torn between using the money he's saved for his marriage and a new home, and the need to exert his power, which literally makes his money disappear. This grounds the fantasy in a struggle that many can understand.

Actor Lee Jun-ho called his character "far from extraordinary" and noted that the series ultimately tries to convey a message of "heart." He added that he came to a realization through the role.

"I came to realize that truly helping others comes from genuine sincerity, regardless of money."
- Actor Lee Jun-ho

Rounding out the cast are Kim Hye-jun as Min-sook, Sang-ung's practical girlfriend trying to protect his savings, and Lee Chae-min as Jonathan, the heir to a mysterious organization who wants to steal Sang-ung's power. The series is set for a global release on Netflix this Friday.

PRISM Insight: 'Cashero' taps into the global trend of deconstructing the superhero mythos, but with a distinctly Korean twist. By linking superpowers directly to economic anxiety—a potent and recurring theme in modern Korean culture—the series moves beyond the typical hero narrative. It suggests a new archetype: the 'Gig Economy Hero,' whose power, much like a freelancer's income, is potent but precarious, reflecting the financial instabilities of a contemporary audience.