Rakuten Viki expands its April lineup with Heart Signal 5 and The Scarecrow, featuring romance and a crime thriller inspired by real events.
Rakuten Viki, a global streaming platform for Asian entertainment, has unveiled its refreshed April lineup for Southeast Asia. The update features the return of the popular Korean dating reality franchise Heart Signal 5 and the debut of the crime thriller The Scarecrow, inspired by real events.
Jaehee Hong, Chief Content Officer at Rakuten Viki, highlighted the platform’s direction.
Audience preferences across Southeast Asia are evolving. Reality formats and scripted series both drive strong engagement. We focus on stories that offer distinct tones while staying relevant to regional viewers.
Furthermore, she noted that Rakuten Viki continues to expand its content offerings. The platform is introducing a curated selection of Korean variety shows and classic titles. This move aims to reach beyond drama fans and attract a wider entertainment audience.
Heart Signal 5
Heart Signal 5 returns this month after a nearly three-year break. The franchise has built a loyal global following for its realistic take on modern relationships. Furthermore, it has helped boost international interest in Korean dating shows. Several former participants have also gained public recognition beyond the program, showing its cultural reach.
The new season premieres exclusively on Viki on April 16. It also offers subtitles in Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, and Malay to support wider accessibility. Heart Signal 5 follows singles who move into the co-ed Signal House in search of romance. The show uses a unique format. Participants send anonymous text messages to express their feelings. As a result, relationships develop with added tension and uncertainty.
Additionally, the series engages viewers as active observers. Audiences try to predict each participant’s “love arrow” and emotional choices. This turns every episode into a guessing game, alongside commentary from the studio panel.
Each episode features a celebrity panel that provides real-time reactions and insights. Returning panelists include Yoon Jong Shin, Kim Ea Na, and Lee Sang Min. Moreover, this season introduces new voices, including singer-songwriter Roy Kim and Tsuki of K-pop group Billlie. Their presence adds fresh perspectives to the discussion.
The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow expands the April lineup and premieres on April 20. The series centers on Kang Tae-ju, a once top-performing detective who returns to his hometown after a reassignment. He then investigates a long-unsolved serial murder case.
Furthermore, his work brings him into conflict with prosecutor Cha Si-young. The two share a past as school rivals. Their opposing goals and methods intensify the investigation. As a result, the case unfolds in unpredictable ways. Park Jun-woo directs the series, known for Taxi Driver and Crash. Lee Ji-hyeon writes the script. The story draws inspiration from one of South Korea’s most infamous unresolved criminal cases, which only reached closure decades later.
To add depth, the production team held detailed script discussions during preparation. These sessions aligned the cast on character psychology and narrative direction. Additionally, the process strengthened the show’s focus on procedural realism and emotional tension.
Park Hae-soo leads the cast as Kang Tae-ju. He portrays a detective facing both career setbacks and renewed determination. Moreover, Lee Hee-joon plays Cha Si-young, a prosecutor with a calculated and strategic approach. His performance heightens the tension within the investigation. He also noted that the script and past collaborations with the director influenced his decision to join the project.
While The Scarecrow reimagines real events for a modern audience, it also connects to earlier crime works in Korean cinema. For example, it reflects the lasting influence of Memories of Murder (2003), directed by Bong Joon-ho, which continues to shape the genre’s storytelling style.
Watch out for Heart Signal 5 and The Scarecrow, as both upcoming shows bring fresh stories and exciting twists to Viki’s April lineup.
Press Release, Viki
