As You Stood By – Review | Netflix Series

AS YOU STOOD BY on Netflix is a thriller series from South Korea (org. title: Dangsini Jugyeossda). With 8 hour-long episodes, it’s a character-driven plot about domestic abuse, desperate choices, and consequences thereof. Read our As You Stood By series review here!

AS YOU STOOD BY is a new Netflix series from South Korea (org. title: Dangsini Jugyeossda). Despite these often being labeled simply as “K-Drama”, this one deals with a very dark subject matter and is more of a crime-thriller production.

Season 1 has eight hour-long episodes, as we usually see from South Korean series, and there are many flashbacks in the story. These are used to show us how a character was pushed to their actions, which tend to be quite desperate.

Continue reading our As You Stood By series review below. Find season 1 on Netflix now.

How long can you stand by and do nothing?

As You Stood By has the tagline “Two desperate souls. One desperate choice,” which can almost double as a simple plot description. The subject matter is domestic abuse, and as the title indicates, it asks questions about those who see it and do nothing.

Now, I think we all know it isn’t as simple as that. There are usually many things to take into consideration, which is also something As You Stood By includes. From children in a household to being dependent on an abusive partner. To name just two.

However, As You Stood By is a crime-thriller for a reason, which becomes apparent by the end of episode 1. Actually, it’s also in the plot description and the trailer.

Break the cycle… and get revenge in the process

After being trapped in a world of abuse, two women realize that only death can set them free. But why should it be their death, when it could be that of the abuser?

Once this thought has been spoken, putting it into action comes next. And no, it isn’t as easy as it sounds, nor does it go as smoothly as they would like. Things like that never do.

However, after years of standing on the sidelines, something must happen to break the cycle. That is what As You Stood By is truly about: Taking action and hoping for the best, but realizing that there will always be struggles of some kind.

Watch As You Stood By on Netflix now

As You Stood By is based on Hideo Okuda’s novel “Naomi & Kanako”. The series comes from director Lee Jeong-lim (Revenant) with the teleplays from Kim Hyo-jeong.

The two lead roles in As You Stood By on Netflix are portrayed by Jeon So-nee (Parasyte: The Grey) and Lee Yoo-mi (All Of Us Are Dead, Squid Game). These two have to carry most of the character-driven plot, and they excel at this.

In other key roles, we see Lee Moo-saeng (The Silent Sea), Jang Seung-jo (Snowdrop), and Kim Mi-kyung (Warning: Do Not Play).

The very dark subject matter won’t be for everyone. For some, it will hit too close to home – in one way or the other – but that could be exactly why it’s important to watch it.

As You Stood By is out on Netflix globally from November 7, 2025.

Details

Director: Lee Jeong-lim
Cast: Jeon So-nee, Lee You-mi, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Mu-saeng