A long post that recently went viral in the Korean online community theqoo has reignited the debate over whether the hit K-drama Signal borrowed too much from the 2004 Hong Kong television series To unblock yourself over time. The discussion has resurfaced as anticipation grows Signal Season 2.
The post argues that the similarities go far beyond sharing the same premise. According to the comparison, both dramas center on a virtuous detective from the past who investigates a notorious unsolved serial murder case but ultimately fails to catch the real culprit. Instead, he becomes the victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by powerful figures above him, is falsely accused, and dies in tragic circumstances.
In both stories, the modern-day protagonist is an exceptionally intelligent detective whose childhood is deeply tied to the same unsolved case. In To unblock yourself over timehis father allowed the serial killer to escape, while he was inside Signalthe protagonist witnessed Kim Yoon-jung’s abduction as a child, only to have the police reject his testimony.
The comparison finds that the unsolved case remains open for decades: 20 years in the Hong Kong drama and 15 years in the Hong Kong one. Signal. Years later, the protagonist unexpectedly discovers an old communication device that allows him to contact the detective from the past: a cell phone To unblock yourself over time and Lee Jae-han’s walkie-talkie Signal.
Using clues provided by the detective from the past, the protagonist tracks down a suspect. However, both stories reveal that the person initially identified is not the real killer but someone framed for the crime. While the authorities are eager to close the investigation, believing that the case has already been solved, the protagonists continue their searches until they discover the real criminal.
Another striking similarity highlighted by the post is how neither detective initially realizes they are communicating over time. The past detective becomes convinced only after the present protagonist repeatedly predicts future events with perfect accuracy.
As the story progresses, both detectives work together to solve multiple unsolved cases, sharing information that only exists in their respective timelines. The detective from the past believes he will survive into the future, while the detective from the present struggles to reveal that his counterpart actually died many years ago.
The post also points out matching story developments that involve changes to the timeline. After the detective from the past saves a victim using knowledge from the future, history is altered. However, only the present-day protagonist remembers the original timeline, while unexpected butterfly effects create new tragedies. In To unblock yourself over timea woman who survives a car accident later becomes a criminal while in Signalsaving one victim ultimately leads to the death of another innocent person.
Evidence preservation also plays an almost identical role in both series. Since forensic technology was unable to identify the culprit in the past, the detective carefully preserves crucial evidence so that DNA testing in the future can finally solve the case. The past detective also leaves letters or physical evidence for his future counterpart.
Both dramas feature a female detective who works closely with the male protagonist. Initially unaware of the time-spanning communication, she gradually discovers the secret and eventually becomes involved after the male protagonist is framed while investigating corruption. Before being arrested, he entrusts her with the communication device, allowing her to continue collaborating with the detective in the past.
The comparison concludes with another important parallel. Despite repeated warnings that investigating a particular location would lead to his death, the past detective refuses to abandon the case. This time, however, because he knows his fate in advance, he prepares accordingly and survives. The timeline changes once again, but even in the new reality he disappears and remains missing for years, prompting the present-day characters to continue searching for him.
The online discussion also compares the endings. In To unblock yourself over timethe two detectives eventually reunite, while Signal ends with the protagonists preparing to search for Lee Jae-han, leaving the story open for continuation.
The viral post quickly attracted thousands of comments. Many users have expressed disappointment, claiming that the similarities go far beyond inspiration and resemble a complete remake without official recognition. Others questioned why no copyright controversy had surfaced publicly and wondered how a second season might proceed if the allegations gained greater attention.
Some commentators have also defended the idea that communication across time is not an original concept in itself, pointing out that similar ideas have appeared in other films and television series. However, they argued that the overall plot progression, character arcs, and key story beats appeared so closely aligned made the comparison difficult to ignore.
For now, not even Signal writer Kim Eun-hee nor the production team have publicly responded to the renewed plagiarism discussion. The claims remain based on fan comparisons circulating online and no official ruling or legal decision has concluded to that effect Signal copied To unblock yourself over time.
Sources: theqoo
