The series follows the final 200 days before an asteroid is expected to collide with Earth on February 22, 2026. South Korea has been placed under martial law following an outbreak of violence and an attempted coup since the announcement of the asteroid's approach. Many wealthy citizens have fled the country to supposed safe zones, and remaining residents have to deal with hopelessness, reduced supplies, widespread suicide, rampant crime, and various scams offering supposed salvation.
In the city of Woongcheon, four friends struggle with the changed circumstances: Jin Se-kyeong, a former teacher who works as a volunteer at city hall; Dr. Ha Yun-sang, Se-kyeong's scientist fiancé who was stuck in the US during the riots; Captain Kang In-a, an army captain trying to control her support unit; and Father Woo Sung-jae, an assistant priest who has to take charge of the parish when the main priest disappears.
Se-kyeong is involved in the lives of her former students, and learns about a human trafficking ring run by escaped convicts, who kidnap children and were responsible for the deaths of many of her students. Kang In-a's investigation leads her to the same group, as the escaped convicts are working together with discharged soldiers to run gambling dens and brothels. The crime rings are connected to a cult-like elitist group that is gathering funds to buy their escape to another country. Sung-jae faces a crisis of faith when he learns that his superior, Father Baek, is part of this elitist group and absconded with church funds to join them. Yun-sang has the opportunity to join this group and bring Se-kyeong with him, as he is a geneticist whose research will be important for humanity's post-asteroid survival, but he refuses to leave without Se-kyeong, who refuses to abandon her former students.
The four friends and their allies learn that the elitist group have arranged for two planes to pick them up for a last chance to escape South Korea. Se-kyeong, Yun-sang and Sung-jae attempt to negotiate for the children to be allowed to leave, but are unsuccessful. However, one plane is unable to land due to protests on the emergency landing strip, and the other plane crashes en route, killing all aboard.
In the last remaining days before the asteroid's arrival, various residents try to find peace, settle unfinished business, or fall into despair. Se-kyeong and Yun-Sang get married but are troubled by what they have learned about each other. Yun-sang runs a memorial project to document as much of Woongcheon and its residents for possible future visitors. In-a is discharged from the army and drives off to be on her own. Sung-jae leaves the priesthood but continues to care for the community. Se-kyeong is still tormented by the loss of her students and, upon learning that criminals have resumed trafficking children, goes to their gambling den with a gun to kill them.
The series was supposed to be released on Netflix in the fourth quarter of 2023.[8] However, it was postponed and also edited to remove the amount of Yoo Ah-in's appearance in the series as much as possible, following his drug use charges.[9] The series was released on April 26, 2024.[10]
^ abJung Yoo-jin (December 20, 2021). "넷플릭스 '종말의 바보', 제작 확정...'인간수업' 감독·'밀회' 작가" [Netflix's 'The Fool of the End' confirmed for production... Director of 'Human Class' and Writer of 'Secret Love'] (in Korean). News 1. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abcdefgh 축구, 제기랄 저럴 줄 알았어! [Football, Bloody Hell!]. Goodbye Earth. Episode 1. April 26, 2024.
^ abc"넷플릭스 새 시리즈 '종말의 바보'에 안은진·유아인 출연" [Ahn Eun-jin and Yoo Ah-in appear in Netflix's new series 'The Fool of the End'] (in Korean). Digital Times. January 13, 2022. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Ye-eun (January 13, 2022). "전성우, 넷플릭스 '종말의 바보' 주연 합류 [공식입장]" [Jeon Seong-woo joins Netflix's 'The Fool of the End' as the lead [Official Position]] (in Korean). Sports News. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ahn Byung-gil (January 14, 2022). "김윤혜 '종말의 바보' 주연 합류" [Kim Yun-hye joins the lead role in 'The Fool of the End'] (in Korean). Sports Trend. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Jin-young (November 21, 2022). "[단독] 김강훈, '종말의 바보' 캐스팅...'재벌집' 이어 '연기천재' 열일" [[Exclusive] Kim Kang-hoon, 'Fool of the End' casting... Following the 'conglomerate family', 'acting genius' ten days]. Joy News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^Yeon Hwi-seon (May 18, 2022). "안은진X유아인 '종말의 바보' 제작...'마이네임' 감독·'밀회' 작가 만난다" [Ahn Eun-jin X Yoo Ah-in 'The Fool of the End' production... Meet the director of 'My Name' and the writer of 'Secret Meeting'] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Jeong-sun (January 17, 2023). "'경성크리처'부터 '퀸메이커'까지...2023 넷플릭스 韓 라인업" [From 'Kyungsung Creature' to 'Queen Maker'... 2023 Netflix Korea Lineup] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jon Hyong-hwa (March 27, 2023). "[단독] 경찰, 유아인 조사 후 구속영장 검토..'종말의 바보' 내년 이후 무기한 연기 [종합]" [[Exclusive] The police review the arrest warrant after the investigation of Yoo Ah-in... 'The Fool of the End' is postponed indefinitely after next year] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^Lee, Min-ji (March 29, 2024). "유아인 출연 '종말의 바보' 4월26일 공개 확정 [공식]" ['Goodbye Earth' starring Yoo Ah-in confirmed to be released on April 26 [Official]]. Newsen. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024 – via Naver.
