Major Anticipated Releases Comparable to 'Moving' Unveiled
Leading Title Next Month: Kangpul's Original Work 'Jomyeonggage'
"We Aim to Satisfy Both Domestic and International Consumer Preferences"
Disney+’s status in South Korea falls far short of Netflix. Joining the market late, it struggled to secure anticipated hits. Most production companies lined up in front of Netflix, effectively placing Disney+ in second or third position. It had to offer better terms or build trust from the pre-production stage.
It took two years to achieve remarkable results. "Moving," based on a webtoon by Kang Full, recorded the highest viewership ranking among Disney+’s original series outside the U.S. last year. It also gathered over 4.3 million subscribers domestically. Eric Schrier, head of Disney Global Original TV Strategy, said at the 'D23: Global Fan Event' last August, "It was truly impressive," and added, "We hope to see more success stories like this in the future."
Next year marks a turning point to strengthen competitiveness through close relationships with domestic production companies. Following Disney CEO Bob Iger’s keynote, the focus will be on 'quality' over 'quantity.' Several highly anticipated projects that generated buzz even before production, like "Moving," will be released. These include "Jomyeonggage," "Trigger," "Hyperknife," "Knock Off," "Nine Puzzle," "Pine," "Bukgukseong," and "Made in Korea."
The ‘Disney Content Showcase 2024’ held on the 20th (local time) at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was an opportunity to examine these projects. Choi Yeon-woo, head of local content at Disney Korea, said, "We have steadily released original content to expand our presence in the Korean content market," and added, "Starting next month, we will satisfy the tastes of both domestic and international consumers with these major productions."
The first step will be taken on the 4th of next month with "Jomyeonggage." This series is based on the webtoon of the same name by Kang Full, which has surpassed 150 million views. It tells the story of suspicious customers visiting a lighting store that brightens the end of a dark alley. The cast includes Ju Ji-hoon, Park Bo-young, Kim Seol-hyun, Bae Sung-woo, Um Tae-goo, Lee Jung-eun, Kim Min-ha, and Park Hyuk-kwon. The director is Kim Hee-won, better known as an actor.
Disney expects "Jomyeonggage" to be as successful as "Moving." Schrier, who visited Korea to meet Kang Full, said, "I felt his sincere passion for his story. Although there was a language barrier requiring an interpreter, I could understand how unique and genuine the stories he wanted to convey were." He added, "I am very much looking forward to 'Jomyeonggage.'"
"Trigger," which will be released next year, is about those who relentlessly pursue cases that even prosecutors and police cannot solve. The cast includes Kim Hye-soo, Jung Sung-il, and Joo Jong-hyuk. The director is Yoo Sun-dong, known for the series "The Uncanny Counter" and "Bad and Crazy."
"Hyperknife" is confirmed for release in the first half of next year. It is a medical thriller about Seok, a once-promising genius doctor, who engages in a battle of wits with his mentor Deok-hee, who caused his downfall. The main cast includes Park Eun-bin, Sol Kyung-gu, Yoon Chan-young, and Park Byung-eun. The screenplay was written by Kim Sun-hee, who also wrote the drama "God’s Quiz Reboot" and the webtoon "Bangjeongsa." The director is Kim Jeong-hyun, known for "Day and Night" and "Crazy Love."
"Nine Puzzle," which attracted attention with the meeting of Kim Da-mi and Son Seok-gu, will also be unveiled next year. It is a mystery thriller about Ina, the sole witness to an unsolved case and a current profiler, and detective Han Saem, who suspects him as a suspect until the end, uncovering the secrets of a serial murder case. The director is Yoon Jong-bin, recognized for his directing in the films "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time," "The Spy Gone North," and the drama "Suriname."
Kim Soo-hyun, who demonstrated her strong presence this year with "Queen of Tears," will continue her upward trajectory on Disney+. She will star alongside Jo Bo-ah in "Knock Off." The story follows a man whose life was completely overturned by the IMF crisis, transforming from an ordinary office worker into the king of the counterfeit market. The director is Park Hyun-seok, known for "The Thieves: Sound of the Sword" and "Secret Forest 2." The screenplay was written by Han Jeong-hoon, who worked on "Squad 38" and "Bad Guys."
"Bukgukseong," which raises expectations with the acting chemistry of Kang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun, will also be broadcast on Disney+. It tells the story of Moon-joo, a diplomat and former ambassador to the U.S., who uncovers the truth behind a huge incident together with Sanho, a special agent of unknown nationality. The screenplay was written by Jung Seo-kyung, who wrote the films "The Handmaiden," "Believer," and "Decision to Leave." The director is Kim Hee-won, known for the dramas "Vincenzo," "Little Women," and "Queen of Tears."
Two high-budget historical dramas will also be released: "Pine" and "Made in Korea." The former is based on the webtoon of the same name by Yoon Tae-ho. It highlights diligent villains aiming for a fortune from a treasure ship buried under the sea. The director is Kang Yoon-sung, known for the film "The Outlaws" and the drama "Casino." The cast includes Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, Im Soo-jung, Kim Eui-sung, Kim Sung-oh, Hong Ki-joon, Jang Gwang, Kim Jong-soo, Woo Hyun, Lee Dong-hwi, and Jung Yoon-ho.
The latter attracted early attention with the meeting of Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung. Set in the 1970s, it tells the story of Baek Ki-tae, full of ambition, and prosecutor Jang Geon-young, who tries to stop him, as they face a huge incident. The director is Woo Min-ho, known for the films "Inside Men" and "Harbin."
Disney is confident that all these works will resonate not only domestically but also in the global market. Carol Choi, head of original content strategy for Disney Asia-Pacific, said, "These works appeal to a wide range of age groups, not just a specific demographic," adding, "They are very authentic and offer something for everyone."
Schrier predicted, "You will see continued growth in Disney’s investment in Korea." He emphasized, "Our primary goal is to create content loved by Korean consumers," and expressed confidence, saying, "If the content is excellent like 'Moving,' it will naturally gain popularity overseas as well."
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