Introduction of Nine Korean Original Series Next Year
Active Promotion with Invitations to Famous Disney Directors and Actors
Asian Journalists Compete to Secure Front Seats an Hour Early
Enthusiastic Response... Demonstrating the Strength of 'K-Content'
On the 21st, the assembly hall on the 4th floor of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was bustling with crowds an hour before the event. Journalists from all over Asia, including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, were present. They lined up in long queues at the door to secure front-row seats, eager to see the Korean actors who would take the stage up close.
The Walt Disney Company focused on introducing Korean original series to be released next year on Disney+. To liven up the atmosphere, they invited many popular actors and put them front and center. Among them were Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Hye-soo, Park Eun-bin, Son Seok-gu, and Ryu Seung-ryong.
The approximately 200 journalists seated in the front rows (out of about 400 in total) resembled a fan club. They continuously took photos with their phones and welcomed the actors enthusiastically. Especially when Kim Soo-hyun, who was greatly loved in the first half of the year as the "Queen of Tears," appeared, they cheered loudly and went wild. It was a moment that proved the strength of K-content.
The Walt Disney Company clearly felt this last year. Carol Choi, Head of Original Content Strategy for the Asia-Pacific region, said, "Among the top fifteen most popular works on Disney+, nine were Korean series," adding, "Korea is a country that provides creative inspiration to storytellers in the Asia-Pacific region."
The strategy remains unchanged next year. They will present nine works by recruiting famous directors and popular actors. These include 'Trigger' starring Kim Hye-soo, 'Pine' starring Ryu Seung-ryong and Im Soo-jung, 'Hyper Knife' starring Park Eun-bin and Sol Kyung-gu, 'Knock Off' starring Kim Soo-hyun and Jo Bo-ah, 'Nine Puzzle' starring Son Seok-gu and Kim Da-mi, 'Polaris' starring Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Dong-won, 'Made in Korea' starring Jung Woo-sung and Hyun Bin, 'Takyu' starring Rowoon and Shin Ye-eun, and 'Fragmented City' starring Ji Chang-wook and Do Kyung-soo.
The Walt Disney Company heavily promoted five of these that have completed filming. The first introduced work was 'Trigger,' a story about investigative news program producers who relentlessly pursue the truth behind cases that even prosecutors and police cannot solve. Director Yoo Sun-dong, who directed the 'The Uncanny Counter' series, took the helm.
In the released footage, Kim Hye-soo, Jung Sung-il, and Joo Jong-hyuk showed occasional comedic expressions despite dealing with heavy cases. Kim Hye-soo, who plays Oh So-ryong, the head of the investigative news team, explained, "I played a role full of professional dedication and a bit of eccentricity," adding, "Although it deals with serious criminal cases, the story is told with wit and a cheerful atmosphere." She further said, "Stories pursuing justice and truth can sometimes be portrayed superficially, but the story we want to tell is clear."
Jung Sung-il, who portrayed a socially awkward junior PD, said, "He is not only a professional who persistently chases facts but also a free spirit dreaming of a beautiful world," explaining, "I thought he was a very interesting character," as his reason for appearing.
Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, and Im Soo-jung introduced 'Pine.' The story unfolds as villains gather to plunder treasure after a treasure island is discovered off the coast of Sinan. Director Kang Yoon-sung, who had already established a relationship with Disney+ through 'Casino,' directed this work.
In the released footage, the characters all displayed strong personalities. Some scenes, enhanced with retro-style art, reminded viewers of director Ryu Seung-wan's film 'The Drug King.' Ryu Seung-ryong played Oh Gwan-seok, who tries to make a fortune using a treasure ship buried underwater with his nephew Oh Hee-dong (Yang Se-jong). He said, "It was fun to film directly in the special Sinan mudflats, which are registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site." Regarding the overall atmosphere, he said, "Set in the 1970s, we referenced the classic film 'Scarface.'"
From the left, actors Yang Se-jong, Im Soo-jung, Ryu Seung-ryong, and director Kang Yoon-seok who appeared in 'Pine' [Photo by Walt Disney Company]
The original work of this piece is a comic of the same name drawn by writer Yoon Tae-ho, known for 'Misaeng' and 'Inside Men.' Director Kang said, "We tried to preserve the strengths and storytelling power of the original while filling in the gaps." He added, "Filming the process of diving into the sea to plunder was tough, but I think it will deliver fresh fun."
Park Eun-bin and Sol Kyung-gu promoted 'Hyper Knife.' It is a story about Seok (Park Eun-bin), a once-promising genius doctor, and his mentor Deok-hee (Sol Kyung-gu), who caused his downfall, reuniting and the events that follow. The partially unveiled reality was the most intense among the videos played that day. Especially, Park Eun-bin's constantly changing facial expressions appeared frequently in extreme close-up shots, conveying high tension.
She said, "When I read the script, I was very curious about the psychology of the character," adding, "I acted with my senses fully awakened." She said, "The relationship between the mentor and the disciple felt very strange," and "I acted with the hope that viewers would experience the psychological changes the two characters go through together."
From the left, director Kim Jeong-hyun who directed 'Hyper Night', and lead actors Park Eun-bin and Seol Kyung-gu [Photo by Walt Disney Company]
Sol Kyung-gu, who expressed a love-hate relationship with Park Eun-bin, said, "You will see a mentor-disciple relationship unlike any drama before," adding, "The disciple's attitude toward the mentor is so unabashed that many viewers might find it shocking." Director Kim Jung-hyun emphasized again, "The two actors show a powerful transformation in their acting."
Kim Soo-hyun introduced 'Knock Off' alongside Jo Bo-ah. It tells the story of a man whose life was completely overturned by the 1997 foreign exchange crisis and who becomes the king of the global counterfeit market. Kim Soo-hyun portrayed Kim Sung-joon, who jumps into counterfeit sales with exceptional intelligence, quick wit, and intense desire. In the released footage, he caught attention with a sly smile.
He said, "I found the process of an ordinary office worker becoming a merchant and then growing into the 'King of Counterfeits' interesting and thought I could express it well," explaining his reason for appearing. He added, "There are several attractive characters, each with their own survival methods," and "I especially wanted to show how Kim Sung-joon survives numerous crises and how he changes and grows."
From the left, actors Kim Soo-hyun and Jo Bo-ah who appeared in 'Knock Off' and director Park Hyun-seok [Photo by Walt Disney Company]
Jo Bo-ah, who worked alongside him, said, "The theme of the counterfeit market was interesting," and predicted, "Since the era spans from the 1990s to the 2000s, it will evoke nostalgia."
Son Seok-gu and Kim Da-mi appeared last to promote 'Nine Puzzle.' It is a story about Lee Na (Kim Da-mi), the only witness to an unsolved case from ten years ago and a current profiler, and Han Saem (Son Seok-gu), a detective who suspects her as a suspect, encountering a serial murder case. Director Yoon Jong-bin, who directed the films 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time,' 'The Spy Gone North,' and the drama 'Suriname,' took the helm.
In the released footage, Son Seok-gu and Kim Da-mi showed expressions similar in tone to their previous works. Especially Kim Da-mi seemed to recreate her acting from the film 'The Witch,' which introduced her to the public. This was due to the comic-like setting.
From the left, actors Son Seok-gu and Kim Da-mi who appeared in 'Nine Puzzle' and director Yoon Jong-bin [Photo by Walt Disney Company]
Kim Da-mi said, "It is a comic-like character," adding, "While showing a serious side when solving cases, I tried to show a slightly different side when with Han Saem." She reflected, "There is a fragile side that she tries not to reveal outwardly, and I thought hard about gradually showing this inner wound." Son Seok-gu said, "I tried to characterize the role using unique costumes. While maintaining a clear image, I also tried to show various aspects."
Director Yoon said, "It is a story chasing a serial killer, and the immersion was very high. It was interesting that my guesses kept missing the mark. I directed unique characters that you cannot see in existing thrillers, detective stories, or mysteries." He added, "To maintain tension until the end, we tried to prepare devices that allow the audience to use their imagination."
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