This year’s Disney+ K-Drama offerings truly elevate the platform’s content. Disney+ is making bold strides to capture global audiences by expanding its collection of Korean dramas and films. During the 2024 Disney Content Showcase APAC held in Singapore, the platform unveiled an impressive lineup of content slated for release through 2025.
Disney+ has been committed to investing in Korean content since 2021, and the results speak for themselves. Hits like Moving, The Worst Evil, and The Killer’s Shopping Mall won numerous awards. They also received positive commercial and critical reception. Building on this success, Disney+ announced new shows in various genres. These include thrillers, historical dramas, mysteries, and more.
The first release is Light Shop, which premiered on December 4, 2024. This intriguing story revolves around mysterious customers visiting a unique lighting store in a dark alley. Lead actor Joo Ji-hoon described it as a tale where each character hides secrets, adding an air of suspense and curiosity.
Exciting Lineup for 2025
Several Korean dramas are scheduled to debut in 2025. Syponisi include:
Trigger
Starring Kim Kang Gil and Kim Young-Kwang, this show follows an investigative team uncovering unsolved cases. The tone is both light and gripping, offering an entertaining mix of wit and depth. Trigger is an upcoming Korean thriller set to stream on Netflix. It’s scheduled to air sometime in the third quarter of 2025. Filming ended in July 2024. This series has 10 episodes and follows a fictional crisis: guns suddenly appear in South Korea.
South Korea is known for being mostly gun-free. That’s what makes this story hit hard. Out of nowhere, guns are everywhere. Nobody knows where they came from. But they’re spreading fast. And with them comes fear, chaos, and crime. Two main characters, played by Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang, try to fix the situation. One is a detective. The other has a darker, more complex role. The drama is about their journey, their decisions, and how far they’re willing to go to stop the violence.
This isn’t just an action drama. It also questions how society responds to sudden danger. Who do you trust when things fall apart? What rules matter when lives are at risk? Trigger explores all of that without getting too deep into politics. There are fast scenes with fights, shootings, and tension. But there are also quiet moments that make you think. How would anyone react if everything changed overnight? The storytelling focuses on that fear. The drama is expected to show realistic emotions. Not just heroes and villains. It looks at ordinary people, too. People who panic. People who freeze. And people who do things they never thought they could.
Hyperknife
Hyperknife aired on Disney+ from March 19 to April 9, 2025. It had 8 episodes and dropped every Wednesday. The story mixes crime, medical drama, and psychology. The main focus is on two characters—Se-ok and Deok-hee.
Se-ok was once a rising genius in the medical field. But her mentor, Deok-hee, ruined her career. Years later, she faces him again. The story follows their bitter reunion. They fight, not with fists, but with skill, pride, and secrets. These aren’t just doctors. They’re highly intelligent and emotionally damaged people. And their conflict is deeply personal.
The story moves fast. There’s no side romance or comedy to slow it down. Every episode adds more pressure. It’s dark, but not overly violent. It keeps things grounded in real-life issues, like power struggles in hospitals, and how trust between people can break easily.
The acting in Hyperknife is sharp. The tension between the leads feels real. Every line they say feels like it’s hiding something. And the background music helps build unease without being too loud or dramatic. This drama is not for everyone. Some might find it too heavy or too slow at parts. But for those who like mind games, sharp dialogue, and character-driven conflict, it delivers. If you’re into medical thrillers with a darker edge, this one’s worth checking out.
Knock-Off
Kim Soo-Hyun and Jo Bo-ah headline this drama about an ordinary man who rises to power in the counterfeit goods market after a financial crisis disrupts his life. The show was supposed to release in early 2025. It’s about a man who starts as a normal office worker during the 1997 IMF crisis. Later, he becomes a global counterfeit king. It’s a mix of office drama, history, and dark comedy.
Filming lasted from July 2024 to April 2025. It has two seasons with 9 episodes each. Park Hyeon-seok directed it. Han Jeong-hoon wrote the script. The cast includes big names, especially Kim Soo-hyun. But there’s a problem. Kim Soo-hyun is facing a serious controversy. A YouTube channel claimed he dated actress Kim Sae-ron when she was still underage. His agency said that wasn’t true. They said the two only began dating in 2019, after she was an adult. But the online hate hasn’t stopped.
Many people started attacking him online. Some brands ended their deals with him. And now, “Knockoff” is on pause. Disney+ has not given a new release date. They quietly postponed the show. It’s unclear if or when it will come out. The drama cost a lot of money—about 60 billion won. But with the current controversy, Disney+ may be waiting to see what happens.
While the show has an interesting story, the attention is now on the actor’s personal life, not the drama itself. Fans are split. Some want the show released as planned. Others say the controversy makes them uncomfortable. For now, the future of “Knock-off” is uncertain. But people are still searching for it online.
Nine Puzzles
This mystery thriller pairs Kim Da-mi and Son Seok-gu as a profiler and detective investigating a string of murders linked to a cryptic puzzle. The drama has been released with 11 episodes. You can read every episode’s recaps & review here – Link
Low Life
Starring Ryu Seung-ryong and Im Soo-Jung, this drama dives into the lives of treasure hunters navigating greed and danger as they search for underwater relics. This drama is about a group of greedy people. They search for old artifacts under the sea near Sinan. It’s based on a webtoon. The tone is dark, gritty, and tense. The characters are not perfect. They’re messy, selfish, and driven by money.
The filming ran from March to October in 2024. The show has 10 episodes. Kang Yoon-sung directed it, and he also co-wrote it with Ahn Seung-hwan. Disney+ will stream it in July 2025. The drama seems to mix crime and survival. These people are not looking for justice. They want treasure. And they’ll do anything to get it. The setting is quiet and rural, which makes the crimes feel more intense. Disney+ has shared a few stills, and fans are curious.
The Murky Stream
It’s a fictional story set in the Joseon era. It’s not based on real events, but it’s designed to feel like part of history. The drama will follow a man who starts with nothing. He works as a warhead — someone who moves goods — in Mapo-naru, a key area for trading during Joseon. With only his strength and determination, he rises and becomes a living legend.
Rowoon plays the main lead, Jang Si-yool. This role might be one of his most intense yet. It’s about growth, power, and survival. The drama is written by Cheon Seong-il and directed by Choo Chang-min. Both are well-known in the industry. Shin Ye-eun is also in the cast, along with Park Seo-ham. They play important roles that affect the lead’s journey. The drama will have 9 episodes. Filming began in May 2024 and ended in early January 2025. Right now, it’s in post-production. Viewers can expect a serious tone with emotional layers. It’s more about character building than flashy moments. But it won’t be boring. This drama could attract viewers who enjoy period pieces with grounded storytelling.
The Manipulated
“The Manipulated” is a modern revenge drama. It’s about a man who seems to live a normal life. But one day, everything crashes. His life is destroyed, and he’s pushed into a dark place. What follows is a slow, painful return — but not as the same person. He comes back with revenge in mind.
Ji Chang-wook plays Park Tae-jeong, the main character. He’s known for action and emotional scenes, so this role fits him well. Do Kyung-soo (also known as D.O.) joins as Ahn Yo-han. The two are expected to have strong chemistry. Lee Kwang-soo also joins the cast as Baek Do-kyeong. His role is still under wraps, but it’s said to be key to the story.
The drama is written by Oh Sang-ho. It has two directors — Kim Chang-joo and Park Shin-woo. They’re working together to bring out the emotional and thriller sides of the show. “The Manipulated” has 10 episodes and finished filming in May 2025. Like “The Murky Stream,” it’s now being edited and prepared for release on Disney+. This drama may focus more on mental pain and slow revenge than fast action. It’s not a light show. But the cast and story might attract a wide range of viewers. Fans of darker, emotional stories will likely enjoy this one.
Expanding Horizons
Disney+ emphasized its commitment to supporting innovative storytelling. Officials highlighted their dedication to creating diverse, high-quality content that resonates globally. Director Carol Choi expressed pride in the platform’s achievements, calling the past three years a period of significant growth.
Disney+ K-Drama Korean Stories for the World
The lineup also includes:
Made in Korea
“Made in Korea” is a drama set in the 1970s, featuring crime, politics, and power plays. The story revolves around two men, Baek Gi-tae and Jang Geon-yeong, who seek money and power. The drama, directed by Woo Min-ho and written by Park Eun-kyo and Park Joon-seok, has 12 episodes and will be released in 2025.
The cast includes big names like Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, and Seo Eun-soo. The drama explores the depth of corruption and the price of chasing power. The 1970s setting adds a raw feel to the story.
Tempest
“Tempest” is an upcoming Korean drama set in the second half of 2025, directed by Heo Myeong-haeng and Kim Hee-won-II. The drama revolves around people who have lived as someone else for too long, trying to find their real selves. The story, originally called “Polaris” and then “The North Star,” is a spy romance that explores the hidden past, cold missions, and small pieces of lost love. The filming began on March 28, 2024, and finished by November 29, 2024.
The cast includes Jun Ji-hyun as Seo Moon-joo, Gang Dong-won as Baek San-ho, Kim Hae-sook as Chae Kyeong-sin, and Lee Mi-sook as Im Ok-seon. The drama is written by Jeong Seo-kyeong, known for her deep characters and strong emotions. The drama is set in a world where spies lie to themselves, and the pain is not loud but silent. There is no hero, just people stuck between missions and memories. The film is expected to be released on Disney+ in the second half of 2025.
As Disney+ K-Drama continues to invest in Korean storytelling, viewers worldwide can look forward to an extraordinary mix of genres, characters, and compelling narratives.
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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