HONG KONG — K-drama kings and queens recently descended on the “happiest place on earth” as Disney+ unveiled its most ambitious slate yet for Asia Pacific audiences.
Close to 400 influencers, content creators, and journalists — including The Philippine STAR — were flown to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for the 2025 Disney+ Originals Preview on Nov. 13. Against the backdrop of Disney’s storybook charm and fairytale vibe, the international streaming platform showcased a rich lineup of Korean, Japanese and global titles set to stream later this year, in 2026 and beyond.
The event featured top storytellers and marquee talent from Korea, Japan and the U.S., but the Korean titles drew the loudest reactions — with press contingents from territories like Latin America showing just how far the K-wave has traveled.
“We are proud to collaborate with some of the region’s most talented and exciting storytellers,” said Luke Kang, president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific during the opening remarks. “Our goal is to deliver unforgettable entertainment in a way that only Disney can.”
Hyun Bin leads Disney+’s new Korean slate
One of the most buzzed-about titles was “Made in Korea,” headlined by Korean superstar — and recent Manila visitor — Hyun Bin. Asked to describe the series and why people should watch it, the actor, along with co-stars Jung Woo-sung, Woo Do-hwan and director Woo Min-ho, quipped during the Q&A that it’s because it’s “made in Korea.”
Jung Woo-sung also generated attention for making his first major press appearance since revealing earlier this year that he had become a father.
According to its synopsis, “Made in Korea,” set in the tumultuous 1970s, follows Baek Ki-tae (Hyun Bin), a cunning KCIA agent living a double life as a smuggler. His rapid rise to power clashes with a relentless prosecutor (Jung Woo-sung) determined to bring him down, setting up a gripping cat-and-mouse chase. Season 2 has already started production, ahead of Season 1’s premiere on Dec. 24, with episodes rolling out weekly until Jan. 14.
Speaking about what drew him to the project, Hyun Bin said the fusion of fiction and history created something fresh and compelling. “That was the biggest reason I wanted to be part of this project,” he said through an English interpreter.
Women at the center of new offerings
Female-led series also feature strongly in the upcoming slate, including “Gold Land,” which follows a young airport worker on the run from dangerous men after becoming entangled with smuggled gold.
Lead star Park Bo-young, dubbed the rom-com queen and “Nation’s Little Sister” for works such as “Strong Girl Bong-soon” and “Daily Dose of Sunshine,” teased that audiences will see a different side of her in the new drama. She said she will be “running, getting dirty and struggling” as her character wrestles with the moral dilemmas that come with the gold.
Starring alongside Park are Kim Sung-cheol and Lee Hyun-wook, with direction by Kim Sung-hoon.
Another highly anticipated female-fronted drama is “The Remarried Empress,” a live-action adaptation of the popular fantasy romance webtoon. Shin Mina acknowledged the original material’s massive fanbase and high expectations but said she wanted to participate out of curiosity about how the adaptation would turn out.
During the Q&A, co-star Ju Ji-hoon had a funny moment when he blanked on a question. He explained that he mistakenly heard the Japanese translation on his headset, prompting laughter from the audience.
Hit shows make a comeback
Some press attendees anticipated a trailer reveal or updates for the megahit “Moving” Season 2, but it appeared that would have to wait. What was confirmed was Season 2 of the hit thriller “A Shop for Killers,” with Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun reprising their roles.
Following the first season, Jian (Kim Hye-jun) and her uncle Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook) go on the offensive against the mercenary group Babylon in Season 2, under the direction of Lee Kwon.
Much to the delight of the attendees, Lee Dong-wook made a dramatic entrance on stage at the APAC Showcase, raising his arms and making a twirl — yet keeping a poker face.
“I thought it would go well, but I didn’t think it would go this well. I’m so grateful and happy,” a grateful Dong-wook later said of the series.
Webtoon and unscripted worlds come alive
Aside from “The Remarried Empress,” K-drama fans can look forward to more webtoon-to-screen adaptations.
Unscripted content also earned time in the spotlight, including “Battle of Fates,” a competition show where shamans, tarot readers and fortune tellers face off in “mystical challenges.”
Other showcased Korean titles span a variety of genres. “The Manipulated,” currently streaming, is an action thriller about mild-mannered Tae-joong, who is imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit and fights for his freedom in a high-stakes game of revenge. It stars Ji Chang-wook, with Doh Kyung-soo in his first villain role.
“The Perfect Crown” is a romantic dramedy set in an alternative 21st-century Korea. It’s about a prince with nothing but his title and a conglomerate heiress who begin scheming together before discovering true love. The series stars IU and Byeon Woo-seok, and is directed by Park Joon-hwa.
“Portraits of Delusion,” a supernatural romantic mystery, is based on the Naver Webtoon “Delusion.” The series tells the story of a heartbroken vampire, Madam Song, who commissions a painter with a troubled past. It stars Suzy and Kim Seon-ho and is megged by Han Jae-rim.
Japanese and other global titles were also highlighted during the event, but details about them are reserved for a separate story.
Meanwhile, Carol Choi, executive vice president of Original Content Strategy at Disney APAC, stressed the global rise of Asian storytelling.
“Originality drives us to push the boundaries of storytelling,” she said. “From premium dramas to unscripted comedy to anime, we are proud to bring great stories that will resonate across generations and geographies.”
Since 2021, Disney+ has rolled out over 155 original Asia Pacific titles, and this year’s showcase at Hong Kong Disneyland signals even more thrilling stories and worlds to dive into soon.