What is it about Korean dramas that we just can’t stop watching? Is it the top-notch acting skills of the actors (or their good looks)? Is it the fascinating plots (and plot twists!) that always seem to serve something fresh? Whatever it is you love about Korean dramas, we have news for you – there’s a new place in town to get your fix! From thrillers that keep your heart racing to sweet romances that make you want to fall in love, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
We shine a spotlight on the most recent Korean dramas showing on Disney+ and why you should watch them.
Uncle Samsik
What it’s about: The series is set amid the turbulent backdrop of the 1960s in South Korea, following Kim San, an ambitious idealist driven to turn his country’s fortunes around, and Pak Doochil (Uncle Samsik), a shady fixer who can adapt to any situation and do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals. They form an uneasy alliance united by their shared goal of improving their country.
Why you should watch it: The solid cast should be reason enough – the show is helmed by Song Kang Ho of Parasitefame, and Byun Yo Han who rose to fame through the popular workplace drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life. But if you need more reasons, Korea has a solid track record for making good political dramas, so if you enjoy the genre, you should check it out!
Chief Detective 1958
What it’s about: Set in the 1950s to 1960s, the show is a prequel to the famed Chief Inspector series from the 1970s and follows Detective Park Yeong-han, who ends up stuck with the depressing task of removing homeless people off the streets of the capital after repeatedly defying the country’s military government and being branded a rebel. But he ends up teaming with three unusual colleagues to catch a dangerous killer…
Why you should watch it: The series is said to be a mix of comedy, drama, with a splash of romance, and stars Lee Je Hoon as Detective Park Yeong-han. If you enjoy crime dramas but don’t want something too heavy, you may want to check this out!
Crash
What it’s about: Crash follows the Traffic Crime Investigation office who has been repeatedly ignored by the rest of the police force and considered a joke. But when a genius new team member joins the team, their fortunes begin to change as his impressive cognitive abilities allow him to simulate the exact cause of an accident, helping the team to solve cases.
Why you should watch it: A crime drama which is a balance of serious and funny, AND stars Lee Min Ki? Say no more.
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If you’d rather watch completed series because you enjoy binge-watching, we also have some recommendations for your marathon session! How about starting with these award-winning Korean Originals that everyone has been raving about the past year?
This may be a belated recommendation because if you haven’t yet watched Moving, what have you been doing the past few months?! This action fantasy sci-fi series won multiple awards including the Grand Prize – Television at the Baeksang Arts Awards, and is the most watched Korean original series on Disney+ globally. Based on a webtoon, the supernatural drama stars Zo Insung and Han Hyojoo, and revolves around three high school students and their parents who discover their super powers.
Next up is The Worst of Evil. Set in the 90s, the series follows undercover police investigators who infiltrate a massive criminal organisation responsible for the illegal drug trade in Northeast Asia. The bromance action story between an international drug kingpin and an undercover cop stars Wi Hajun and Ji Changwook respectively.
Another crime series to check out is Big Bet which is the story of a man who rises to the top as a casino kingpin in the Philippines but ends up experiencing unfortunate events, including being charged for a murder that he did not commit. Now, he needs to make the ultimate bet with his life on the line to get back in the game. The show stars veteran actor Choi Min Sik, as well as Son Sukku and Lee Donghwi.
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But that’s not all! Disney+ continues to expand their repertoire of Korean content which spans a wide variety of genres, and we have a list of some notable upcoming shows you might want to keep a lookout for so mark your calendars!
My Name is Gabriel (21 June)
Enjoy watching different sides of your favourite Korean celebrities as they travel overseas to live a stranger’s life. The cast includes actors Park Bo Gum and Ji Chang Wook.
Red Swan (3 July)
A world-class golfer marries the heir of Hwain group in order to clear her mother’s debt but soon finds out about her husband’s infidelity. She is saved by a bodyguard from her husband’s company when she is caught in the middle of a hail of gunfire and starts developing feelings for him…
These next few shows don’t have a release date yet but we’re already excited to catch them on Disney+ in the near future!
The Zone: Survival Mission (Season 3)
The cast of the show is put into survival-themed simulations every episode to complete missions and endure the scenarios within 4 hours. In this season, Dex and Kim Dong Hyun will be joining original cast members Yoo Jae Suk and Yuri for missions which will be carried out in a space where real-looking fakes and fake-like reals co-exist.
Release date: 7 August 2024 (debuts with 2 episodes!)
The Tyrant
A thriller starring Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, and Kim Kang-woo, about the race to find a bio weapon that gets stolen during a secret handover between Korean and US intelligence agencies.
Release date: 14 August 2024 (all 4 episodes will be released so you can binge watch!)
Seoul Busters
A cop comedy which follows the Songwon Homicide Division where its members have spent years striving to do the bare minimum. That is until a new captain is sent to the team in hopes of turning things around… The series will be starring Kim Dongwook and Park Ji-hwan.
Expected release date: September 2024
Tempest
Set in modern-day Korea, this action series follows Moon-ju (played by Gianna Jun), a highly-accomplished diplomat and former ambassador, as she partners San-ho (played by Gang Dong Won), a former mercenary and special agent, to investigate a mysterious assassination.
Expected release date: 2025
Gangnam B-Side
An action crime series which follows an outcast detective as he is pulled into the deep underworld of the Gangnam district in Seoul to investigate a series of missing women cases, after the disappearance of his daughter’s friend. The series will be starring Ji Chang Wook, Ha Yun Kyung, and Jo Woo Jin.
Light Shop
A mystery drama which is an adaptation of a popular webtoon that tells the story of a group of strangers who, while struggling to come to terms with a traumatic event in their past, end up at a light shop which could hold the key to their past, present, and future. Light Shop is written by Kangfull, who also created the award-winning drama Moving. The series will be starring Ju Ji Hoon and Park Bo Young.
So what are you still waiting for? Get your fix and catch up on all the Korean shows on Disney+ now!
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