Disney Reaffirms Commitment to K-Content with Star-Studded Showcase

At the 'Disney Content Showcase - APAC 2024' held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, renowned South Korean actors Kim Hye-soo and Kim Soo-hyun stood alongside Disney's iconic Mickey Mouse, reaffirming Disney's confidence in Korean content.

On the morning of the 21st (local time), The Walt Disney Company presented its content lineup for the Asia-Pacific region, including announcements for Disney+ Korea and Disney+ Japan. The showcase, which took place over two days starting from the 20th, allowed attendees to preview upcoming projects from Disney's creative studios. Approximately 500 media representatives, influencers, and Disney partners from 12 Asia-Pacific countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia, were present.

Among them, over 110 media personnel from South Korea and around 60 from Japan attended, highlighting the significant interest in the event. The showcase featured trailers and exclusive footage from Disney's global creative studios, as well as introductions to new Korean and Japanese content, with top global stars from the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific region in attendance.

On the first day, key figures from Disney, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Marvel introduced theatrical and streaming projects slated for release in 2025 and beyond. The second day focused on original content for Disney+, particularly from South Korea and Japan.

While the event was labeled as an Asia-Pacific showcase, the content lineup primarily centered on South Korea and Japan. Media representatives, influencers, and content partners from various Asia-Pacific countries showed great interest in the Korean and Japanese productions. Notably, attendees lined up early to catch a glimpse of top Korean actors as the main hall opened.

Carol Choi, Disney's head of content for the Asia-Pacific region, expressed her excitement about leading the APAC content segment. "Three years ago, we announced our ambition to challenge ourselves with original content in the Asia-Pacific region. Our first showcase in 2021 revealed over 20 new titles, and the industry's response was overwhelmingly positive," she reflected.

Choi noted that by 2025, audiences would witness a robust and inspiring content lineup, showcasing the region's creative capabilities. "In just three years, we have launched over 130 original content pieces in the Asia-Pacific region, receiving positive public feedback and commercial success," she added.

She highlighted that last year, nine out of the 15 original titles launched on Disney+ were Korean, with 'Killer's Shopping Mall' becoming the most-watched content in the Asia-Pacific region. Animated series like 'Tokyo Revengers' and 'Sand Land,' created by Akira Toriyama, also gained immense popularity. Additionally, the travel variety show featuring BTS members Jungkook (정국) and Jimin (지민) was highly viewed both regionally and globally.

Choi emphasized the growing global resonance of Asia-Pacific content, showcasing the region's enthusiastic fandom and critical acclaim. Titles like 'Carnival,' 'The Worst Evil,' 'Casino,' and 'Killer's Shopping Mall' have swept major awards. She reiterated Disney's commitment to focusing on premium, talent-driven originals, collaborating with top-tier actors.

She also mentioned the intriguing aspect of 'Shogun,' which emerges from unexplored territories, emphasizing authentic storytelling and high production quality. The Asia-Pacific region has become a source of creative inspiration for the world's best storytellers, thanks to its rich cultural heritage and beloved IPs.

Choi announced the expansion of the Korean original lineup, introducing new tentpole projects like 'Lighting Store,' 'Knock Off,' and 'Hyper Knife.' Plans are also in place to strengthen the Japanese animation lineup with works from long-time partner Kodansha, including the second season of 'Carnival,' which will be the first live-action season of an original from the Asia-Pacific region.

Furthermore, Disney plans to venture into variety content in Japan in collaboration with Nippon TV, aiming to spotlight top Japanese artists on the global stage. In Australia, 'Artful Dodger Season 2' is set to premiere, featuring returning top stars alongside actors from Australia and New Zealand. Choi expressed confidence in supporting the local creative economy and active local creators, stating, "Disney will guide you to a new world."

Among the highlights, Disney+ has prioritized Korean content. Through collaboration with Disney+ Korea, Korean dramas like 'Moving,' 'The Worst Evil,' and 'Casino' have become some of the most-watched local dramas on the platform. More original dramas featuring top Korean stars such as Kim Hye-soo, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Eun-bin, Ryu Seung-ryong, Ju Ji-hoon, and Kim Da-mi are set to be unveiled.

New titles include 'Lighting Store,' 'Hyper Knife,' 'Trigger,' 'Knock Off,' 'Nine Puzzle,' 'Fine Townsfolk,' 'Low Life,' 'Tangled,' 'Polaris,' 'Sculpture City,' and 'Made in Korea.' Two of these projects were premiered for the first time. The first, 'Tangled,' is a fast-paced, bold, and adventurous story set in the Joseon era, depicting how a once-clear river becomes murky in a lawless land. The cast includes Jung Si-yul, Shin Ye-eun, and Park Seo-ham, with director Choo Chang-min at the helm and the script penned by Cheon Sung-il, known for 'All of Us Are Dead.'

The second project, 'Sculpture City,' is an action drama about Tae-jung, who is wrongfully imprisoned for a horrific crime, discovering that Johan, who ruined his life, is behind it, leading him to vow revenge. The script is written by Oh Sang-ho, with Ji Chang-wook starring as Tae-jung, EXO's D.O. (도경수) as Johan, and Lee Kwang-soo as Baek Do-kyung.

Ji Chang-wook expressed his excitement about starring in the new Disney+ original series 'Sculpture City,' marking his third collaboration with Disney+. D.O. also shared his enthusiasm for being part of his first Disney+ original series, promising an immersive and entertaining experience.

'Lighting Store' is the latest work from acclaimed writer Kang Full, known for 'Moving.' The cast, including Kang Full, Ju Ji-hoon, Park Bo-young, and director Kim Hee-won, took the stage again after a sneak peek on the first day.

Ju Ji-hoon, who plays the store owner, described the project as one where every character has a mystery. He encouraged the audience to follow along to experience the same excitement he felt. Park Bo-young, portraying a nurse in the intensive care unit, shared her preparation process, drawing from conversations with a close friend who works in the same field.

Director Kim Hee-won, who debuted as an actor in 'Moving' and is now directing 'Lighting Store,' expressed his happiness about the collaboration, emphasizing the unique atmosphere of the project. Kang Full mentioned his desire to highlight the less visible aspects of human stories in the narrative.

The connection between 'Moving' and 'Lighting Store' was teased, with Kim Hee-won humorously claiming, "I am the connection." Kang Full added that both stories are set in 2018, raising anticipation.

'Trigger' follows a team of investigative journalists who must solve the disappearance of a famous actor who vanished without a trace ten years ago. This marks Kim Hye-soo's first Disney+ project, featuring Jung Sung-il, who rose to fame in 'The Glory,' and actor Kang Ki-young from 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.' The script is penned by Kim Gi-ryang, with director Yoo Seon-dong, known for the 'Kyeongsoomoon' series, at the helm.

Kim Hye-soo, Jung Sung-il, and director Yoo Seon-dong also attended the showcase. Director Yoo described 'Trigger' as a story about investigative journalists who pursue villains that even the police and prosecutors cannot catch, delivering a cathartic experience through teamwork.

Kim Hye-soo plays a team leader who will do anything for the investigation, emphasizing the balance of humor and serious themes in the drama. Jung Sung-il shared his preparation process and expressed admiration for Kim Hye-soo, highlighting her as a respected figure in the industry.

'Hyper Knife' tells the story of a doctor who resorts to illegal surgeries to make ends meet, facing conflicts with a mentor that lead to the loss of his medical license. The series stars Park Eun-bin as the neurosurgeon Jeong Se-ok and Seol Kyung-gu as the mentor Choi Deok-hee, with director Kim Jung-hyun at the helm, set to premiere in March.

Park Eun-bin described the series as a unique medical thriller, while Seol Kyung-gu highlighted the complex relationship between their characters.

'Knock Off' follows a man who falls into the illegal underbelly of Korea after the IMF crisis. Kim Soo-hyun plays Kim Seong-jun, who unintentionally gets involved in the counterfeit industry through his father's business contract. He initially has doubts but eventually becomes the king of counterfeits. Jo Bo-ah plays Song Ye-jung, a public official who monitors Kim Soo-hyun's character. Director Park Hyun-seok aims to recreate the era of the 1997 financial crisis.

Kim Soo-hyun expressed his desire to showcase his character's growth and survival through various challenges. Jo Bo-ah described her character as Kim Soo-hyun's first love, who becomes adversarial due to her role in monitoring counterfeits.

The three shared their excitement about working with Disney+, with Kim Soo-hyun expressing happiness about attending the showcase in Singapore. Jo Bo-ah noted the significance of their story set against the backdrop of modern Korean history. Director Park Hyun-seok emphasized the effort put into recreating the era's aesthetics.

'Nine Puzzle' is a mystery thriller drama featuring Lee Na (Kim Da-mi), the only witness to an unsolved case from ten years ago, and Han Saem (Son Seok-koo), a detective who suspects her. The series is directed by Yoon Jong-bin, known for 'The Outlaws' and 'The Drug King.'

Kim Da-mi shared her efforts to create a unique profiling style for her character, while Son Seok-koo highlighted the distinct visual and emotional aspects of their roles.

The drama 'Fine Townsfolk,' based on the webtoon 'Fine' by Yoon Tae-ho, is also highly anticipated. Ryu Seung-ryong expressed his excitement about collaborating with Disney+ on a compelling story.

Yang Se-jong discussed his preparation for the 1970s setting, while Lim Soo-jung praised the adaptation of the script. Director Kang Yoon-sung emphasized the effort put into recreating the 1970s aesthetic.

Additionally, the highly anticipated 'Polaris,' starring Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Dong-won, is a collaboration between Korea and Disney+, focusing on uncovering threats to the Korean Peninsula. Director Kim Hee-won is currently working on the project, aiming for a 2025 release on Disney+.

Finally, 'Made in Korea,' featuring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, is an exciting crime drama about a man blinded by money and power and a principled prosecutor who stands against him. The two actors are currently filming, and both expressed their enthusiasm for the project.

Carol Choi concluded the showcase by expressing pride in the upcoming lineup and the success of past projects, including the highly anticipated 'Moving,' which has received numerous awards and accolades. She announced that a second season of 'Moving' is in the works, generating excitement among attendees.

'Moving' is an action fantasy series that explores themes of friendship, family, and human relationships, and it has become a top-viewed original on Disney+ worldwide. Choi expressed gratitude to Kang Full for his collaboration and promised more details in the future.