Latest news with #Disney+Korea
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kim Da Mi, Son Suk Ku's Nine Puzzles becomes 2nd most-watched K-drama debut for Disney+ after Moving, check finale date
Following the unprecedented global success of Moving, another Korean original is taking center stage on Disney+. The gripping psychological drama Nine Puzzles has become the platform's second most-watched Korean series in its debut week based on cumulative viewing hours. The series, starring Kim Da Mi and Son Suk Ku, is trailing just behind Moving. Disney+ officially confirmed the news on June 2, sparking renewed excitement among drama enthusiasts worldwide. What's the plot of Nine Puzzles? Nine Puzzles isn't your average whodunit. The series follows the life of Ena, played by Kim Da Mi. As a teenager, she was the lone witness in a brutal murder case that remained unsolved for over a decade. She is a now-renowned criminal profiler whose career is rooted in deep personal trauma. Despite being cleared, suspicions lingered, especially from Detective Han Saem, portrayed by Son Suk Ku. He has long believed Ena knows more than she's letting on. Years later, a new chain of murders begins to mirror the original case. It drags both Ena and Han Saem back into a labyrinth of secrets, deception, and unresolved guilt. As the investigation progresses, the fragile line between hunter and hunted begins to blur. Is Ena truly the key to solving the mystery or is she still hiding something? A drama that makes you think What makes Nine Puzzles stand out isn't just its premise, but its execution. The series weaves together memory, psychological trauma, and emotional manipulation. It creates a constantly shifting web of trust and doubt. Rather than relying solely on suspense or action, the show excels in building tension through subtle foreshadowing and sharp character development. Kim Da Mi delivers a layered performance as Ena, whose cool composure hides a turbulent inner world. Son Suk Ku's portrayal of Han Saem brings intensity and vulnerability in equal measure. Anticipation skyrockets ahead of finale Nine Puzzles has maintained a slow burn over the weeks. However, with the final two episodes (10 and 11) set to drop simultaneously on June 4, the stakes are higher than ever. The plot has been inching toward a revelation that could completely upend everything viewers thought they knew. Fan theories are exploding online. With its bold narrative style and rich character studies, Nine Puzzles has proven that Korean thrillers continue to raise the bar in storytelling. Its climb to the second-highest debut in Disney+ Korea originals is a proof of its magnetic pull and widespread intrigue. Whether you're a fan of crime thrillers, psychological dramas, or just love smart writing, Nine Puzzles promises a finale that will leave audiences speechless. It may even have viewers rewatching the entire series to catch the subtle clues they missed the first time.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
MBC's decision to broadcast Disney+'s 'Big Bet' met with internal dissent
After airing 'Moving' in January, TV network increasingly looks to fill slots with content from streaming services MBC, one of South Korea's leading television networks, is facing mounting backlash from its own producers following the decision to broadcast Disney+ Korea's hit original series "Big Bet," beginning in July. The series, which stars veteran actors Choi Min-sik and Son Suk-ku, originally ran on Disney+ for two seasons between 2022 and 2023. MBC has confirmed that "Big Bet" season 1 will air Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m. throughout July, while season 2 will move to a regular Sunday night slot starting in August. The series will retain its original 19+ rating, though MBC said some edits would be needed to meet broadcast review standards. MBC said the broadcast of "Big Bet" reflects its ongoing effort to offer strategic curation of carefully selected, proven programs, adding that it aimed to broaden viewers' content choices. However, the move has triggered significant internal dissent. A total of 53 producers and production staff from MBC's drama division recently issued a joint statement condemning the decision. Via the statement, the producers criticized the management's push to delay its upcoming series — "Judge Lee Han-young" — originally slated for the same time slot as "Big Bet." 'The seriousness of the matter is heightened by the fact that the originally planned drama production was postponed to next year, in order to artificially create a budget surplus for this year,' the statement said. As a result of MBC's decision to air "Big Bet," "Judge Lee Han-young," an adaptation of a popular Naver webtoon, has been pushed back to early 2026. The drama, which features a cast including Ji Sung, Won Jin-ah and Park Hee-soon, follows a judge who, after his unjust demise, returns to the past to deliver righteous judgments. The statement accused MBC of bypassing producers in making the programming decision, and warned of a potential fallout with the series' cast. "Due to the management's decision to schedule 'Big Bet,' 'Judge Lee Han-young' now requires renegotiation with its lead actors,' it read. The producers are demanding a full reconsideration of the "Big Bet" rollout, the restoration of decision-making authority to drama teams, and reforms to what they call profit-centered management practices. Meanwhile, this is not the first time MBC has broadcast content from streaming services to fill its drama slots. In January, the network aired the Disney+ blockbuster "Moving," broadcasting two episodes every Sunday. The strategy reflects an emerging trend in Korean broadcasting, where legacy networks are increasingly looking to partner with streaming platforms to mitigate soaring content production costs and appeal to broader demographics. The shift comes amid growing financial strain across Korea's terrestrial broadcasters. KBS has reported a cumulative net loss of 14.1 billion won ($10,228,768) over the past three years, while SBS posted an operating loss of 19.2 billion won in 2024 -- its first deficit since 2016 -- and MBC's operating profit plunged from 56.6 billion won in 2022 to 6.6 billion won last year.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From 'Start-Up' to 'Delusion': Suzy and Kim Seon Ho reunite for 2026 K-drama mystery thriller
Reuniting for the first time since their hit 2020 drama Start-Up, Suzy and Kim Seon Ho's highly anticipated K-drama Delusion has officially confirmed its release timeline. On May 23, Disney+ Korea made the announcement at an open house event at the Walt Disney Company Korea headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul. Delusion is slated to premiere in 2026 and filming for the same began in early 2025, with full-scale production scheduled between March and May. The 10-episode series will stream exclusively on Disney+ upon release. Casting changes The lead roles were initially offered to Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee, but both actors withdrew from the project following their breakup in March 2024. Soon after, Suzy and Kim Seon Ho were cast for this role. About 'Delusion' The story is a mystery thriller with fantasy and romance elements and is based on the popular webtoon by Hongjacga. Set in 1935 Gyeongseong (modern-day Seoul), the story follows Yun Yi-ho (played by Kim Seon Ho), a struggling artist commissioned to paint Song Jeong-hwa (played by Suzy), the mysterious owner of the Nammoon Hotel — who is secretly a vampire. As the portrait progresses, Yun discovers a chilling pattern: previous artists have all vanished under mysterious circumstances, unraveling a dark and dangerous secret. The cast & characters Bae Suzy stars as Song Jeong-hwa, the alluring and eerie hotel owner who hasn't been seen in public for over 50 years. She hides a centuries-old secret beneath her eternal beauty. Kim Seon Ho plays Yun Yi-ho, an artist searching for meaning and artistic inspiration. As he becomes entranced by Jeong-hwa, he's drawn deeper into a web of mystery, fear, and forbidden romance. Other cast members include Huh Joon-ho, Choi Hyun-wook, and Kim Young-kwang. Production team details Director: Han Jae-rim (The King, Emergency Declaration, The 8 Show) Production companies: Showbox, Magnum Nine Platform: Disney+ Episodes: 10 Release year: 2026 For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Disney+ Korea unveils strategy for latter half of 2025
Release schedule for Disney+ tentpole project 'Knock Off' starring Kim Soo-hyun still undecided Disney+ Korea on Friday outlined its strategic vision and announced a highly anticipated slate of original series for the second half of the year, spotlighting the return of major Korean stars including Kang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun. According to Choi Yeon-u, director of local content at Walt Disney Company Korea, the forward-looking strategy of Disney+ centers on four key pillars: 'tentpole,' 'curated selection,' 'franchise series,' and 'new opportunities.' 'Tentpole' refers to the streamer's commitment to developing large-scale content backed by compelling narratives and participation from top-tier actors and production staff. 'Curated selection' encompasses a diverse portfolio of content that can complement tentpole content, while "franchise series' signals an effort to develop Korean content with global franchise potential and expand the universe within the fictional world. Finally, 'new opportunities' highlights the platform's push to expand experimental content in new formats that reflect changing viewer consumption patterns. In addition to outlining its strategic direction, Disney+ announced its 2025 content lineup for the latter half of the year, including 'Tempest,' starring Kang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun; 'Made In Korea,' starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung; 'Low Life,' starring Ryu Seung-ryong; 'The Murky Stream,' starring Ro-woon and Shin Ye-eun and 'The Manipulated,' starring Ji Chang-wuk. The platform also confirmed the upcoming broadcast of two projects in 2026: 'Dazzlement' (translated), a highly anticipated drama adaptation of a popular webtoon of the same name starring Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, as well as a new variety show, 'Destiny Wars 49' (translated), in which 49 contestants compete for survival. Casting and directorial details for 'Destiny Wars 49' have not yet been disclosed. Following Choi's remarks, two key producers behind Disney+ Korean originals were introduced. Kim Won-kuk, the head of Hive Media Corp, the production company behind 'Made In Korea,' and You Jung-hoon, the head of Merry Christmas, which is producing the second season of 'A Shop for Killers,' shared their perspectives on the evolving content landscape. Yoo emphasized creating content with the potential to be expanded upon. "When designing content, I believe we need to start by thinking about the universe it exists in. … Korean creators need to focus on this aspect and craft stories that are scalable. That's the way to truly communicate with the world," said Yoo, during a press event held at The Walt Disney Company Korea's headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Friday. "I believe we should prioritize content with the potential to evolve into series and spin-offs. It's important to focus on the world-building elements and explore how these universes can be expanded. We also need to closely track viewer consumption habits and adapt to their changing lifestyles," he added. Yoo also characterized shifts in content consumption as driven by fast consumers and on-demand viewing, explaining, 'Streaming platforms effectively fulfill the demand for on-demand access. Even during the planning phase, creators need to move beyond traditional storytelling methods and focus on preserving tension and pacing that resonates with streaming platform audiences.' Choi was also asked about Disney+'s release schedule for 'Knock Off.' The tentpole project was initially slated for release earlier this year but postponed following controversy surrounding its main lead, Kim Soo-hyun. Regarding the exclusion of 'Knock Off' from the second-half lineup, Choi said 'Disney+ has officially decided to postpone its (release) plans after careful consideration. It is difficult to provide any further comment at this time.'
Hype Malaysia
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Kim Soohyun Facing RM553 Mil Penalty Fee For Delaying Drama Release With Recent Scandal
Things are only getting worse for Kim Soohyun (김수현). Recent reports suggest that the controversial actor may face a hefty fine from Disney+ Korea for putting one of its most expensive projects on hold. To recap, Kim Soohyun is facing heavy backlash from the public because of his alleged relationship with late actress Kim Saeron (김새론). The actress' aunt also suggested that the actor had caused Kim Saeron emotional distress, driving her to take her own life. Since the allegations broke out, the actor has been in the news for his attempts to defend himself and his image. Recently, new outlets reported about Disney+ Korea's 'Knock-Off (넉오프)', which is now on hold because of Kim Soohyun's scandal. The project stars the actor and Jo Boah (조보아) and was already in production. It's one of the streaming service's most expensive projects, with a production budget of KRW 60 billion (approximately RM184 million). The actor's salary for the project also reportedly reached a whopping KRW 9 billion (approximately RM27 million). As such, the delayed production means Kim Soohyun is now facing a hefty fine for breach of contract. The exact penalty is still in discussion, but industry experts speculate that the fine could be as high as KRW 180 billion (approximately RM553 million), roughly three times the show's budget. The speculated fee is based on the cost of production and the potential loss the drama faces if the project needs a recast, or worse, gets shelved. Unfortunately, the actor also faces more breach of contract penalties because of his scandal. There were previously reports that Kim Soohyun was also facing a KRW 20 billion (approximately RM60 million) penalty fee for breaching the contract of his brand endorsements. After his scandal broke out, the actor was dropped from all his endorsements, including with brands like Cuckoo, Jo Malone and Prada. Since Kim Soohyun's scandal remains unresolved, there's no telling what will happen to 'Knock-Off'. For now, the production team can only wait to see how the actor's legal matters unfold – but what are your thoughts on this? Source: Koreaboo
