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Disney has intensified its investment in Korean original content, driven by positive consumer responses and both critical and commercial success, a senior executive said Thursday.

"With the global success we've seen with Korean originals, we have doubled down on our Korean slate," said Carol Choi, executive vice president of content strategy for Disney's Asia-Pacific region, during the company's Disney Content Showcase in Singapore.

She specifically mentioned the action drama "A Shop for Killers" and the travel reality show "Are you Sure?!" starring BTS' Jimin and Jungkook, as two of the most successful Korean originals this year.

They are strong international performers, she said, which provided the company with significant data points that highlighted their impact. She also said the results underscored the growing prominence of local creators, whose productions are world-class.

"They have become a staple of global entertainment consumption," resonating deeply with passionate audiences worldwide, she said.

Carol Choi, executive vice president of content strategy for Disney's Asia-Pacific region, speaks during the company's Disney Content Showcase in Singapore on Nov. 21, 2024.

On the second and last day of the conference, Disney unveiled a diverse slate of upcoming Korean titles, including the surprise announcement of a second season for its breakout hit Korean original "Moving."

Highlights from the slate include "The Murky Stream," the platform's first Korean historical series starring Ro-woon and Shin Ye-eun, and the star-studded "Tempest," featuring Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won.

The latter series follows Moon-ju, played by Jun, a trusted Korean ambassador to the United States, as she investigates a mysterious assassination, alongside former ace mercenary San-ho (Gang), a figure cloaked in secrecy.

It is penned by renowned screenwriter Jeong Seo-kyeong, known for her close collaborations with director Park Chan-wook on projects like "Decision to Leave" (2022), "The Handmaiden" (2016) and "Thirst" (2009). It will be co-directed by Kim Hee-won of the hit drama series "Queen of Tears," "Little Women" and "Vincenzo," and Heo Myeong-haeng, who directed "The Roundup: Punishment," the fourth installment of the popular film franchise starring Ma Dong-seok.

Also in development are two highly anticipated thrillers. "The Manipulated," starring Ji Chang-wook and Doh Kyung-soo, marks Ji's third collaboration with Disney following "The Worst of Evil" and "Gangnam B-Side." Another standout project is "Made In Korea," featuring A-list actors, Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung.

Later in the day, the company revealed more details about five additional Korean originals: "Unmasked," "Hyper Knife," "Knock-Off," "Nine Puzzles" and "Low Life."

Directed by You Sun-dong, "Unmasked" follows a team of investigative reporters tackling a 20-year-old cold case involving a famous actor.

Veteran actress Kim Hye-soo stars as the team's determined leader, Oh So-ryong, who relentlessly pursues villains that even the police can't catch. "The Glory" actor Jung Sung-il joins as Han-do, a self-centered rookie reporter.

The series addresses serious social issues while maintaining a "lighthearted tone and manner," Kim said during the event. "It incorporates clever humor and wit, delivering both sincerity and catharsis at the same time."

(From L to R) Son Suk-ku, Kim Da-mi and Yoon Jong-bin pose for photos in this photo provided by The Walt Disney Co. on Nov. 21, 2024.

In another upcoming series, "Low Life," director and scriptwriter Kang Yun-sung and actor Ryu Seung-ryong reunite with Disney, following their collaborations on the popular series "Casino" and the breakout hit "Moving," respectively.

Set in the 1970s, the story revolves around an uncle (Ryu) and his nephew (Yang Se-jong), who are eager to take on any job to earn money. They are tasked with recovering an ancient treasure discovered off the coast. Their mission, however, turns into a fierce competition as they face off against treasure hunters from across the country, all vying for a share of the fortune.

The series is adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Yoon Tae-ho, the creator of the acclaimed "Misaeng."

Kang thanked Disney for the "creative freedom" he experienced during the production of "Casino" and his current project.

He said he focused on "creating a story that sparks curiosity in viewers," stressing that "storytelling is the key, and it needs to feel fresh and engaging."

(From L to R) Kim Soo-hyun, Cho Bo-ah and Park Hyun-sok pose for photos in this photo provided by The Walt Disney Co. on Nov. 21, 2024.

Yoon Jong-bin, director of the criminal mystery "Nine Puzzles" and previously known for Netflix's "Narco-Saints," said he could not resist the opportunity to direct the series due to the story's irresistible appeal.

The series, featuring Son Suk-ku of "A Killer Paradox" and Kim Da-mi of "Itaewon Class," follows detective Kim Han-seam (Son) and criminal profiler Yoon Ena (Kim) as they form an unlikely partnership to solve a serial murder case despite their uneasy history with one another.

Yoon described the series as "unpredictable," with twists in every episode that will keep viewers guessing until the very end. The director also emphasized his effort to break away from traditional thriller detective tropes, offering a fresh take on the genre while infusing the series with a touch of cartoon-like vibrancy.

Meanwhile, "Queen of Tears" star Kim Soo-hyun is set to make his Disney+ debut with "Knock-Off," a drama set during the economically tumultuous times in the wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Kim portrays a man whose ordinary life is upended by the crisis, propelling him to the top of the global counterfeit market. Cho Bo-ah co-stars as his former sweetheart, now a civil servant tasked with cracking down on knock-off sellers.

Last but not least is the medical thriller "Hyper Knife," starring Sul Kyung-gu and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" star Park Eun-bin.

The series follows the intense confrontation and growth between two genius doctors: the once-promising young doctor Se-ok (Park) and her mentor Deok-hee (Sul), as they are reunited.

Se-ok, once hailed as a genius, now leads a clandestine life as a shadow doctor in illegal operating rooms. Deok-hee, one of the world's greatest neurosurgeons, had permanently expelled Se-ok from the operating room years ago.

Park described the drama as "a multifaceted genre" offering a fresh sense of originality unlike anything seen before. She noted that the relationship between the two characters is "intriguing and complex," marked by an "unusual synergy."

All five series are scheduled to premiere next year.

Written by Woo Jae-yeon