Apple to Compete with Local Streamers, Netflix and Disney+ 

Apple TV+ is set to become the latest streamer to enter the busy Korean streaming market as it will launch in the country on November 4. In addition to pre-existing Apple TV+ originals, the platform will debut its first Korean original series on the same day, Kim Jeewoon’s webtoon adaptation Dr. Brain with Lee Sunkyun. 

The streaming service announced its launch just 10 days ahead of time and will thus enter the Korean market before the well-publicized launch of Disney+, which opens its local service on November 12. Apple TV+ joins a market currently led by Netflix, riding high on the global success of Squid Game, but which also includes several popular local services, including Watcha, Wavve, TVING, Seezn and Coupang Play.

Dr. Brain, the drama series debut of renowned filmmaker Kim Jeewoon, known for A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008), The Age of Shadows (2016) and more, is based on the webtoon of the same name penned by Hongjacga (literally ‘Writer Hong’). 

Parasite (2019) star Lee Sunkyun leads the cast as a neuroscientist that becomes engrossed in new technology that can access the consciousness and memory stream of the brain. When an accident befalls his family, he dives even further into the cutting edge technology to uncover what happened. The series also features Lee Yooyoung, Park Heesoon and Yoo Teo.

Following Dr. Brain, Apple TV+ will also launch the series Pachinko, based on the international best-seller of the same name. The series, about a Korean family that emigrates to Japan, has been filmed in English, Korean and Japanese and stars Lee Minho and Youn Yuhjung. The release date for the series has yet to be revealed.

Korean customers will finally get a chance to sample a range of Apple TV+ originals which have yet to be made available in Korea, including the comedy series Ted Lasso, the SF drama series Foundation and the Tom Hanks-led drama Greyhound.