“You won’t be able to stop watching — the deeper it goes, the more curious you’ll get.” – Director Park Shin Woo
The 2017 film 'The Manipulated' has been reborn as a new series. Actor Ji Chang Wook once again leads a gripping revenge drama — this time on a much larger scale.
The new Disney+ series 'The Manipulated' (written by Oh Sang Ho, directed by Park Shin Woo and Kim Chang Joo) expands the catharsis of the original movie into a serialized format, promising a different action concept in each episode.
While keeping its core revenge narrative, the series deepens its character dynamics and widens its stage. From motorcycle chases to high-speed car pursuits, the action has evolved to deliver a more powerful sense of thrill and spectacle.
A press conference for 'The Manipulated' was held on November 3 at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeouido, attended by Ji Chang Wook, Do Kyung Soo, Kim Jong Soo, Jo Yoon Soo, Lee Kwang Soo, and director Park Shin Woo.
Ji Chang Wook: The Man Whose Life Was Shattered
'The Manipulated' follows the story of an ordinary young man, Tae Jung (played by Ji Chang Wook), who becomes entangled in a vicious crime and sets out to take revenge on Yo Han (Do Kyung Soo), the mastermind who orchestrated everything.
Ji Chang Wook plays Park Tae Jung, a hardworking man who never wastes a single day — until he is falsely accused and imprisoned.
“I focused on Tae Jung’s situation more than anything,” Ji said. “Rather than trying to make him overly complex, I wanted viewers to naturally follow his emotions.”
He also revealed he was confident in the project from the very beginning. “The story had so much to see, and the relationships were multi-layered. It made me ambitious — and confident,” he added with a smile.
Though Ji also starred in the original film, he clarified that Tae Jung is a completely different character. “I didn’t connect this role to the one from 'The Manipulated.' I approached it as a brand-new character.”
Do Kyung Soo: A Cold-Blooded Puppet Master
Do Kyung Soo transforms into Ahn Yo Han, the CEO of a security company who manipulates evidence and designs people’s lives like a sculptor. When Tae Jung becomes his one possible “failure,” he decides to eliminate him.
This marks Do Kyung Soo’s first villain role. “Yo Han is cruel and chilling,” he said. “He’s a character you could never meet in real life. I drew inspiration from various films and documentaries to expand my imagination.”
He also paid attention to physical details. “I repeatedly bleached and permed my hair to create a damaged, unsettling look. I also wore bold suits to heighten his intensity.”
Viewers can expect an extreme ‘anti-bromance’ between Ji and Do’s characters. Do Kyung Soo shared, “To Yo Han, Tae Jung is like a cockroach — no matter how many times you crush him, he crawls back out.”
Two Faces of Action
Director Park Shin Woo praised Ji Chang Wook’s dedication: “We prepared numerous action concepts, and Ji performed most of them himself. His fearless performance made every scene feel real.”
Ji commented, “Each episode felt like clearing a new level in a game. I discussed Tae Jung’s emotional state with the stunt director to weave his inner changes into the action scenes.”
Do Kyung Soo’s action style, in contrast, is refined and restrained. “Yo Han is brutal but elegant,” he explained. “He subdues opponents calmly rather than exploding with emotion.”
Supporting Cast and Ensemble
Lee Kwang Soo joins the cast as Baek Do Kyung, one of Johan’s elite clients who holds a crucial key to the case. “He’s a villain with wealth and power,” Lee said. “The script made me want to spit at him — I wanted to channel that anger into the role.”
Do Kyung Soo added, “I relied on Kwang Soo hyung a lot on set — I learned so much from him.” Lee replied, “We’re close friends, so I thought it’d be awkward at first, but once we started acting, it actually felt comfortable.”
Kim Jong Soo (as Noh Yong Sik) and Jo Yoon Soo (as Noh Eun Bi) appear as Tae Jung’s allies. Ji described them as “a clumsy but passionate team — not the most professional, but full of heart.”
A New Kind of Revenge Thriller
Director Park described the show as “a drama that builds suspense with each episode,” adding that “unpredictable twists and conflicts bring out the full potential of a serialized story.”
Lee Kwang Soo shared, “Filming was intense and passionate. Viewers will feel that same energy. Once you hit play, you won’t be able to stop.”
Do Kyung Soo and Kim Jong Soo agreed: “It’s a cathartic story where goodness ultimately overcomes evil — a drama so exhilarating it’ll blow away your stress. Enjoy the storm of action.”
'The Manipulated' premieres November 5 on Disney+, releasing four episodes first, followed by two episodes each week thereafter.
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