Disney+ unveiled its latest original series, 'The Koreans,' confirming the casting of Lee Byung Hun, Han Ji Min, and Lee Hee Joon. Production on the highly anticipated espionage drama has officially begun.
'The Koreans' is a reimagining of the critically acclaimed FX series 'The Americans.' Set in Seoul during the early 1990s, a period of democratization and cultural transformation, the series centers on a seemingly ordinary middle-class family concealing a dangerous secret. Both parents are elite North Korean spies living undercover in South Korea. The series follows their struggle with patriotism, loyalty, identity, and love while trying to avoid detection by a relentless counterintelligence agent.
Lee Byung Hun plays Kim Myung Jun, a top-tier North Korean spy who has lived in South Korea for more than ten years under a hidden identity. Han Ji Min stars as Yoon Hwa Kyung, also a North Korean spy, who is married to Kim Myung Jun as part of a careful cover. The series will explore their complex emotional dynamics with Han Ji Min’s signature subtlety and depth.
Lee Hee Joon joins the cast as Cha Gi Seok, a former detective in the National Police Agency’s Counterintelligence Division. His arrival as the new neighbor of Myung Jun and Hwa Kyung adds tension to the story.
Director Ahn Gilho, known for his work on 'The Glory,' 'Happiness,' and 'Memories of the Alhambra,' leads the project, bringing meticulous attention to detail to the espionage thriller. The script is written by Park Eun Kyo, whose previous works include 'Made in Korea,' 'The Silent Sea,' and the film 'Mother.'
Produced by IMAGINUS and Studio AA, 'The Koreans' will stream exclusively on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the United States. The series joins Disney+ APAC’s expanding slate of high-intensity Korean originals, including 'Tempest,' 'Made in Korea,' and 'The Tyrant.'
The original FX series 'The Americans' won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series Drama and was named AFI TV Program of the Year for five consecutive seasons. 'The Koreans' aim to bring the same level of suspense, emotional complexity, and high-stakes storytelling to audiences worldwide. The series will be released exclusively on Disney+ next year.
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