Kim Soo-hyun's 'Knock-Off' has had its indefinite release postponed, while Jung Woo-sung's 'Made in Korea' is poised for its opening. Will Disney+ overcome various controversies and achieve global success?

On the morning of the 23rd, the 'Disney+ Open House' event was held on the 7th floor of the Gangnam Finance Center in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul (headquarters of Walt Disney Company Korea). Among those present were Choi Yeon-woo, head of local content for Walt Disney Company Korea, and Kim Won-guk, representative of the new original series 'Made in Korea,' along with Yoo Jeong-hoon, representative of 'Killers' Shopping Mall.'

In 2025, Disney+ plans to capture global subscribers by building a strong lineup. Beginning with Kim Hye-soo's 'Trigger' in January, the first half of the year featured medical thriller 'Hyper Knife' starring Sul Kyung-gu and Park Eun-bin, as well as the new work 'Nine Puzzles' featuring Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku. The second half is expected to see 'Low Life' with Ryu Seung-yong, Yang Se-jong, and Lim Soo-jung, 'North Star' with Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won, 'The Murky Stream' with Rowoon and Shin Ye-eun, and 'The Manipulated' with Ji Chang-wook and Doh Kyung-soo. Additionally, 'Allure' starring Suzy and Kim Seon-ho has recently confirmed its release on Disney+.

Kim Won-guk noted, "HYBE Media Corp started as a company based on films and publicly released the drama 'Good Man' on Disney, with its first original, 'Made in Korea,' also produced in collaboration with Disney," adding, "We entered the drama market starting with series productions, and for that reason, I believe the role of OTT companies is significant. We are in the production position, but we couldn't even dream of making a traditional 16-episode broadcast drama. However, thanks to the global reach of OTT, I think we can produce such series now."

He continued, "When creating a work, I think we can be programmed globally if we have the mindset of creating content that can be the most successful in Korea. That’s where we are focusing," stating, "I aim to create content that can be serialized or spun off when producing dramas or films, potentially expanding the universe. Our production company worked on the film 'Spring in Seoul,' but before that, there was 'The Director General of Namsan,' which connects well because of the similar universe."

Amidst the production of 'Made in Korea,' featuring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, and a budget of 70 billion won, Kim Won-guk revealed tremendous confidence.

He stated, "I don’t often promote my works. I do it when a strong film comes out, otherwise I refrain. However, during 'Spring in Seoul,' we did strong PR. I said, 'An incredible film is coming out,' but for this 'Made in Korea,' we poured out all of HYBE's production capabilities with Disney's excellent support."

He added, "It seems a powerful work will come out this time as well. The production team did exceptionally well, and a very strong drama will emerge," stating, "You can truly look forward to it. Disney, along with our company, believes that once 'Made in Korea' is released, the landscape of Korean K-drama will change."

On that day, Kim Soo-hyun's risk-laden 'Knock-Off' was also mentioned. Originally planned for release in April of the first half, the shooting of Kim Soo-hyun's 'Knock-Off' was halted due to personal controversies surrounding the lead actor, leading to its release date being postponed indefinitely. Kim Soo-hyun faced personal issues regarding his ex-girlfriend, the late Kim Sae-ron, and Disney+ stated, "After careful consideration, we decided to postpone the release plan." With all schedules for the 60 billion won 'Knock-Off' now voided, some predicted that Kim Soo-hyun's penalty could range from 18 billion won, twice his appearance fee, to as much as 180 billion won, three times the total production cost. However, insiders suggest that the actual penalty Kim Soo-hyun must pay may vary from public expectations.

Choi Yeon-woo remarked, "It was postponed after Disney's careful review. That remains Disney+'s official position," adding, "After that, I find it difficult to provide further answers." Another official noted, "There haven't been any updates since the official position."

Choi Yeon-woo also commented on the rumors of Kim Soo-hyun's 180 billion won penalty, stating, "I think my response will be the same as before," avoiding direct explanation without adding further.

In response to the question about Jung Woo-sung, the lead of 'Made in Korea', facing controversies, Choi Yeon-woo drew a line, stating, "That part is within the actor's personal life, so it's difficult for us to respond."

Global platforms Disney+ and Netflix are evaluated as leading OTT competitors, but in comparison to Netflix's global achievements, Disney+'s records are indeed disappointing.

In response to a question about Disney's distinctive competitiveness, Choi Yeon-woo stated, "Disney has a clear distinctive character. As we enter our fourth year of business launch, we aim to maintain collaborative relationships while establishing tone and manner within that time frame. In that context, there are good works that have come out and are prepared."

He further asserted, "In my view, Disney+ has unique advantages. We are a content-based company with a 100-year history, allowing consumers to experience not only global but also local content, which could become a significant strength for them. We are actively discussing and working on that experience with creators."

[Photo] Provided by Disney+

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