‘Koreans’ in 2027—Disney+’s Next K-Series Peak! Lee Byung-hun–Han Ji-min–Lee Hee-joon Confirmed for the Dream Cast!

Disney+’s original series 〈Koreans〉 has finally unveiled the cast and crew with confirmation of an exclusive 2027 release on Disney+, bringing together a legendary ensemble poised to spark a global phenomenon.

Disney+’s original series 〈Koreans〉 is a Korean-style adaptation that completely reimagines and localizes FX’s popular series 〈The Americans〉. After running for six seasons, 〈The Americans〉 won the Best Television Drama Series award at the 76th Golden Globe Awards, earning acclaim for seamlessly blending espionage thrills with stories that unfold like life itself—belief, love, and more. Among BBC’s “Top 100 Best TV Series of the 21st Century,” it ranked #8, and it also recorded a 96% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 94% Popcorn score, becoming one of the standout works that captivated both viewers and critics alike. 〈Koreans〉 plans to transplant this concept to 1990s Seoul and set it in an apartment complex where middle-class families lived at the time, capturing the era’s atmosphere, a range of characters, emotionally resonant storytelling, and even the tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

〈There’s No Choice〉, 〈Squid Game〉, 〈K-pop Demon Hunters〉, and more—global star Lee Byung-hun, who has built an impressive/global career, will headline the drama with a commanding presence as he plays an elite North Korean spy, “Kim Myeong-jun,” who has been living in South Korea for more than 10 years while concealing his identity. Next, Han Ji-min, an actress known for immersive performances through deep, penetrating looks across a variety of genres—〈Heavenly Ever After〉, 〈My Perfect Assistant〉, 〈Our Blues〉, and more—will take on the role of “Yoon Hwa-kyung,” a North Korean spy who enters South Korea as part of a perfectly disguised married couple with “Kim Myeong-jun,” blending in with meticulous precision and tracing a rich emotional arc with her signature delicacy. Lee Hee-joon, who has showcased each character’s individuality through dense acting in works such as 〈Bad Blood〉, 〈Bogota: The Last Chance Land〉, and 〈The Species That Rules〉, will add further tension as “Cha Gi-seok,” a detective from a powerful investigative unit who moves into the neighboring apartment of “Kim Myeong-jun” and “Yoon Hwa-kyung.” The psychological tension and relationship conflict that these three actors will bring to life are raising major expectations for delivering a different kind of drama and immersion than what the existing espionage genre has offered so far. 

In addition, An Gil-ho, director of 〈The Glory〉, 〈Happiness〉, 〈Memories of the Alhambra〉, 〈Secret Forest〉, and more, who has captivated audiences with astonishing realism and detailed expression regardless of genre, is taking the helm. Writer Park Eun-gyo, known for drama 〈Made in Korea〉, 〈The Silent Sea〉, and film 〈A Normal Family〉, 〈Mother〉, and more, will complete the “writer-director-actor” synergy that makes you look forward to the arrival of a highly crafted series, further intensifying anticipation.  Disney+’s original series 〈Koreans〉 will be released exclusively on Disney+ in 2027.