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Disney+ Starts Production on The Koreans, a Korean Reimagining of The Americans

The move signals a bigger push into premium Korean originals rooted in the peninsula’s divided history.

Overview

  • The series, which began filming Wednesday, pairs Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min as North Korean spies posing as parents in early‑1990s South Korea.
  • Disney will stream the show on Disney+ internationally with Hulu carrying it in the United States, with Korean outlets pointing to a 2027 premiere.
  • The show follows Korea’s single-writer, single-director model, with Park Eun-kyo writing and Ahn Gil-ho directing for producers Imaginus and Studio AA.
  • Lee Hee-joon is reported to play the counterintelligence detective neighbor who investigates the couple.
  • Disney executive Eric Schrier said he backed the adaptation for its cultural fit for a still-divided Korea, while the original creators were informed but chose not to participate.