Disney+ Hotstar today announced that the recently released international spy thriller Tempest has become the number one most viewed Korean original premiere of 2025 on Disney+ Hotstar globally, in APAC, and in Korea, based on 5 days of streaming.

Featuring one of the most impressive international line-ups in a Korean drama to date, Tempest follows Seo Munju, a skilled former diplomat, as she tries to uncover the truth behind an attempt on a presidential candidate’s life. After discovering the candidate has been accused of being a North Korean spy, Munju digs into his past, unlocking a Pandora’s box of deception, state secrets and more. Protected by Paik Sanho, a mercenary with a suspicious history and a hidden backer, Munju repeatedly finds herself under attack as she uncovers an international conspiracy stretching all the way to the White House. But, with danger drawing ever closer, will Sanho be able to keep his principal safe and his emotions in check?

When a recently separated bride-to-be is chosen to win a luxury townhouse worth $5 million, she will turn to a man with the same name as her ex in the hopes of securing the prize in Would You Marry Me?, a new 12-part romcom coming October 10 to Disney+ Hotstar.

The upcoming series follows Kim Wooju, the fourth generation heir to Korea’s oldest bakery, and Yoo Meri, a local designer who has recently separated from her fiancé. When Meri finds out she’s won a newlywed lottery for a luxury townhouse, she must work together with Wooju, a man who shares the same name as her ex, to prove to the lottery board that she’s happily married and is still eligible to claim the house. But with an investigator ever-lurking, things won’t be as easy as they seem.

Would You Marry Me? stars Choi Wooshik (Parasite, A Killer Paradox) as Kim Wooju, a marketer working at his family’s bakery, and Jung Somin (Love Next Door, Alchemy of Souls) as a recently separated bride-to-be on the verge of winning a luxury townhouse. The series is written by Lee Hana and is directed by Song HyunWook and Hwang InHyeok

Fans of unmissable Korean storytelling can sign-up to Disney+ Hotstar today to enjoy instant access to other exceptional series including the year’s most watched Disney+ Hotstar Korean drama - Nine Puzzles, as well as A Shop For Killers, Hyper Knife, Moving and a huge range of other premium talent-driven scripted Korean dramas.

Stream Would You Marry Me? from October 10 on Disney+ Hotstar.

While shamans and fortune tellers have long been a staple of Korean culture, little has been done to prove or discredit their abilities…until now!

In Battle of Fates viewers can enjoy as fortune tellers, shamans and other oracles from across the country go head-to-head, using their different skillsets to prove that they’re the real deal. With participants from a shaman group, fate interpreters, physiognomists and tarot card readers set to join, each will participate in a range of challenges designed to prove (or disprove) their abilities. Those who fail the task will be eliminated, while those who pass will continue to the next round.

Watching the oracles take on the challenges will be “the observers”, led by five MCs - Jun Hyunmoo, Park Narae, Park Haseon, SHINDONG and Kang Jiyeong. Renowned for their dynamic presence across a wide range of entertainment programs, the observers will bring an additional layer of enjoyment and engagement for viewers.

Fans of Korean culture and variety shows can sign-up to Disney+ Hotstar today to enjoy immediate access to our ongoing daily dose of K-variety content – five different K-variety series releasing five days a week, including - Anchovy Physical Camp, 60 Minutes to Love, Belly Showdown, YOO Got a Minute? and Chef’s Go-To. Subscribers can also enjoy access to three seasons of the Disney+ Hotstar exclusive variety show The Zone: Survival Mission starring Yu Jaeseok, Kwon Yuri and others working as representatives of the human race to survive a range of hilarious challenges including zombie invasions, and more.

Stay tuned for more information about Battle of Fates coming next year only on Disney+ Hotstar.

When local officials surrender to corruption, bandits rise to seize control, igniting a fierce fight for justice in The Murky Stream - a new Korean period series premiering September 26, exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar.

The Murky Stream is set in 16th century Joseon, where the Gyeong River, now known as the Han River, flows with trade, corruption, and unchecked power. Siyul, once a noble youth with dreams of military honor, is now a fugitive turned gang enforcer, hardened by betrayal. His childhood friend, Jung Chun, has become the very officer Siyul once aspired to be. Between them stands Choi Eun, a sharp-witted merchant leader navigating the line between survival and resistance. As their fates become entangled, the three, divided by circumstance but united in purpose, form an unlikely alliance to challenge the powerful forces that prey on the weak. This new Korean series is a gripping tale of loyalty, rebellion, and the fight to reclaim justice in a lawless world.

Starring Rowoon (The Matchmakers, The King’s Affection) as Jang Siyul, a gang enforcer struggling with his past; Shin Yeeun (Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, The Glory) as Choi Eun, a sharp-witted merchant with something to prove, and Park Seoham (20th Century Boy and Girl) as Jung Chun, a newly assigned officer at the local police bureau, The Murky Stream is written by Chun Sungil (The Pirates, All of Us Are Dead) and directed by Choo Changmin (Land of Happiness, Masquerade) - two of Korea’s most accomplished historical drama creatives.

The Murky Stream is the latest series set to join the ever expanding slate of Korean Originals now available on Disney+ Hotstar. Fans of unmissable storytelling can sign-up to Disney+ Hotstar today to enjoy instant access to other gripping series including the year’s most watched Disney+ Hotstar Korean drama Nine Puzzles, as well as A Shop For Killers, Hyper Knife, Moving and a huge range of other premium talent-driven scripted Korean dramas.

Stream The Murky Stream from September 26, only on Disney+ Hotstar.

Carol Choi opened the event with remarks highlighting Disney+ Hotstar’s momentum in the region:

“Our recent originals have premiered at the top of the charts in Korea and across APAC, and we have high hopes that Tempest will continue this positive momentum. I’m excited about Tempest for a few reasons - it’s centered on a gripping storyline, combined with a world-class international cast and top production team, all coming together to deliver exceptional storytelling. It is a cross-genre series blending espionage, romance and action, and like many of our global hits, it has specificity in the story but ultimately, touches on universal themes of power and ambition, truth and trust.”

Tempest follows Seo Munju (played by Gianna Jun) , a skilled former diplomat, as she tries to uncover the truth behind an attempt on a presidential candidate’s life. Protected by Paik Sanho (played by Gang Dongwon), a mercenary with a suspicious history and a hidden backer, Munju repeatedly finds herself under attack as she uncovers an international conspiracy stretching all the way to the White House.

Writer Chung Seokyung shared insights into the story’s development:

“I wanted to tell a story universal enough for as many people to feel it could be their own. It all started when Director Kim Heewon said she wanted to depict a romance led by a powerful woman. From there, one question led to another, and the story gradually took shape.”

She added, “I hope Tempest is received as a well-balanced Korean story within a global context. I want it to resonate with audiences in Korea and around the world — not only as a grand narrative, but also as something personal.” Chung expressed hopes for a powerful and emotionally grounded story that blends genre-driven intrigue with universal appeal.

Director Kim Heewon emphasized the importance of authenticity: “The drama follows a cyclical structure in which action continuously unfolds within the narrative, and new story developments emerge organically from that action. Throughout the creative process, we stayed focused on maintaining the story’s realism. We wanted viewers to feel this was a story that could plausibly unfold in real life. 

On the wide range of action sequences performed by Sanho, Director Heo Myeonghaeng added, “What mattered most was achieving both realism and style. Sanho’s action scenes are rooted in the techniques he has developed for survival through countless missions. We aim to capture movements of someone who has mastered it all, which we hope will raise anticipation for an action-forward spy romance that offers both spectacle and narrative depth.”

The production team also expressed strong confidence in the series’ execution. With production design by Kim Byunghan (Nine Puzzles, Narco-Saints, Ashfall) and visual effects led by Hong Jungho (Along with the Gods, Parasite, Alienoid), Tempest is expected to elevate both the emotional impact and narrative scale of the storyline, showcasing new possibilities for Korean drama.

Production designer Kim Byunghan described  the process of translating the epic scale of the story into visual form, and conceptualizing a design that delivers both realism and cinematic beauty.  At the event, he said,  “The dynamic nature of the production made the filming process both refreshing and deeply rewarding. With approximately 200 distinct locations across 13 countries, this series marks the most ambitious design project of my career.” 

VFX supervisor Hong Jungho spoke about the extraordinary effort that went into grounding the series’ visual effects with a heightened sense of realism. He said, “Looking at the previous work of writer Chung Seokyung and director Kim Heewon, I was impressed by their incredible attention to detail and had long hoped to collaborate with them. For Tempest, I approached the project by first establishing the tone, mood, and seasonal atmosphere — elements that shaped the foundation of our visual direction.” 

Finally, when addressing how global audiences are eagerly awaiting Tempest, Director Kim Heewon shared “Tempest is a work that blends multiple genre elements. With the evolving relationship between Munju and Sanho, defined by tension, longing, and rediscovery, I hope audiences will be able to follow the melodramatic narrative with their hearts from beginning to end.” 

With a standout international cast, top creative team, and an unpredictable storyline of significant scale, Tempest is being recognized as one of the most anticipated global projects of 2025. The series will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar with three episodes on Wednesday, September 10, followed by two episodes a week until the two-part finale on October 1.

Tempest is the latest Korean original set to debut on Disney+ Hotstar. Fans of unmissable storytelling can enjoy other gripping series on Disney+ Hotstar including the year’s most watched Disney+ Hotstar Korean drama Nine Puzzles, as well as A Shop For Killers, Hyper Knife, Moving and a curated range of other premium talent-driven scripted Korean dramas.

With Korean food, music, dramas and celebrities continuing to rank amongst some of the world’s most talked about pop cultural references, Disney+ Hotstar is helping viewers get their daily dose of Korea with five new weekly Korean variety shows launching from Friday to Tuesday starting August 22.

Covering a range of themes from speed dating and food challenges to fitness, celebrity shopping habits and more, the upcoming mid-form variety shows with about 25 minutes run time each, are sure to more than satisfy viewers’ Korea cravings.

Starting from August 22, viewers can enjoy:

Anchovy Physical Camp - Released every Friday starting August 22, this upcoming variety series sees some of Korea’s less active celebrities use nothing but grit and their complete lack of physical prowess to compete in a series of fun fitness challenges.

60 Minutes to Love – Released every Saturday starting August 23, this series follows Running Man star Ji Yeeun on her quest to find love. Throughout the 20-episode series, Ji Yeeun will go on 60-minute speed dates with men of all types and personalities in a bid to find her one true love.

Belly Showdown - Released every Sunday starting August 24, this upcoming series sees six personalities compete in a high-calorie comedic food challenge, using their unstoppable appetites to beat the competition.

YOO Got a Minute? - Released every Monday starting August 25, this series will be split into two parts. For the first 10 weeks Yoo Byungjae’s popular Why Did I Buy It series returns as You Bought What?! a variety series that examines celebrities’ bizarre spending habits. From week 11-20 the series will pivot to The Quiet Interview, a hilarious concept where interviewees struggle to keep a straight face during a series of bizarre interviews with only one rule – if you laugh the interview’s over!

Chef’s Go-To - Released every Tuesday starting August 26, take a trip off the eaten path with Korea’s famous chefs to explore some of their favorite back-alley eateries and hidden delights - all with the goal of helping you find your next unforgettable meal.

Each with 20 episodes until the year end, the upcoming debut of these five variety shows is the latest in a series of exceptional Korean content releases to debut on Disney+ Hotstar in recent years. In 2025 alone, viewers have immersed themselves in a world of mystery and murder with the year’s most watched Disney+ Hotstar Korean series - Nine Puzzles, have scrubbed in and gone under the scalpel with Hyper Knife, and have most recently explored treachery and treasure in ‘70s Korea with Low Life. 

Get your daily dose of K-Variety starting August 22 on Disney+ Hotstar.

When an assassination attempt is made on a presidential candidate, a multinational conspiracy involving rogue nations, security agencies, and classified intelligence will threaten the stability of the Korean peninsula in Tempest - a new spy thriller launching September 10 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar internationally.

Featuring one of the most impressive international line-ups in a Korean drama to date, Tempest follows Seo Munju, a skilled former diplomat, as she tries to uncover the truth behind an attempt on a presidential candidate’s life. After discovering the candidate was accused of being a North Korean spy, Munju digs into his past, unlocking a Pandora’s box of deception, state secrets and more. Protected by Paik Sanho, a mercenary with a suspicious history and a hidden backer, Munju repeatedly finds herself under attack as she uncovers an international conspiracy stretching all the way to the White House. But, with danger drawing ever closer, will Sanho be able to keep his principal safe and his emotions in check?

Tempest stars:

• Gianna Jun (My Love From The Star, Kingdom) as former UN ambassador Seo Munju 
• Gang Dongwon (Peninsula, Uprising) as highly trained operative Paik Sanho 
• John Cho (Star Trek, Murderbot) as Assistant Secretary of State Anderson
• Lee Misook (Queen of Tears, The Plot) as Jang Junik’s mother Lim Okseon
• Park Haejoon (When Life Gives You Tangerines) as Presidential candidate Jang Junik
• Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Ugly Betty) as Ethan, a mercenary
• Michael Gaston (Daredevil: Born Again, Bridge of Spies) as Secretary of Defense Eagleton
• Spencer Garrett (Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood) as President Houser

Tempest is directed by Kim Heewon (Queen of Tears, Vincenzo), co-directed by Korea’s leading martial arts director Heo Myeonghaeng (THE ROUNDUP: PUNISHMENT, Badland Hunters), and is written by Chung Seokyung (Decision to Leave, Little Women). The series is produced by Imaginus in association with Showrunners, AA, and Skydance.

Tempest will debut with a three-episode premiere on September 10, followed by two episodes a week until the two-part finale on October 1.

Tempest is the latest world class Korean drama set to debut on Disney+ Hotstar. Fans of unmissable storytelling can sign-up to Disney+ Hotstar today to enjoy instant access to other gripping series including the year’s most watched Disney+ Hotstar Korean drama Nine Puzzles, as well as A Shop For Killers, Hyper Knife, Moving and a huge range of other premium talent-driven scripted Korean dramas.

An ancient evil will rise again to threaten modern day Seoul in Twelve an action-packed fantasy series coming August 23 to Disney+ Hotstar.

A long time ago in an era long forgotten, twelve zodiac guardians fought against evil spirits in a last ditch attempt to save the human race. After a monumental sacrifice, the evil forces were sealed away and humanity continued to thrive. Today, only a few of those guardians remain, working odd jobs to protect individuals, but when evil once again begins to rise, the Twelve will be brought together under Taesan’s leadership to save modern day Seoul and the Korean peninsula from being consumed by darkness. 

Twelve stars Don Lee (Eternals, Train to Busan) as Taesan, the leader of the Twelve, and Park Hyungsik (Buried Hearts, Soundtrack #1), as Ogwi, an ancient sealed away for a thousand years. The series is written by Kim Bonghan (The Golden Holiday) and Don Lee, and is directed by Kang Daekyu (Pawn, Harmony) and Han Yunseon (18-Eighteen Noir).

Fans of unmissable Korean storytelling can also sign up to Disney+ Hotstar today to enjoy immediate access to series including the year’s most watched Disney+ Hotstar Korean drama Nine Puzzles, as well as A Shop For Killers, Hyper Knife, Moving and a huge range of other premium talent-driven scripted Korean dramas.

Stream Twelve starting August 23 on Disney+ Hotstar.

When a group of opportunistic chancers who’re down on their luck hear about a world of riches discovered at the bottom of the sea, knives will be drawn in Low Life - a new Korean drama coming July 16 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar. 

Set in 1970s Korea, Low Life follows Oh Gwanseok and Oh Heedong, an uncle and nephew who’ve spent the best part of their lives chasing get-rich-quick schemes. When word begins to spread that an ancient treasure ship has been discovered off the coast of Korea, the two will race against time and other opportunists to recover the sunken treasure and claim the lives they’ve always dreamt of. But with competition around every corner, will the duo be able to salvage their fortune in time? 

Starring Ryu Seungryong (Moving, Chicken Nugget) as Oh Gwanseok, Yang Sejong (Doona!, Temperature of Love) as Oh Heedong, and Lim Soojung (Melancholia, Single in Seoul) as Yang Jungsook, Low Life is written and directed by Kang Yunsung (Big Bet, The Outlaws).

An 11-part series, Low Life will launch with a three-episode premiere on July 16, followed by two episodes released each week until an exciting two-part finale on August 13.

Low Life is the latest Korean original set to debut exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar. In 2025 alone, audiences have immersed themselves in the world of a serial killer in Hyper Knife and been captivated by the most watched Korean drama of 2025 on Disney+ Hotstar - Nine Puzzles. Later this year, audiences can also look forward to the arrival of Tempest starring Gianna Jun, Gang Dongwon, and John Cho; and Made In Korea, starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woosung. Audiences can also sign up to Disney+ Hotstar today to enjoy unlimited access to an ever-expanding library of unmissable APAC and global tentpole series and titles.

Stream the first three episodes of Low Life from July 16 only on Disney+ Hotstar.

After building a huge international fanbase and pulling in over 2.6 billion views to date, the smash Korean web novel and webtoon series The Remarried Empress is being adapted for live-action audiences exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar. 

Based on the chart-topping webtoon of the same name, The Remarried Empress is an upcoming romantic fantasy series that tells the story of Navier, a perfect empress whose husband shocks her one day when he returns home with his mistress and demands a divorce. Unwilling to let the Emperor ruin her life, Navier grants his request but, in return asks to marry a rival prince of the Western Kingdom - igniting a tale of political intrigue, romance, and a fight to reclaim her stolen power.

Shin Mina (Karma, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha) stars as beloved Empress Navier. Ju Jihoon (Light Shop, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call) portrays Emperor Sovieshu of the Eastern Empire. Lee Jongsuk (Big Mouth, W) plays Heinrey, the Crown Prince of the Western Kingdom who harbors a hidden secret. And Lee Seyoung (The Red Sleeve, The Crowned Clown) as Rashta, the former runaway slave-turned-concubine of Sovieshu who sets her sights on the empress’s throne. The Remarried Empress will be adapted for streaming by Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choongyeol (The Uncanny Counter) and directed by Cho Suwon(Still 17, Pinocchio).

The Remarried Empress is the latest Original series to be announced as part of the upcoming slate of Korean titles on Disney+ Hotstar. Earlier this month, A Shop For Killers – named one of The New York Times’ Best International Shows of 2024 - was renewed for a second season, and fans of Korean dramas can also look forward to other must-watch series including Nine Puzzles, a dark criminal mystery starring Kim Dami and Son Sukku; Low Life, a treasure hunting series starring Ryu Seungryong; international conspiracy series Tempest starring Jun Gianna, Gang Dongwon, John Cho, and Michael Gaston, and so much more.

Stay tuned for more news about The Remarried Empress, coming exclusively to Disney+ Hotstar.