Disney+ Bets Big on 2026 Korean Lineup to Revitalize Market Presence

Disney+ is gearing up for a major comeback in the Korean market with an ambitious 2026 lineup, aiming to overcome recent struggles.

The streaming giant faced challenges last year due to underperforming content and unforeseen setbacks, including the indefinite postponement of the highly anticipated drama 'No Offense' due to casting controversies.

Despite attempts to regain momentum with projects like 'Moving's' prequel 'The Moving: The Lights', and the dramas 'Trigger' and 'Hypersleep' starring acclaimed actors, Disney+ has yet to see a significant surge in subscriber numbers.

Now, Disney+ is banking on a robust slate for 2026, featuring a diverse range of titles including 'The Accidental Narco', 'A Shop for Killers Season 2', 'War of Fate 49', 'The Remarried Empress', 'Goldland', 'The Bequeathed', and 'Made in Korea'.

The action-packed drama 'The Accidental Narco', released on the 5th, marks Do Kyung-soo's first foray into a villainous role, showcasing a captivatingly intense performance. Following its global acclaim, including a spot on The New York Times' 'Best International TV Shows of 2024', 'A Shop for Killers' returns with Season 2, reuniting original cast members like Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun, and adding new talents like Henery and Masaki Okada.

'War of Fate 49' is set to be Disney+'s first major original variety series, exploring a unique 'K-Shamanism' concept with 49 fortune tellers competing. Furthermore, 'The Remarried Empress', based on a webtoon with over 2.6 billion views, promises a grand romance fantasy with a star-studded cast including Shin Min-a, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Lee Se-young.

Rounding out the slate are 'The Bequeathed', a period mystery thriller starring Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, and 'Made in Korea', a spin-off of the movie 'Smugglers' featuring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung. These major productions are expected to significantly boost Disney+'s presence in the Korean market.

Korean netizens expressed optimism about the new lineup, with comments like "Finally, Disney+ seems to be getting serious," and "The lineup looks promising, but we'll have to see the actual execution." Many are eagerly anticipating the return of 'A Shop for Killers' Season 2.