10 Best Korean and Japanese shows coming to Disney+ Hotstar in 2025

A lot of things went down at the recently wrapped 2024 Disney APAC Content Showcase—we were there in the thick of the action. Held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, the two-day event gave us a sneak peek of Walt Disney Company’s 2025 theatrical and streaming shows. Spoiler alert: You are in for a wild ride. Through its many creative arms, Searchlight Pictures and Marvel Studios included, Disney promises a chockful of content that is tailor-made for its diverse fans. 

But that’s not all. Cranking up the excitement further, Disney flew in the biggest names in the biz to the little red dot. One of those in attendance was none other than the star of the upcoming Captain America Brave New World Anthony Mackie. The slew of Asian screen staples that followed proved to be scene-stealers. Knock-Off’s Kim Soohyun and Cho Boah as well as Nine Puzzles’ Kim Dami and Son Sukku, in particular, set the crowd on fire. 

One thing is for sure, the influx of regional stars at the event shows just how much the demand for Asian content has surged—Kang Full’s Moving was the number one local original title on Disney+ Hotstar last year!—and it is reflected in the streaming calendar. From charming K-dramas to heart-racing Japanese thrillers, contemporary stories from the East are going to take over our screens. Here are 10 of our most anticipated productions coming out on Disney+ Hotstar next year!

GANNIBAL (SEASON 2)

The stakes are higher than ever in the second and final season of Gannibal. Premiering 19 March 2025, the series follows police officer Daigo as he goes on a mission to uncover the sinister occurrences in Kuge-mura Village, where chilling rituals threaten the lives of innocent children. 

Cast: Yuya Yagira, Show Kasamatsu, and Riho Yoshioka.

THE MANIPULATED 

The Manipulated chronicles the life of Taejung, a man whose life is ruined by a wrongful criminal conviction. He then uncovers that his downfall was no accident, but a premeditated ploy by a shadowy figure named Yohan. A quest for revenge begins.

Cast: Ji Changwook, Doh Kyungsoo, Lee Kwangsoo, and Jo Yoonsu.

LOW LIFE 

Set in 1970s Korea, this gripping drama tells the story of a downtrodden man and his nephew who eke out a living by taking odd jobs. A chance of a better life presents itself when they’re tasked to retrieve an ancient treasure off the coast but the journey, as they soon find out, is far from smooth sailing. 

Cast: Ryu Seungryong, Yang Sejong, and Lim Soojung. 

TEMPEST 

An enigmatic special agent and a seasoned diplomat join forces in this high-octane spy thriller as they attempt to navigate a labyrinth of secrets and danger to uncover the truth behind a devastating attack that could destabilise the future of the Korean peninsula.

Cast: Jun Gianna, Gang Dongwon, and John Cho.

UNMASKED 

Oh Soryong, Han Do, and Kang Giho have made a name for themselves following their high-profile criminal exposés. But in a city where secrets are currency, the investigative news team is faced with their greatest challenge yet: to solve a 20-year-old cold case involving a famous actor. 

Cast: Kim Hyesoo, Jung Sungil, and Joo Jonghyuk.

BULLET/BULLET 

A sharp-witted Gear runs a crew of ragtag thieves for hire to make a living in the wreckage of civilisation. Things are going smoothly—until a mysterious girl named Noah shows up, sparking a chain reaction that puts Gear and his gang in the way of war with some deadly assassins.

NINE PUZZLES 

An unlikely alliance is formed when a serial killer goes on a rampage and begins taunting the authorities. Criminal profiler Yoon Ena, who is haunted by her past, is forced to collaborate with her biggest critic, fellow investigator Kim Hanseam when the case seems to hit a dead end. 

Cast: Kim Dami and Son Sukku.

CAT’S EYE

Cat’s Eye fans, rejoice! Your favourite Japanese manga series is getting the anime treatment and it’s landing on Disney+ Hotstar very soon. Following the agile thief Hitomi and her detective boyfriend Toshio, the new adaptation promises a take on love and larceny like never before!

KNOCK-OFF 

The Asian financial crisis hits the nation like a plague and Sungjun is one of its victims. Desperate to rebuild his life, he finds himself entangled in the world of counterfeit goods. But as he ascends the hierarchy of knock-off goods trade, he discovers that he now stands to lose a lot more than financial security. 

Cast: Kim Soohyun and Cho Boah. 

THE MURKY STREAM 

In the lawless Joseon Dynasty, the fight for survival and the pursuit of ambition collide. The Murky Stream charts the paths of three individuals—a local gangster, an aspiring military officer, and a man of integrity—who confront similar circumstances, yet are headed toward different destinies.

Cast: Rowoon, Shin Yeeun, Park Seoham, and Park Jihwan.

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