According to industry sources, Disney+ has entered the casting phase for Moving 2, the follow-up to its biggest Korean hit to date. The decision comes after the platform endured a prolonged slump in Korea, during which multiple original series failed to gain traction.
Following the success of Moving in 2023, Disney+ released several Korean originals that underperformed, prompting harsh public backlash. Online reactions at the time included comments such as “There’s nothing to watch” and “Disney+ should just leave Korea.” Exit rumors circulated widely as the platform’s local presence weakened.
However, sentiment has shifted in recent months. Disney+ has reportedly recovered to approximately 3 million monthly active users in Korea for the first time in nearly two years.
Moving tells the story of children with hidden superpowers and parents who carry painful secrets from their past. Upon its release in 2023, the series ranked No.1 in total viewing hours among Korean Disney+ originals during its debut week. In the month the series premiered, Disney+ saw a 48% surge in users.
The platform reached a peak of 4.34 million users in September 2023 following the success of Moving, before experiencing a steady decline throughout 2024.
Disney+ is now attempting a turnaround by releasing a slate of big-budget originals featuring top-tier actors. Notably, several actors who previously led Netflix hits have chosen Disney+ for their next projects, signaling a shift in industry dynamics.
This change is partly attributed to Netflix introducing a cap on per-episode appearance fees, lowering them from up to 800 million won to a maximum of 300 million won. As a result, actor demand has begun spreading more evenly across OTT platforms.
Recent releases are showing promising results. Disney+ original Made in Korea, which premiered on December 24, ranked No.1 in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, recording the highest viewing time among the platform’s recent titles.
According to Mobile Index, Disney+ recorded 3.23 million monthly active users in Korea in December. Industry observers are now watching closely to see whether Moving 2 and upcoming originals can solidify Disney+’s long-term recovery in the Korean market.
Sources: Herald Economy,Mobile Index