The Success of Disney+’s Korean Original Series “Light Shop”
The supernatural mystery series “Light Shop” has made waves on Disney+ as the platform’s biggest Korean original premiere of 2024, based on data from its first 12 days of streaming. Created by webtoon artist Kangfull, the show follows in the footsteps of the acclaimed series “Moving” and has quickly become the second-largest Korean series debut ever on Disney+ globally.
Building on the success of “Moving,” which garnered numerous industry awards, Disney+ announced in November that Season 2 of the series is in development, solidifying their partnership with Kangfull. The first season of “Moving” premiered in 2023 and emerged as Disney+’s top local original title worldwide last year.
“Light Shop” revolves around six strangers who find themselves trapped in a mysterious neighborhood with no recollection of how they got there. Each character grapples with their past traumas as they navigate the surreal setting, eventually uncovering a mysterious light shop at the end of a foreboding alleyway that holds the key to their past, present, and future.
The series features an impressive cast, including Ju Jihoon, Park Boyoung, Bae Seongwoo, Lee Jungeun, and Kim Minha. Adapted for the screen by Kangfull and directed by Kim Hiewon, “Light Shop” promises a gripping and enigmatic storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
Disney+’s success with Korean content is evident in the performance of both “Moving” and “Light Shop,” highlighting the platform’s growing influence in the Korean entertainment industry. With nine of the platform’s top 15 international original titles in 2023 being Korean productions, Disney+ continues to strengthen its presence in the APAC region.
Carol Choi, executive VP of original content strategy at The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific, emphasized the significance of Asian-produced stories in the global entertainment landscape. She stated, “Our content strategy remains focused on curating premium, talent-driven originals from the region – quality, best-in-class tentpole titles with some of the very top names in entertainment.”
Fans of “Light Shop” can look forward to new episodes releasing weekly on Disney+, continuing the captivating journey of the show’s intriguing characters and mysterious storyline.
