Ji Chang Wook & D.O. Unite in New Disney+ K-Drama

Disney+ continues to expand its lineup of original K-dramas, and The Manipulated staring Ji Chang Wook is already shaping up to be one of the top titles of late 2025.

At the Disney+ Open House event in Gangnam on May 23, the platform unveiled this explosive new production, which brings together Ji Chang Wook and Doh Kyung Soo in a tense and intense face-off.

In this thriller written by Oh Sang Ho (Taxi Driver, The Roundup: Punishment), Ji Chang Wook plays Tae Joong, an ordinary man whose peaceful daily life is suddenly shattered when he is wrongly accused of a chilling crime. Imprisoned and broken, he gradually discovers that this entire descent into hell was carefully orchestrated by a certain Yo Han, played by Doh Kyung Soo, who takes on a much darker role than what we’re used to seeing.

Yo Han is no longer a simple antagonist: he’s a cold and calculating puppeteer pulling the strings from the shadows. For Tae Joong, it’s no longer just a matter of proving his innocence, but of bringing down the man who destroyed his life. This confrontation promises extreme tension, with stylized direction and breathtaking twists.

The casting doesn’t stop there, as Lee Kwang Soo and Jo Yoon Soo also join this high-flying ensemble. Everything suggests that The Manipulated will offer an explosive mix of psychological suspense, masterful action scenes, and raw emotion.

Scheduled to air on Disney+ in the second half of 2025, this dark drama follows in the footsteps of successful Korean thrillers, with ambitious direction and a narrative centered on revenge and manipulation.

Ji Chang Wook has 2 confirmed K-dramas in 2025 not including The Manipulated:

Scandals (working title): A Netflix historical drama in the Joseon period, based on Untold Scandal. Ji Chang Wook stars as Cho Won, a cocky womanizer caught in a high-stakes love game, alongside Son Ye Jin and Nana. Directed by Jung Ji Woo, shooting begins March 2025, with no premiere date yet scheduled.

Human X Gumiho: A fantasy K-drama that may star Ji Chang Wook and Jun Ji Hyun as leads with the fantasy elements based on mythological nine-tailed foxes. Im Me Ah Ri has written it, but it’s currently in the pre-production stage with no premiere or broadcasting information set in stone yet.

What are your expectations for this explosive encounter between Ji Chang Wook and Doh Kyung Soo?

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