Actor Park Eun-bin as Jung Se-ok in Disney+ original series ‘Hyper Knife’ / Courtesy of CJ ENM
By KTimes
The Disney+ original series “Hyper Knife,” starring Park Eun-bin, debuted at No. 1 in Korea, marking the platform’s most successful local launch since “Moving” nearly two years prior.
According to global OTT ranking aggregator FlixPatrol on Monday, the series has held the top position on Disney+ Korea since its release on Friday. It also climbed to No. 1 in other markets, including Thailand and Hong Kong, and secured spots in the top 10 in Peru, Singapore, Turkey and Venezuela —indicating growing global momentum.
“Hyper Knife” is a medical thriller centered on the intense rivalry between former prodigy surgeon Jung Se-ok and her former mentor Choi Deok-hee, who drove her career into ruin. Park plays Se-ok, a brilliant surgeon obsessed with brain surgery who loses her medical license following her mentor’s betrayal. Now working in the shadows as an unlicensed doctor, she prepares to confront Choi, portrayed by veteran actor Sol Kyung-gu.
The first two episodes drew praise for their gripping performances, refined direction and unpredictable storyline. Domestic media praised the show as a standout production, with reviews highlighting the explosive chemistry between the lead actors.
Known for embracing new challenges with every project, Park once again captivated viewers with an unpredictable and immersive performance. Her portrayal of Se-ok is marked by precise emotional control that elevates the character’s raw instinct and intensity beyond conventional genre boundaries.
From Se-ok’s obsession with the brain and surgical procedures to her burning rage toward Deok-hee, the despair of losing her medical license and her quiet contempt for those who stand in her way — Park conveys a wide spectrum of emotions, often with nothing more than a glance.
Her nuanced delivery, from tone and gestures to detailed emotional expression, brings a rough-edged charisma to the role. The result is a striking transformation that showcases a unique aura far removed from her usual image, heightening anticipation for her performance throughout the series.
Viewers echoed this enthusiasm online, calling the story “razor-sharp,” “addictive” and “impossible to look away from.” Many highlighted the powerful acting of Park and Sol as a major draw, with some describing the show as an “acting showdown” and others saying it “feels like two hours pass in two minutes.”
The strong performance of “Hyper Knife” has also sparked renewed attention toward Disney+, which has struggled to maintain a solid foothold in Korea. The series marks Park’s first original project on an OTT platform and arrives at a crucial time for the platform.
According to mobile data analytics firm IGAWorks, Disney+ recorded 2.57 million monthly active users in Korea last month — well behind Netflix’s 13.45 million, Coupang Play’s 6.85 million, Tving’s 6.79 million and Wavve’s 4.18 million.
The poster for ‘Hyper Knife,’ starring Park Eun-bin and Seol Kyung-gu / Courtesy of CJ ENM
The decline in subscribers has been a major concern for the platform, with Korean users accounting for a significant portion of its global drop in viewership. In September 2023, following the success of “Moving,” the service briefly rebounded to 4.33 million users but has since lost nearly 2 million.
A string of underperforming original titles has failed to reverse the downward trend. Even “Light Shop,” a project by acclaimed webtoon artist Kang Full, was unable to curb user attrition.
With “Hyper Knife” now off to a strong start, all eyes are on whether the series can sustain its momentum and help restore Disney+’s relevance in the competitive Korean streaming market.
New episodes of “Hyper Knife” are released every Wednesday.
This article is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
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