Disney+ is preparing to launch Tempest, one of its most highly anticipated Korean original series of 2025. The nine-part espionage drama is set to premiere in September. Starring Jun Ji Hyun (Gianna Jun) and Gang Dong Won, the series is already being hailed as one of the platform’s must-watch global releases of the year.
Disney+ has already treated viewers with multiple thrillers and crime sagas, including Nine Puzzles and Low Life. Plus, the streamer has renewed A Shop For Killers and Moving for second seasons, so fans of Korean content have a lot to look forward to.
Disney+’s ‘Tempest’ Release Date and Streaming Details
Tempest, starring Jun Ji Hyun and Gang Dong Won, will premiere globally on September 10 and Hulu for the American audience. The rollout begins with a three-episode premiere, followed by two episodes each week. The story builds toward a tense two-part finale set for October 1, 2025. This staggered release mirrors the successful strategy of Disney+ hits like Moving and A Shop for Killers.
Plot Overview
Tempest opens with an assassination attempt on a South Korean presidential candidate, which sets off a chain of events that exposes a multinational conspiracy. The story revolves around Seo Munju (Jun Ji Hyun), a sharp-minded former diplomat and United Nations ambassador. As she investigates the candidate’s past, she uncovers shocking allegations that he may have once been a North Korean spy.
Her search for the truth places her in constant danger, and forces her into an uneasy alliance with Paik Sanho (Gang Dong Won), a mysterious mercenary backed by powerful forces. While Sanho becomes her protector, Munju must question whether she can truly trust him, or if he hides secrets of his own.
Cast and Characters
Tempest features a blend of Korean and Hollywood talent.
- Jun Ji Hyun stars as Seo Munju, a sharp and courageous diplomat determined to uncover the truth despite overwhelming risks. Jun, celebrated for hits like Legend of the Blue Sea and My Love From the Star, makes her drama comeback after a four-year break.
- Gang Dong Won portrays Paik Sanho, an ex-soldier who has now become a highly skilled mercenary. Gang, who has largely worked in films, returns to television after over 20 years. His recent work includes Uprising, Dark Nuns, and The Plot.
Supporting Cast
- Star Trek fame John Cho stars as Anderson Miller, America’s Deputy Secretary of State
- Michael Gaston stars as Eagleton, the U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Spencer Garrett appears as U.S. President Houser
- Kim Hae Sook as President Chae Kyung Sin
- Lee Mi Sook as Lim Ok Seon
- Park Hae Joon steps into the role of Jang Jun Ik, a South Korean presidential candidate
- Yoo Jae Myung as the National Intelligence Service director
- Oh Jung Se as Jun Sang
- Lee Sang Hee as Munju’s aide Yeo Mi Ji
- Joo Jong Hyuk as Chang Hee
- Won Ji An as Kang Han Na
‘Tempest’ Trailer
Disney+ recently unveiled the trailer for Tempest, highlighting its cinematic action sequences, suspenseful tone, and global scale. Viewers get glimpses of chase sequences in Seoul, tense political meetings, and the complex partnership between Munju and Sanho.
Creative Team Behind the Series
Tempest is helmed by director Kim Hee Won (Vincenzo, Little Women, and Queen of Tears) with action choreography by Heo Myung Haeng. The script comes from Chung Seo Kyung, the acclaimed screenwriter behind Decision to Leave and The Handmaiden. Music is composed by Jung Jae Il and Dalpalan, both praised for their scores in Parasite and Squid Game.
Backed by Imaginus, AA Showrunners, and Skydance, with Gang Dong Won also joining as an executive producer, Tempest merges Korean storytelling with a Hollywood-scale production.
Disney+ has been expanding its Korean content aggressively, with hits like Moving, Nine Puzzles, and A Shop for Killers. Tempest promises to escalate this trend by offering a polished, globally appealing thriller.
Mark your calendars for September 10, 2025, and get ready for a thrilling ride into conspiracy and deception on Disney+.
