Kim Soohyun, Cho Boah Star in Disney Korean Crime Series ‘Knock-Off’

Kim Soohyun, star of “My Love from The Star,” “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” and “Queen of Tears,” is set to team up with Cho Boah, known for her roles in “Tale of the Nine Tailed” and “Military Prosecutor Doberman,” in the upcoming Korean crime series “Knock-Off.” Disney has slated “Knock-Off” for a 2025 release.

The series delves into the shadowy realm of counterfeit goods. It follows a man whose life disintegrates in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In a bid to reclaim his former life, he becomes entangled in the knock-off goods trade and rapidly ascends to the pinnacle of the counterfeit market. This journey leads to a dramatic encounter with his ex-girlfriend, a special police officer dedicated to eradicating the fake goods trade.

Disney has been working diligently to expand its Korean content library, having already released ten shows in 2024. The upcoming lineup boasts titles like “The Tyrant,” “Unmasked,” “Seoul Busters,” “Light Shop,” and the crime thriller “Gangnam B-Side,” which is set to premiere at the Busan International Film Festival. Additionally, premium, talent-driven scripted dramas for 2025 include “Tempest,” “Low Life,” and “Nine Puzzles.”

The Busan International Film Festival has selected five films and six TV series for its Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere section. This segment aims to highlight the latest and most notable contemporary Korean commercial films.

Among the spotlighted films is Hur Jin-ho’s “A Normal Family,” first screened last year. Other world premieres include “A Girl with Closed Eyes,” a thriller exploring the complex bond between a criminal and a detective, who cross paths again after a bestselling author’s murder. It stars Kim Minha (“Pachinko”) and Moon Choi. “Bogota: City of the Lost” tells the story of Korean immigrants in Colombia who turn to smuggling. “Dirty Money,” a crime drama about two corrupt detectives, marks the directorial debut of Kim Minsu, known for his screenplay “The Merciless.” Lastly, “Hear Me: Our Summer” is a remake of the 2009 Taiwanese film “Hear Me.”

The On Screen section features “Beyond Goodbye,” a Japanese melodrama starring Kasumi Arimura and Sakaguchi Kentaro, and “Born for the Spotlight,” a Taiwanese piece directed by a writer-actor completing a trilogy that began with “The Making of an Ordinary Woman.”

From Korea, titles include “Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard,” a spin-off of the highly acclaimed drama “Stranger.” “Gangnam B–Side” centers on a missing person case within a compelling crime action narrative. “Hellbound Season 2,” directed by Yeon Sang-ho and written by Choi Gyu-seok, adds to the thrilling continuation of its predecessor. “Way Back Love” is a teenage coming-of-age fantasy romance where an ex-boyfriend has transitioned into the role of a grim reaper.

Award-winning producer Darren Dale has been appointed as a member of the Screen Australia board for three years. Dale is the managing director of First Nations-owned production company Blackfella Films, notable for works like “First Australians” (2008), “Total Control” (2019-2024), and “Redfern Now” (2012-2014).

Dale currently sits on the boards of the Sydney Film Festival, the Sydney Festival, and the National Institute of Dramatic Art and is also part of the NSW Government’s Creative Communities Council. Additionally, he is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His appointment was announced by federal minister for the arts, Tony Burke.

Source: Particle News, Busan Film Festival