This R-Rated K-Drama Already Conquers the Charts, Surges Ahead of Netflix & TVING Competitors

Disney Plus is kicking off 2025 with a massive hit, as its upcoming K-drama ‘Hyper Knife’ storms past high-profile OTT competitors—even before its official premiere on March 19. The dark, 19+ medical thriller, starring Park Eun-bin and Seol Kyung-gu, has already topped anticipation charts, beating Netflix’s ‘Karma’ and TVING’s ‘ Way Back Love’.

According to Consumer Insight’s latest OTT content rankings, Hyper Knife leads in both viewer interest and intent to watch, signaling a potential runaway success for Disney+ Korea’s first major 2025 original series.

A Genius Surgeon Turned Underground Doctor

Breaking away from traditional medical dramas, Hyper Knife introduces a morally ambiguous lead in Park Eun-bin’s character Jung Se-ok—a former prodigy neurosurgeon who lost her license after clashing with her mentor. Now, she lives a double life: working as a pharmacist by day, while secretly performing illegal surgeries for criminals at night.

But she’s no selfless doctor—her obsession with brains and surgery borders on sociopathy, making her a thrillingly unpredictable protagonist.

Seol Kyung-gu plays Choi Deok-hee, a world-class neurosurgeon with a dark past, who seeks out his former student—the very woman who ruined his career. Suffering from a terminal illness, he offers her an unthinkable proposition: "I can’t operate on myself, can I?"

This uneasy master-student reunion sets the stage for a deadly game of trust, betrayal, and surgical precision.

Intense Performances & Cinematic Direction

Directed by Kim Jung-hyun (‘Awaken,’ ‘Crazy Love’), Hyper Knife boasts a star-studded supporting cast:

Yoon Chan-young (‘All of Us Are Dead’) as Seo Young-joo, a shadowy figure tied to Se-ok’s past.

Park Byung-eun (‘Kingdom’) as anesthesiologist Han Hyun-ho, the only one who truly understands Se-ok’s brilliance.

The recently released character posters further fuel anticipation, featuring chilling quotes:

💬 Park Eun-bin: "Aren’t you afraid? You have no idea how I’ll operate on you."

💬 Seol Kyung-gu: "Would you really make a mistake in surgery? Don’t be ridiculous."

Why ‘Hyper Knife’ is Generating Buzz

- First 19+ Medical Thriller: Unlike typical hospital dramas, this series blurs the line between doctor and executioner.

- Park Eun-bin’s Drastic Transformation: The ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ star delivers her darkest role yet.

- Unique Teacher-Student Dynamic: A battle of wits between two elite surgeons—where one’s life depends on the other.

- The official trailer, featuring gritty, high-stakes operating room showdowns and underground surgeries, has only amplified the hype.

Can ‘Hyper Knife’ Revive Disney Plus Korea?

With Disney+ struggling against Netflix’s dominance in Korea, Hyper Knife could be the breakout hit the platform desperately needs. If it maintains its momentum, it may follow the success of ‘Moving’ and ‘Big Bet’, proving that Disney+ can compete in the K-drama landscape.

‘Hyper Knife’ premieres March 19 exclusively on Disney+! Will it be the next must-watch medical thriller? Stay tuned!