K-Drama Breaks Records with 19+ Rating—Disney+ Scores First Major Hit Since 'Moving'

After nearly two years of setbacks following the hit series 'Moving', Disney+ Korea is finally back in the spotlight—with its newest original series 'Hyper Knife' topping the charts immediately after release.

According to global streaming analytics site FlixPatrol, 'Hyper Knife' has held the No. 1 spot on Disney+ Korea’s overall content rankings since its premiere on March 21. The medical thriller also cracked the Top 5 in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Turkey, and ranked within the Top 10 in countries like Peru, Singapore, Turkey, and Venezuela as of March 23.

This marks the first time in two years that a Korean Disney+ original has claimed the No. 1 spot since 'Moving' in 2023. Written by Kim Sun-hee and directed by Kim Jung-hyun, 'Hyper Knife' follows former genius neurosurgeon Se-ok (played by Park Eun-bin) as she reunites with her former mentor Deok-hee (Sol Kyung-gu)—the very person responsible for her downfall. The intense showdown between them unfolds against a backdrop of illegal surgeries, moral dilemmas, and psychological warfare.

Despite its R-rating (19+), the series ranked No. 1 in both awareness and intent-to-watch surveys before its premiere. With episodes 1 and 2 released on March 19, audiences praised its tight direction and unpredictable storyline—something rarely seen in recent Disney+ Korea originals.

Viewer reactions have been explosive, especially under the teaser for episodes 3 and 4, with comments like, “Is this insane? How is this masterpiece only 8 episodes?”, “The story is gripping, the acting is phenomenal—8 episodes aren’t enough!”, “Park Eun-bin’s acting is next level,” “Haven’t been this hooked in a while,” “This is crazy, it’s actually insane,” “I signed up for Disney+ just for this. It's that good,” and “Please give us 10 seasons of this.”

Many are already calling it a game-changer for the platform.

Disney+ has faced major struggles in the Korean market, with a string of underwhelming releases leading to significant subscriber loss. Recent titles like 'Blood Free', 'Uncle Samsik', 'The Scandal of Chun Hwa', 'The Tyrant', 'No Way Out', 'Gangnam Project', and 'Gangnam B-Side' failed to generate momentum. Even 'Light Shop', based on a webtoon by 'Moving' creator Kang Full, couldn’t turn the tide. Investigative series 'Trigger' also underperformed.

Subscriber losses have become so severe that speculation around Disney+ withdrawing from the Korean market has surfaced. Once seen as a serious competitor to Netflix, Disney+ now ranks last among major Korean OTT platforms. According to IGAWorks’ Mobile Index, as of last month, Netflix led with 13.45 million monthly users, followed by Coupang Play (6.84 million), TVING (6.79 million), and Wavve (4.18 million). Disney+ trailed far behind with just 2.57 million users. At its peak in September 2023 during the run of 'Moving', Disney+ recorded 4.33 million users—but has since lost nearly 2 million.

With growing public sentiment that “there’s nothing to watch” on Disney+, all eyes are now on whether 'Hyper Knife' can reverse the tide.

Unlike typical medical dramas that focus on heroic doctors, 'Hyper Knife' leans into the dark, psychological conflict between mentor and student. It explores illegal surgeries, obsession, and betrayal through a suspenseful, thriller-driven lens.

Park Eun-bin plays Se-ok, a once-promising neurosurgeon who lost everything after a professional fall from grace. Now with her license revoked, she is drawn into the world of underground operations and dangerous choices. Known for her bright and optimistic roles, Park transforms into a volatile, emotionally intense character with chilling precision.

Sol Kyung-gu portrays Deok-hee, her former mentor with mysterious secrets and a cold, calculating presence. Their performances fuel a tense emotional showdown that anchors the drama, making their psychological duel the series’ core. 'Hyper Knife' breaks away from the conventions of its genre by combining medical, thriller, and mystery elements into one riveting narrative.

Once bonded by mutual respect, Se-ok and Deok-hee are now caught in a razor-sharp battle with no trust left between them. As the title suggests, 'Hyper Knife' symbolizes their dangerously sharp and complicated relationship—one that cuts deep with every scene.

The series runs for 8 episodes, with two new episodes released every Wednesday on Disney+.