Khaberni - Production of the new Korean series "The Koreans" has officially started, which is a reimagining of the famous American drama "The Americans," starring Squid Game stars Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min as undercover North Korean agents in South Korea.
Critics anticipate that the series will become one of the biggest Korean drama productions of 2027.
A story that blends espionage with family conflict
According to the South Korean site "korea herald", the series takes place in the early 1990s amid South Korea's wave of democratization and cultural modernization, focusing on a middle-class family hiding a dangerous secret related to betrayal.
Although the couple appears as ordinary citizens, they are actually elite North Korean agents intent on destabilizing the South from within.
The narrative examines the characters' struggles between loyalty to their country, personal identity, and family ties, amidst a continuous pursuit by a South Korean intelligence agent determined to uncover their truth.
Stars and production team
Leading the cast is Lee Byung-hun, known for works such as "Squid Game" and "No Other Choice," alongside Han Ji-min who appeared in "Eternal Life Afterwards" and "Love Finder."
The series is directed by Ahn Gil-ho, a director renowned for significant works such as "The Glory" and "Memories of the Alhambra", while the production is handled by "Imaginus" and "Studio AA," which have been involved in producing several successful Korean titles, including "The Storm" and "Hurricane Family", and "Can This Love Be Translated?".
A script adapted from a famous American work
The screenplay by Park Eun-kyo is based on the original series "The Americans" created by Joe Weisberg and produced alongside Joel Fields.
The original version was a huge success, winning a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series in 2019, and was recognized as Program of the Year by the American Film Institute for its first five seasons between 2014 and 2018.
The original series' events revolve around Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, Soviet KGB agents living a double life as an American couple in the suburbs of Washington during the 1980s, creating a situation of psychological and political suspense, which will be embodied in the Korean version with a deep local flavor.
Addition to the global Korean drama
"The Koreans" represents a new addition to the growing series of globally recognized Korean works, including "Made in Korea", "The Storm", and "The Tyrant."
Digital platforms are also developing other Korean projects, including "The Perfect Crown" starring IU and Byun Woo-seok, and "Illusion Pictures" featuring Suzy and Kim Sun-ho, and "The Empress Remarried" starring Shin Min-a and Jo Ji-hoon and Lee Jong-suk and Lee Si-young, along with new seasons of "A Killer's Shopping List" and "Made in Korea".
The new series is set to be exclusively shown on Hulu in the United States, and on the "Disney+" platform in other regions, making it one of the most prominent Korean productions expected to receive wide coverage in 2027.
