Rowoon Stars in Disney+'s First Korean Historical Drama "The Murky Stream" - Release Date September 2025
The former SF9 member leads Disney+'s inaugural Korean sageuk alongside Shin Ye-eun and Park Seo-ham in this corruption-focused Joseon drama
Disney+ is breaking new ground with "The Murky Stream" (탁류), its first Korean historical drama series starring Rowoon, Shin Ye-eun, and Park Seo-ham. The nine-episode series premieres September 26, 2025 exclusively on Disney+ worldwide.
Star Cast Takes On Gritty Joseon Drama
At the September 23 production presentation in Seoul, the cast revealed the physical demands of this action-heavy historical series. Rowoon described filming intense scenes "until I nearly threw up," marking his most challenging role as Jang Si-yool, a former noble turned gangster at Mapo Ferry.
Shin Ye-eun, fresh from her global success in "The Glory," portrays Choi Eun, a merchant running Joseon's largest trading company. Park Seo-ham makes his historical drama debut as Jung Cheon, an idealistic government official fighting corruption.
The supporting cast includes Park Ji-hwan, Choi Gwi-hwa, Kim Dong-won, and Jeon Bae-soo.
Creative Team Behind the Series
Director Choo Chang-min, who drew 12.3 million viewers with 2012's "Masquerade," makes his series directing debut. Writer Cheon Seong-il returns to historical drama after 14 years since creating "The Slave Hunters," which achieved 34% peak ratings.
The series adapts the novel "Takryu" by Chae Man Sik, focusing on lower-class characters rather than traditional royal narratives.
Plot Centers on Han River Corruption
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, the story unfolds along the Gyeonggang River (modern-day Han River), where all trade and money flow. Three characters fight corruption in this lawless world:
- Si-yool (Rowoon): A hidden noble surviving as a gangster
- Choi Eun (Shin Ye-eun): A determined female merchant
- Jung Cheon (Park Seo-ham): An honest official combating systemic corruption
Director Choo explained his attraction to the project: "Traditional sageuk often focused on kings and nobles, but this script's focus on lower-class gangsters along the Han River was particularly appealing."
Production Challenges and Authenticity
The production team prioritized authenticity, with 98% of filming on outdoor sets rather than studios. Director Choo revealed water location challenges: "The water levels kept changing, making filming extremely difficult. We only used CGI for expanded portions, which proved to be the right choice."
The series has been selected for the 30th Busan International Film Festival's "On Screen" section, premiering there on September 18, 2025 before its global streaming launch.
Disney+'s Korean Content Strategy
"The Murky Stream" represents Disney+'s significant investment in Korean content following the success of series like "Moving," which became Disney+'s most-watched local original globally in 2023.
When asked about international appeal, Director Choo noted: "We didn't specifically create it for overseas audiences, but Rowoon's global popularity could spark curiosity based on the actors' names alone."
Release Schedule and Future Plans
The series launches September 26, 2025 with episodes 1-3, followed by two episodes weekly for nine total episodes. While not planned as a multi-season series, Director Choo expressed openness to expansion: "The story could be extended if audiences want more."
"The Murky Stream" will stream exclusively on Disney+ worldwide (Hulu in the US), marking a new chapter in Disney+'s Korean content expansion and potentially redefining the historical drama genre for global audiences.
Episodes 1-3 premiere September 26, 2025, only on Disney+.