Hallyu Spotlight: 3 things to know about Disney+’s newest K-drama Tempest

A tinge of secrecy. Gunshots. Action scenes. New K-drama Tempest seems to have all the key ingredients of what makes a successful series. However, don’t forget that they’ve also assembled the best team, both in front of and behind the cameras.

The nine-part drama has A-listers like Gianna Jun, Gang Do-won, John Cho, and more fronting the series. Renowned screenwriter Jeong Seo-kyeong wrote the storyline, who has written other series like Little Women (2022), Decision to Leave (2022) and more.

As the series drops its first three episodes, here are four things to know about it.

1. It’s the leads’ first project together

Perhaps while watching the series, you’d think that Jun and Gang would have worked with each other at some point to evoke such chemistry. But it’s actually their first time working on the same project together.

“I’m a long-time fan of Gang Dong-won,” Jun said. “I’m not lying,” she added before a quick laugh.

“I’ve always wanted to work with him, and that’s why I took on this role,” she explained. While she (and all of us, right?) first got to know him for his physique, she later got acquainted with him more as a person during the filming process. Such chemistry and bond also helped her better immerse herself in the role.

Unsurprisingly, Gang also said that he was drawn in by Jun’s charm and appeal on set.

2. A work of co-directing

The final work of Tempest (2025) was not just one director’s work. It was the combined effort of co-directors Heo Myung-haeng and Kim Hee-won.

“With (director) Heo, it feels like we’re sharing a laptop, or a computer. He knows my strengths and weaknesses, and he’d alert me to an issue whenever there’s one,” Kim said.

It surely helps that Heo is also a big fan of Kim, and perhaps that’s why this series is a must-watch. “I tried to let her shine as well, so we’d have the best output,” he said.

3. Everything all at once

While romance is still in, Tempest is switching things up with a pretty wide variety of genres which viewers can expect.

There’s action, espionage, and well, of course, that bit of romance. Skilled diplomat Min-ju (Gianna Jun), who’s a UN ambassador, as well as international special agent San-ho (Gang Dong-won) will embark on a mission to discover what’s behind a deadly attack. One which could well threaten the stability of the Korean peninsula.