AceShowbiz - Disney+ has announced a new Korean drama series adaptation of the acclaimed novel Miracles of the Namiya General Store, marking a significant addition to its growing slate of East Asian originals. Filming has officially begun on this Korean-language series, which is based on the 2012 bestselling Japanese novel by Keigo Higashino, a book that has sold over 13 million copies worldwide.

This series is set for a global release on Disney+ in 2027 and tells a compelling story blending fantasy and mystery. The narrative centers on three petty criminals who seek refuge in an abandoned general store after a failed heist. While hiding there, they begin receiving letters from strangers that were sent decades earlier, seeking advice and help, weaving a complex tale across time.

The novel has previously been adapted twice for the screen: a 2017 Japanese film directed by Ryuichi Hiroki, and a Chinese version from the same year featuring Jackie Chan as the benevolent shop owner. Now, Ryu Seung-ryong will lead the Korean adaptation, portraying Go Min-joong, the elderly shop owner whose thoughtful responses to the mysterious letters ignite a series of events connecting people across time.

This project marks the third collaboration between Ryu Seung-ryong and Disney+, following his role in the 2023 superhero thriller Moving—Disney+’s largest Korean original to date—and the 1970s crime drama Low Life, which is currently streaming on the platform.

The story’s trio of young thieves will be portrayed by up-and-coming actors Kang You-seok, Park Jung-woo, and Kim Seong-jeong, known for their roles in Resident Playbook, 20th Century Girl, and The Woodcutter and the Fairy respectively. The supporting cast includes popular Korean drama stars such as Kim Hye-yoon (Lovely Runner), Moon Sang-min (Pavane), and Lee Chae-min (Bon Appétit, Your Majesty), with special appearances reported from Yum Jung-ah, Yeom Hye-ran, Jung Chae-yeon, and Jang Dong-yoon.

The series is both directed and adapted for television by Park Young-ju, who gained recognition for the 2024 true-crime comedy thriller Citizen of a Kind. That film starred Ra Mi-ran as a laundromat owner who took down a voice-phishing scam ring. The Korean production company behind this series is The Lamp, known for producing Jang Hoon’s acclaimed drama A Taxi Driver.

This announcement comes as part of Disney+’s strategic push to compete more aggressively with Netflix in the Korean drama market. Netflix has dominated this sector for nearly a decade by securing exclusive output deals with Korea’s top studios, making Korean content a critical part of its global strategy.

At Disney+’s Originals Preview event in Hong Kong last November, the platform unveiled an expansive 2026 lineup of Korean dramas. This includes the prestige period crime drama Made in Korea, starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, which was renewed for a second season even before the first season aired. Other titles revealed were Perfect Crown, a royal romance featuring IU and Byeon Woo-seok; Gold Land, a crime-action thriller with Park Bo-young and Kim Sung-cheol; the supernatural webtoon adaptation Portraits of Delusion starring Suzy and Kim Seon-ho; and the epic fantasy The Remarried Empress, starring Shin Min-a, Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Se-young, and Lee Jong-suk.

Additionally, Disney+ announced a second season of the action thriller A Shop for Killers and plans for a high-profile Korean remake of the FX series The Americans. The company is also expanding its Korean esports streaming partnerships, further solidifying its commitment to Korean entertainment.

With the Korean adaptation of Miracles of the Namiya General Store, Disney+ aims to capture global audiences with a unique, time-spanning narrative that combines fantasy, drama, and mystery, leveraging a strong cast and creative team to make a significant impact in the competitive K-drama market.