Credit: Disney Plus
Disney Plus is diving into Korean historical drama for the first time with The Murky Stream , unveiling a dramatic main poster and trailer ahead of its September 26th premiere.
The poster gathers the ensemble cast in one striking tableau, hinting at a clash of characters driven by different motives: some to live with dignity, some to uphold justice, and others in pursuit of wealth and power.
At the story’s core are three people: Si Yul (played Rowoon ), who fights to restore order; Choi Eun ( Shin Ye Eun ), who stands firm against a brutal world; and Jung Cheon ( Park Seo Ham ), a fearless soul who throws himself into danger for the sake of justice. They collide with powerful forces including Mu Deok (Park Ji Hwan), a gang leader who controls Gyeonggang’s trade; corrupt official Lee Dol Gae (Choi Gwi Hwa), who rules like a king by collecting bribes; and the enigmatic Wang Hae (Kim Dong Won).
Credit: Disney Plus
The trailer expands on this universe, revealing Si Yul’s past as a laborer at Mapo dock and his recruitment into Mu Deok’s gang. It teases a hidden bond between Si Yul and Jung Cheon, raising questions about their shared history. Corrupt officials leech off commoners through extortion, setting up a predatory food-chain system of exploitation.
“If you rush in, you’ll be swept away by the current—and you must be ready to kill. Can you handle it?” warns Official Daeho (Choi Won Young), while another voice urges, “Find the hand pulling the strings. Only then can this nation stand again.” The teaser closes with Wang Hae’s mysterious arrival, Choi Eun on the run, and Si Yul and Jung Cheon locked in a life-or-death fight.
The Murky Stream comes from director Chu Chang Min, whose Masquerade (2012) drew more than 10 million admissions at the box office, and screenwriter Chun Sung Il, returning to historical drama 14 years after The Slave Hunters.
The nine-episode series will premiere exclusively on Disney Plus with episodes 1–3 dropping September 26th, followed by two new episodes weekly. The Murky Stream has already been invited to the “On Screen” section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, signaling its stature as one of this year’s most anticipated Korean dramas.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival Announces 6 Drama Titles for On Screen Section
