Disney+ is making a major push in South Korea in 2026 as it tries to narrow the wide gap with market leader Netflix. With around 12 million fewer subscribers than Netflix in Korea, the platform is betting on a strong lineup of Korean originals to attract viewers.
According to market research firm Mobile Index, Netflix had 15.59 million monthly active users in Korea as of December 2025. Disney+ had just 3.22 million subscribers, up slightly from 2.93 million a year earlier. Other local platforms showed much stronger growth, with Coupang Play reaching 8.43 million users and Tving rising to 7.34 million.
Disney+ has proven it can create hit Korean series, such as Moving in 2023. However, industry observers say the platform struggles to release successful shows consistently. Viewers often cancel subscriptions after a major series ends, while Netflix retains users with a steady stream of dramas and reality shows.
This challenge is not limited to Korea. At a Disney+ event in Hong Kong last year, international media noted that Netflix’s dominance in Asia comes from its large and regular supply of Korean content. Observers said audiences follow strong stories, not streaming brands.
To address this, Disney+ is focusing on two main areas in 2026: romance dramas and unscripted variety shows. The platform plans to target core K-drama fans with high-profile casting and popular genres.
Upcoming romance and drama titles include Perfect Crown, starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, and The Remarried Empress, featuring Shin Min-a and Lee Jong-suk. Other projects include Gold Land, Bloody Flower, Made in Korea Season 2, and Delusio, starring Suzy and Kim Seon-ho.
Disney+ is also expanding into reality television. The platform will launch Battle of Fates, a survival show featuring 49 shamans. The series is produced by the team behind Netflix’s hit Culinary Class Wars, marking a direct challenge to Netflix’s strength in unscripted content.
Industry analysts see 2026 as a crucial year for Disney+ in Korea. While the platform’s new strategy shows ambition, it still faces an uphill battle against Netflix’s scale and steady investment. Whether strong storytelling alone can convince viewers to switch platforms remains an open question.
