Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun are set to return for the second season of Disney+'s 'A Shop for Killers.' With an expanded scale and more dazzling action, they are ready to captivate global audiences once again.
On the 13th, The Walt Disney Company Asia-Pacific (APAC) held the 'Disney+ Original Preview 2025' at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. This event offered a sneak peek at upcoming APAC and global original content on Disney+. The lineup included APAC originals from countries like Korea and Japan, as well as general entertainment, with top stars and creative partners in attendance.
Among the Korean content lineup introduced at the event was 'A Shop for Killers 2,' starring Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun. The series follows the story of Jeong Ji-an (played by Kim Hye-jun), who once again becomes the target of suspicious killers while protecting the dangerous legacy left by her uncle Jeong Jin-man (played by Lee Dong-wook). Season 2 promises even more thrilling action and evolved weaponry.
Season 1 of 'A Shop for Killers' received critical acclaim, scoring 8.6 on IMDB, the world's largest content rating site, upon the release of its first two episodes. According to FlixPatrol, a site that tracks content viewing rankings on global OTT platforms, the series topped the Disney+ TV show category in Korea for three consecutive weeks after episodes 5 and 6 were released. It also dominated the top 10 in five Asian countries, including Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Additionally, it was the only Asian series selected as one of the New York Times' Best International TV Shows of 2024 and was named one of Time magazine's Top 4 Korean Dramas of 2024.
Director Lee Kwon(이권) expressed surprise at the success of Season 1, saying, "I thought it would do well, but I didn't expect it to do this well." Lee Dong-wook echoed the sentiment, adding, "I'm happy that it did so well that we got to do Season 2." Kim Hye-jun expressed gratitude, saying, "We thought it would be fun when we read the script, but we didn't expect to receive so much love."
In Season 2, Lee Dong-wook reprises his role as Jeong Jin-man, the former team leader of the mercenary company Babylon and operator of Murthehelp, while Kim Hye-jun returns as his niece Jeong Ji-an, who becomes a target due to the suspicious legacy left by her uncle. When asked about the news of Season 2, Director Lee Kwon said, "I was pleased. There were some stories we couldn't tell in Season 1, and now we have the opportunity to explain them." Kim Hye-jun added, "I was also pleased and curious about how the unexplained parts from Season 1 would unfold and how Ji-an would grow in Season 2."
Lee Dong-wook admitted feeling more pressure, saying, "Season 1 received tremendous love, so I hope Season 2 receives as much or even more love." He also expressed concern about the director writing and directing the new story, saying, "Creating a new story is challenging, so I tried to help the director as much as possible." He humorously added, "Anyway, Ji-an has the most screen time, so I was a bit more relaxed."
Jeong Jin-man, presumed dead, surprised viewers by being revealed alive at the end of Season 1. When asked about keeping the secret, Lee Dong-wook said, "It wasn't difficult; it was an important element of our drama, so I thought it was important to portray it well." He also teased, "When I returned in Season 1, viewers were happy, and Season 2 will reveal why."
Regarding the action sequences, Director Lee Kwon said, "I never thought the action in 'A Shop for Killers' was large-scale. It's short and impactful. I just try to maximize tension before the action scenes, so they may feel bigger. However, Season 2 will be much more diverse and larger." Lee Dong-wook added, "Jeong Jin-man's mystery continues into Season 2. I think the action will be bigger and more intense than in Season 1."
They also discussed the changes in action from Season 1. Director Lee Kwon explained, "Kim Hye-jun shot a lot of guns. We mostly used blanks to shoot real guns. She shows a trained appearance. In the drama, Jeong Jin-man experiences a lot of pain that wasn't seen in Season 1."
Kim Hye-jun revealed, "In Season 1, I showed basic action based on Muay Thai, but in Season 2, I enter the world of firearms learned from Jeong Jin-man and showcase full-fledged gun action." Lee Dong-wook humorously added, "I did what I always did," to which Kim Hye-jun replied, "But there was a lot more blood, sweat, and tears." Director Lee Kwon added, "Jin-man's action increases."
This season, Japanese actor Masaki Okada and Korean-Japanese actor Hyunri join the cast. Director Lee Kwon explained, "The hidden entity Babylon will be revealed in Season 2. We've set Babylon as a global organization, and Masaki Okada and Hyunri are siblings sent from the Japanese side of Babylon. Both are mercenaries working for Babylon with excellent combat skills. Ironically, they come to capture Jin-man, with whom they have a good past relationship."
Regarding plans for Season 3, Director Lee Kwon said, "Honestly, I don't know. It's something to think about after Season 2 does well." Lee Dong-wook added with a laugh, "It's not up to us to decide; it's important what the Disney executives think." He continued, "The most important thing is the success of Season 2. If Season 2 is successful, we might consider the next season."
Hong Kong=Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr