When Disney+’s Korean drama Moving finished filming in 2021, director In-je Park did not have many expectations on the audience’s perception towards the series. He just really wanted to make something original that he’s never done before.
It came to a surprise to the director when the series became the most watched Korean Disney+ original series on the platform globally, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and most of Southeast Asia, and on Hulu in the United States. It won numerous awards in Asia — sweeping all six awards at the Asia Content Awards / Global OTT Awards — and was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best International Series.
“The [Critics Choice] nomination was completely unexpected,” Park tells The Nerds of Color. “My goal was really just to make something original in Korea. I wasn’t really thinking about what awards it would win in the future.”
Known best for his work on the second season of Netflix’s Kingdom, Park read writer Kang Full’s webtoon of the same name and enjoyed how the story ranged from a superhero genre to romance to horror. He really enjoyed playing with the different genres for each episode and learned a lot, especially with the romance sequences.
“I normally don’t like a lot of romance,” says Park. “When it was the love story between Doo-sik (Zo In-Sung) and Mi-hyun *Han Hyo-Joo) and directing their kiss scene, that was all kind of new for me [but] I really like trying these new genres and end up being more fun than I anticipated them to be.”
With the many genres presented, Park drew inspiration from multiple American television series and movies like E.T., Superman, Back to the Future, Marvel films, and even Breaking Bad. With 20 episodes, Park got to play around with the characters and their storylines. He explains that audiences can enjoy something different as they watch the series.
“I really wanted it to be fun for people who enjoy different genres to kind of pick and choose and enjoy the show in their own way,” Park explains.
Moving is reportedly the most expensive K-drama of all time, with a budget of over 60 million Korean won ($45 million). It definitely shows, with their stunning fight scenes and believable VFX. Park credits the actors and stunt team for doing their own action rather than adding more CGI. He explains, “We really tried to create superheroes that were definitely rooted in reality, to kind of create our own flavor.”
Moving has received rave reviews from many American outlets and has been highlighted for telling a sweet family story. Park had just become a father when he was given the script for the series and was moved by the parental love towards their children. He knew there was something there as he connected with it personally.
“There is a moment, in the later episodes, where [a mother tells a villain] that ‘I can become a monster for my child,’” Park reflects. “Prior to having my daughter, I would have thought [that’s not possible] but I really empathized with that line being a new parent myself.”
Though Moving did not win the Critics Choice Award, the impact of the series — as well as three other Korean dramas — being nominated shows the impact of Korean content coming to American audiences. Disney+/Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video have increased their Korean content onto their release roster. Park noticed the wave of K-culture moving into the states immediately when he landed in Los Angeles.
“Whether it’s Netflix with Squid Game or Director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite or BTS, I really feel like Korean culture has been introduced to American audiences and critics,” says Park. “Now these people are more aware of it and they’re more familiar with us. It is really meaningful because even with the Critics Choice Awards there are Korean projects nominated. I think that just represents how much more familiar American audiences are getting to Korean culture. And, as a director, that makes me happy.”
Moving is available with English subtitles and English-dub on Disney+ and Hulu.