Moving (South Korean TV series)

Moving (South Korean TV series)

Moving (Korean: 무빙) is a 2023 South Korean action fantasy sci-fi television series written by Kang Full, and co-directed by Park In-je and Park Yoon-seo. The series stars an ensemble cast including Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung, Cha Tae-hyun, Ryoo Seung-bum, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Jung-ha, Go Youn-jung, and Kim Do-hoon. Based on the eponymous Kakao webtoon by Kang, the series is a supernatural drama that depicts the familial story of three teenage high school students and their parents who discover their super powers. The first season was released from August 9, to September 20, 2023. After seven days of availability, it became the most watched Korean original series on Disney+ globally and Hulu in the United States, based on hours streamed. In November 2024, it was announced that production of a second season had begun, with an aim to release sometime in 2026.

Moving won 6 awards at the 2023 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards including Best Creative, Best Lead Actor, Best Writer, Best Newcomer Actor and Actress, and Best Visual Effects awards. The series also won the Baeksang Arts Award Grand Prize – Television at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards. Moving also received the top honor (Grand Prize) at the Blue Dragon Series Awards, and Best Actor and Best Actress nominations for its leads Ryu Seung-ryong and Han Hyo-joo, respectively.

The major success of the series is said to have revitalized the streaming service Disney+, which was struggling to gain a foothold in Korea. It also launched the careers of up-and-coming young actors Lee Jung-ha, Go Youn-jung, and Kim Do-hoon.

Cast

Main

• Ryu Seung-ryong as Jang Ju-won

Hui-soo's father who opens a fried chicken shop. He possesses superhuman strength and regeneration abilities. He is a former top mob enforcer turned former Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) black ops agent with the code name Guryongpo, and Doo-sik's partner during his time in the ANSP.

Doo-sik's wife and Bong-seok's mother who opens a tonkatsu restaurant, whose five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and reflexes) are enhanced to a superhuman level. She is a former ANSP intelligence analyst and youngest ever graduate in the history of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Mi-hyun's husband and Bong-seok's father. He is a former ANSP black ops agent who operated under the code name Moonsan, with flying abilities. After a secret mission to assassinate Kim Il Sung, he is apprenhended by the NIS.

• Cha Tae-hyun as Jeon Gye-do

A theater actor turned bus driver who has the ability to generate electricity.

An orphan with healing abilities who becomes an American-raised assassin. He pursues the retired agents under the orders of the CIA.

• Kim Sung-kyun as Lee Jae-man

Gang-hoon's father who opens a mini mart. He possesses superhuman strength and speed, but is cognitively impaired.

• Lee Jung-ha as Kim Bong-seok

Mi-hyun and Doo-sik's son, and a student of Class 3–3 at Jeongwon High School, who possesses the same abilities as both his parents.

• Go Youn-jung as Jang Hui-soo

Ju-won's daughter, and a student of Class 3–3 at Jeongwon High School. She has healing abilities, which she inherited from her father.

• Kim Do-hoon as Lee Gang-hoon

Jae-man's son, and the class leader of Class 3–3 at Jeongwon High School. He has superhuman strength and speed, which he inherited from his father.

Jeongwon High School

• Kim Hee-won as Choi Il-hwan

A former Special Forces 3rd Brigade member turned PE teacher, under the orders of the NIS, who teaches the superhuman children.

• Yoo Seung-mok as Jo Rae-hyuk

The principal of Jeongwon High School. He is actually a NIS black ops agent, and under the orders of Yong-jun, he searches for the agents with superpowers, and gathers any students with powers.

• Shin Jae-hwi as Bang Ki-soo

A delinquent student of Class 3–3 at Jeongwon High School. He has conflicts with Gang-hoon, and is aware of the existence of the superhumans, Ends up having great character development.

• Shim Dal-gi as Shin Hye-won

A transfer student at Jeongwon High School. She is also Hui-soo's classmate at their former school Jangkyung High School.

• Kim Jong-soo as Hwang Ji-sung

A former NIS agent turned security guard at Jeongwon High School.

• Jeon Seok-ho as Yoon Sung-wook

A NIS agent who becomes a part-time PE teacher of Jeongwon High School.

A student of Class 3–3 at Jeongwon High School. She is a vlogger who loves to capture everything that happens in school with her camera. She has a crush on Gang-hoon, Her personality is bubbly and happy, yet very scared in scary situations.

A North Korean agent who disguises herself as a cleaner at Jeongwon High School.

National Intelligence Service

• Moon Sung-keun as Min Yong-jun

The fifth director of the NIS. He observes and gives orders to the agents with superpowers.

• Kim Shin-rok as Yeo Woon-gyu

Formerly Mi-hyun's superior, she now works with Yong-jun to observe the agents with superpowers. She plans and controls everything well for the success of the missions.

• Baek Hyun-jin as Jung Sang-jin

A retired agent with the code name Jincheon. He has superhuman strength.

• Choi Deok-moon as Jeon Yeong-seok

A retired agent with the code name Bongpyeong, and Gye-do's father. He has the ability to generate electricity.

• Kim Gook-hee as Hong Seong-hwa

A retired agent with the code name Naju. She has the ability to see through everything.

• Park Byung-eun as Ma Sang-gu

People around Jang Ju-won

• Kwak Sun-young as Hwang Ji-hee

Ju-won's wife and Hui-soo's mother who died from a car accident when Hui-soo was young.

• Baek Joo-hee as motel owner

People around Lee Jae-man

• Park Bo-kyung as Shin Yoon-young

• Lee Hae-young as chief officer • Oh Hee-joon as Song Gi-yul

North Korean agents

• Park Hee-soon as Kim Deok-yun

A North Korean military officer who risked everything to follow orders and complete his mission.

A North Korean agent with speed and monstrous strength.

• Yang Dong-geun as Jung Joon-hwa

A North Korean soldier with faster-than-human reactions and excellent shooting skills.

A North Korean soldier with recovery ability and superhuman strength.

A North Korean deserter who can destroy the surrounding area with waves created by the friction of his palms.

Special appearances

• Son Byong-ho as Kim Hyun-sung

The minister of MSS.

• Lee Ho-jung as Yang Se-eun

Seong-hwa's daughter. She has the ability to see through everything, which she inherited from her parents.

• Son Bo-seung as the handicapped son of a butcher • as Kim Young-tak

A student at Jeongwon High School. He is found ineligible and transfers to another high school. He is originally one of the characters in Kang Full's past comic, Timing.

• Song Duk-ho as Seo Yu-ra's boyfriend

Episodes

Moving (South Korean TV series)

All episodes were written by Kang Full, and directed by Park In-je and Park Yoon-seo.

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Title</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>"Senior Year" Transliteration: "Go3" (Korean: 고3)</td><td>August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09)</td></tr><tr><td>Kim Bong-seok looks like an ordinary high school student, but hides a secret. Jang Hui-soo, who excited Bong-seok on the bus, transfers to the same class.</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>"Booyang: Family Support, Levitation" Transliteration: "Buyang" (Korean: 부양)</td><td>August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09)</td></tr><tr><td>Lee Mi-hyun hides Bong-seok's superpowers, but the mysterious incidents on social media make her anxious.</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>"1+1" Transliteration: "Won+Won" (Korean: 원+원)</td><td>August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09)</td></tr><tr><td>The closer Bong-seok grows to Hui-soo, the more risk of exposure he draws.</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>"The Secret" Transliteration: "Bimil" (Korean: 비밀)</td><td>August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09)</td></tr><tr><td>Bong-seok's secret is exposed, and Hui-soo walks him home; Frank searches for his third target.</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>"Recall" Transliteration: "Rikol" (Korean: 리콜)</td><td>August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09)</td></tr><tr><td>Hui-soo assures Bong-seok that his secret is safe by revealing her own secret.</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>"Bungaeman" Transliteration: "Beongaemaen" (Korean: 번개맨)</td><td>August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09)</td></tr><tr><td>Jeon Gye-do's past is revealed; the NIS finds out information about Frank.</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>"The Stranger" Transliteration: "Ibang-in" (Korean: 이방인)</td><td>August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09)</td></tr><tr><td>Frank recalls his past as he eliminates his targets; after Frank's visit, Mi-hyun suppresses her son.</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>"Black" Transliteration: "Beullaek" (Korean: 블랙)</td><td>August 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)</td></tr><tr><td>In 1994, Intelligence analyst Mi-hyun deliberately approaches Kim Doo-sik, a black agent, under the direction of Deputy Director Min Yong-jun.</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>"Humanists" Transliteration: "Hyumeoniseuteu" (Korean: 휴머니스트)</td><td>August 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)</td></tr><tr><td>Doo-sik and Mi-hyun grow closer as they share secrets. Doo-sik tricks Director Min and proposes to continue the operation.</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>"The Monster" Transliteration: "Goemul" (Korean: 괴물)</td><td>August 23, 2023 (2023-08-23)</td></tr><tr><td>In 1990, Jang Ju-won, who led the organization with monstrous abilities, was betrayed and became a fugitive. Hwang Ji-hee appears in front of the lost Ju-won.</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>"Romanticist" Transliteration: "Romaentiseuteu" (Korean: 로맨티스트)</td><td>August 23, 2023 (2023-08-23)</td></tr><tr><td>While talking with Ju-won, Ji-hee gradually opens her heart. One day, returning to the motel, Ju-won hears Ji-hee screaming.</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>"Partners" Transliteration: "Pateuneo" (Korean: 파트너)</td><td>August 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)</td></tr><tr><td>In 1994, Doo-sik who had disappeared, visits Mi-hyun, with a plan to escape from Director Min forever.</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>"Jang Ju-won" Transliteration: "Jang Juwon" (Korean: 장주원)</td><td>August 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)</td></tr><tr><td>After the dissolution of the Black Team, Ju-won is transferred to an office job. One day, Director Min appears and proposes a mission to rebuild the Black Team with Ju-won as Team Leader. After one of his missions overseas, Ju-won finds out that his wife and daughter were involved in a car accident.</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>"The Fool" Transliteration: "Babo" (Korean: 바보)</td><td>September 6, 2023 (2023-09-06)</td></tr><tr><td>Lee Jae-man's past is revealed. In 2003, when Lee Jae-man's wife is arrested for participating in a protest, he tries to save her with his power.</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>"N.T.D.P"</td><td>September 6, 2023 (2023-09-06)</td></tr><tr><td>Jeongwon High School's secrets are starting to get revealed. After seeing the video of the auditorium accident, Mi-hyun and Ju-won become suspicious and come to Jeongwon High School. Gye-do discovers Joon-hwa following Bong-seok and Hui-soo.</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>"The Man Between" Transliteration: "Gyeonggyeingan" (Korean: 경계인간)</td><td>September 13, 2023 (2023-09-13)</td></tr><tr><td>Choi Il-hwan's story from a Special Forces soldier to a teacher of Jeongwon High School is revealed.</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>"Awakening" Transliteration: "Gakseong" (Korean: 각성)</td><td>September 13, 2023 (2023-09-13)</td></tr><tr><td>The North Korean agents begin their mission to look for the files in Jeongwon High School, with Ju-won and Mi-hyun standing in their way.</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>"South and North" Transliteration: "Namgwa buk" (Korean: 남과 북)</td><td>September 20, 2023 (2023-09-20)</td></tr><tr><td>The stories behind the North Korean agents' abilities is revealed, as the South Korean superhumans and North Korean agents continue the battle.</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>"Final Battle" Transliteration: "Gyeoljeon" (Korean: 결전)</td><td>September 20, 2023 (2023-09-20)</td></tr><tr><td>The final battle in Jeongwon High School between the South and North continues, with new allies from both sides joining the battle.</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>"Graduation Day" Transliteration: "Joreopsik" (Korean: 졸업식)</td><td>September 20, 2023 (2023-09-20)</td></tr><tr><td>The battle in Jeongwon High School concludes.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Production

Season 1

South Korean webtoon artist Kang Full rose in popularity in 2003 with his romance webtoon Love Story. Kang then explored other genres, including the superhero genre with Timing (2005) and Moving (2015). On January 6, 2020, it was announced that Studio & New would produce a television series based on Moving. It is the first screen adaptation of Kang Full's webtoons to be scripted by the author himself. On September 9, 2020, it was revealed that Zo In-sung who last appeared in 2014 TV series It's Okay, That's Love has received offer to appear in the series. In August 2021, it was reported that series was being produced by Studio & New. Due to its extensive use of special effects, Moving had a high production budget ranging between ₩50–65 billion. The series includes over 7,000 CGI shots. On October 13, 2021 Disney+ announced Moving as their tentpole show for pan Asian market. In February 2021, it was reported that the joint production agreement was cancelled and Park In-je would replace director Mo Wan-il due to differences between co-producers JTBC and Next Entertainment World.

On October 29, 2021, lineup of the lead stars was revealed by releasing the photos from the script reading of the cast. After completing the casting of the series on August 23, 2021, it began filming on August 26. By January 2022, about half of filming was completed. The production staff members were divided into two teams: the second team was led by director Park Yoon-seo.

Season 2

According to Osen in November 2024, Kang Full has already begun working on the script for the second season and several stars have been informed. However, filming is expected to start in three years as it is a huge project with pre-production process underway and the target date is 2026. During a press conference held in Singapore on November 21, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific announced that the second season began its development.

Original soundtrack

Moving (South Korean TV series)

The show's soundtrack album was released on January 19, 2024.

Release

Moving (South Korean TV series)

Moving, after facing delays in production, premiered on Disney+ on August 9, 2023. It was made available in 65 markets and countries through the platform and in the United States through Hulu. The first seven episodes were released on August 9, followed by two episodes per week on every Wednesday, and the final three episodes on September 20.

The drama was aired for the first time in linear television via MBC on December 22, 2024.

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the series has an approval rating of 100% based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10.

Pierce Conran of South China Morning Post rated the series five out of five and wrote, "In adapting his own webcomic for the screen, Kang Full has stitched together a rich canvas combining a multitude of characters who weave in and out of his story, each of them fleshed out and given their moment to shine."

Viewership

After seven days of availability, Moving became the most watched Korean Disney+ original series on the platform globally and on Hulu in the United States, based on hours streamed. In its first week of release, Moving became the most watched series in numerous countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and countries in Southeast Asia, based on hours watched. The series also had the biggest premiere ever on Disney+ in South Korea, based on hours watched in its first week of availability. The executive vice president of original content strategy of The Walt Disney Company (APAC), Carol Choi, said the response "exceeded our expectations". Variety called the series "the next breakout hit from Asia after Squid Game".

After Moving's premiere, the use time of Disney+ in South Korea increased by 145%, reaching an all-time high of 196 million minutes in the series' fifth week of availability.

On December 15, 2023, Walt Disney Company Korea announced that Moving became the most-watched local original series of the year on Disney+ in South Korea.

Accolades

Moving (South Korean TV series)

Moving with six nominations was the most nominated series at the 2023 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards. All six nominations were converted into awards at the award show on October 8, 2023.

<table><thead><tr><th>Award</th><th>Year</th><th>Category</th><th>Nominee(s) / work(s)</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>APAN Star Awards</td><td>2023</td><td>Drama of the Year</td><td>Moving</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Director</td><td>Park In-je</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Screenwriter</td><td>Kang Full</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries</td><td>Ryu Seung-ryong</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Lee Jung-ha</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actress</td><td>Go Youn-jung</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards</td><td>2023</td><td>Best Creative</td><td>Moving</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Lead Actor</td><td>Ryu Seung-ryong</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Newcomer Actor</td><td>Lee Jung-ha</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Newcomer Actress</td><td>Go Youn-jung</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Visual Effects</td><td>Moving</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Writer</td><td>Kang Full</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Baeksang Arts Awards</td><td>2024</td><td>Grand Prize – Television</td><td>Moving</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Drama</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Director</td><td>Park In-je</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Screenplay</td><td>Kang Full</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor</td><td>Ryu Seung-ryong</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Lee Jung-ha</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actress</td><td>Go Youn-jung</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Technical Award</td><td>Lee Seong-gyu (VFX)</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Blue Dragon Series Awards</td><td>2024</td><td>Blue Dragon's Choice (Grand Prize)</td><td>Moving</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Drama</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor</td><td>Ryu Seung-ryong</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actress</td><td>Han Hyo-joo</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Kim Sung-kyun</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Kwak Sun-young</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Lee Jung-ha</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actress</td><td>Go Youn-jung</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>CJ ENM Visionary Awards</td><td>2024</td><td>2024 Visionary</td><td>Ryu Seung-ryong</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kang Full</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Critics' Choice Awards</td><td>2024</td><td>Best Foreign Language Series</td><td>Moving</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Consumer Rights Day KCA Culture and Entertainment Awards</td><td>2023</td><td>Best Screenplay</td><td>Kang Full</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FUNdex Awards</td><td>2023</td><td>FUNdex Grand Prize of drama</td><td>Moving</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Drama of Clips</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Of VON(Voice of Netizen)</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best of OTT Drama Actor</td><td>Ryu Seung-ryong</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Zo In-sung</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Lee Jung-ha</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best of OTT Drama Actress</td><td>Han Hyo-joo</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Go Youn-jung</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best of OTT Drama Supporting Actor</td><td>Kim Hee-won</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Grand Bell Awards</td><td>2023</td><td>Best Series</td><td>Moving</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Series Director</td><td>Park In-je and Park Yoon-seo</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Series Actor</td><td>Ryu Seung-ryong</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Series Actress</td><td>Han Hyo-joo</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Seoul International Drama Awards</td><td>2024</td><td>Best Miniseries</td><td>Moving</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Director</td><td>Park In-je</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Screenwriter</td><td>Kang Full</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Korean Drama</td><td>Moving</td><td>Won</td></tr></tbody></table>