A tinge of secrecy. Gunshots. Action scenes. New K-drama Tempest seems to have all the key ingredients of what makes a successful series. But don’t forget that they’ve also assembled the best team, both in front of and behind the cameras.
The nine-part drama has A-listers like Gianna Jun, Gang Dong-won, John Cho, and more fronting the series. Renowned screenwriter Jeong Seo-kyeong wrote the storyline, who has written other hits like Little Women, Decision to Leave, and more.
As the series drops its first three episodes, here are five things to know about it.
1. It’s The First Time The Leads Have Worked Together
Perhaps while watching the series, you’d think that Jun and Gang would have worked with each other at some point to evoke such chemistry. But it’s actually their first time working on the same project together.
“I’m a long-time fan of Gang Dong-won,” Jun said. “I’m not lying,” she added before a quick laugh.
“I’ve always wanted to work with him, and that’s why I took on this role,” she explained. While she (and all of us, right?) first got to know him for his physique, she later got acquainted with him more as a person during the filming process. Such chemistry and bond also helped her better immerse herself in the role.
Unsurprisingly, Gang also said that he was drawn in by Jun’s charm and appeal on set.
2. It’s A Work Of (Co-Directing) Art
The final cut of Tempest was not just one director’s work. It was the combined effort of co-directors Heo Myung-haeng and Kim Hee-won.
“With [director] Heo, it feels like we’re sharing a laptop, or a computer. He knows my strengths and weaknesses, and he’d alert me to an issue whenever there’s one,” Kim said.
It surely helps that Heo is also a big fan of Kim, and perhaps that’s why this series is a must-watch. “I tried to let her shine as well, so we’d have the best output,” he said.
3. Everything All At Once
While romance is still in, Tempest is switching things up with a pretty wide variety of genres for viewers to expect.
There’s action, espionage, and well, of course, that bit of romance. Skilled diplomat Min-ju (Gianna Jun), who’s a UN ambassador, as well as international special agent San-ho (Gang Dong-won), will embark on a mission to discover what’s behind a deadly attack—one which could well threaten the stability of the Korean peninsula.
4. The Star Cast Was A Stroke Of Fortune
With Tempest‘s thrilling plotline and all-star cast, it’s easy to see why the series is considered a tentpole of Disney+’s Korean-language content. The Korean leads are huge draws and industry veterans, while the international cast boasts experienced stars like John Cho and Michael Gaston. But rather than setting out in search of A-listers, director Kim maintains that the final cast list was formed organically, by prioritising what audiences wanted to see and who staff wanted to work with. “We weren’t aiming for a star-studded cast,” he shared with Variety. “Rather, I believe something truly lucky happened, something that can only be described as a stroke of fortune.”
The actors were equally committed to the storytelling behind the series. Korean-American John Cho, known for his roles in Searching and Star Trek, says he was “astonished” by the script and was drawn in by its compelling blend of intrigue, narrative, and in-depth character exploration. “Working towards a common goal with the Korean production team and building a bond was an experience I’ll never forget,” he said of the filming process. If this collection of acting prowess was an accident, it’s the happiest one we’ve ever seen.
5. The Sea Holds A Deeper Meaning
Tempest brings its fair share of typical spy thriller fireworks in the form of explosions and car chases, but it also holds enough nuance to reward the discerning viewer. The directing team and cast have approached the production with care and emotion, weaving symbolism into the narrative. Without giving anything important away, we can draw your attention to one such motif running throughout the series—the vast, unpredictable open ocean.
“The story features many different kinds of seas—a lyrical sea where whales might swim, a dark and ominous sea with something lurking beneath the surface, and a sea where violent waves crash only to fall silent again, as if just before a storm,” Kim explains. “These many states of the sea metaphorically reflect the emotions of the characters and the world we are confronting.”
This story originally appeared on HallyuSG. Additional reporting by Anika Deshmukh.
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