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Disney+ crime thriller series 'Gold Land' explores humanity's innate greed

Published: 27 Apr. 2026, 18:20 Updated: 27 Apr. 2026, 20:42

KIM JU-YEON
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The cast and director of the upcoming Disney+ series ″Gold Land″ pose for a photo at a press conference at the Conrad Seoul hotel in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on April 27. From left are actors Kim Sung-cheo, Moon Jeong-hee and Lee Hyun-wook; director Kim Sung-hoon; and actors Park Bo-young, Kim Hee-won and Lee Kwang-soo. [YONHAP]

How much gold would lead someone astray to a life that they didn't want? The director of the upcoming Disney+ crime thriller series “Gold Land" has an answer: one ton of gold bars, worth roughly 150 billion won ($102 million).

Talk about inflation — this is more than triple the 45.6 billion won offered as prize money in the first season of Netflix's “Squid Game” (2021-25).

“I thought that, visually, the gold should look both heavy and large since it represents the greed that we all have [within],” director Kim Sung-hoon said at a press conference for “Gold Land” at the Conrad Seoul hotel in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Monday.

At current rates, the gold would be worth even more now than it was during production, he added.

The show follows Hee-ju, an airport security officer played by actor Park Bo-young, who, after becoming entangled in her romantic partner's illegal activities, finds herself in possession of stolen gold bars. She goes on the run to her hometown, where she initially hopes to start a new chapter in her life, only to be reminded of her painful past and forced to fight to survive as a criminal syndicate that wants the gold closes in on her location.

ACtor Park Bo-young as Hee-joo, left, in a still from the upcoming Disney+ crime thriller series ″Gold Land″ [DISNEY+]

“Hee-ju becomes bound to the very place that she most wanted to escape from because of the gold, so I felt that it needed to be both difficult to move and valuable enough [to not leave behind],” Kim said.

Hwang Jo-yoon, the screenwriter behind “Oldboy” (2003), crafted the tale of greed, obsession and betrayal in “Gold Land,” which also marks his streaming debut. Hwang previously worked with Kim on the action-comedy hit “Confidential Assignment” (2017) and the horror film “Rampant” (2018).

Kim Sung-hoon, director of ″Gold Land,″ speaks at a press conference for the Disney+ crime thriller series at the Conrad Seoul hotel in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on April 27. [NEWS1]

“We started developing the series from the premise that the human mind is never just one thing. It can grow or shrink, break or shift, with all kinds of thoughts and feelings at play,” Kim said. "Among [those emotions], I believe that desire is the most powerful. This is a story about how a person's desire gradually takes over them.”

“It was the most fun script I'd read all year,” said Kim Hee-won, an actor with more than 20 years of experience and also the director of Disney+'s “Light Shop” (2024). In “Gold Land,” he plays Jin-man, a corrupt police officer who colludes with a casino to get what he wants.

ACtor Park Bo-young as Hee-joo in a still from the upcoming Disney+ crime thriller series ″Gold Land″ [DISNEY+]

For Park, the project marks her first foray into the crime genre, a deliberate challenge after building a career on lovable and often upbeat heroes in the film “Scandal Makers” (2008) and shows such as “Strong Girl Bong-soon” (2017) and “Daily Dose of Sunshine” (2023).

“There's a certain image of me that a lot of viewers have, and when someone with a specific image makes decisions that they're not expected to make [even while acting], the audience can be surprised,” she said at the press event.

Actor Lee Kwang-soo plays a high-ranking member of a smuggling organization in the upcoming Disney+ crime thriller series ″Gold Land.″ [DISNEY+]

Similarly, Lee Kwang-soo, a former cast member of SBS's variety show “Running Man” (2010–), is known for his more comedic roles, but he depicts Ho-cheol, a high-ranking member of a criminal syndicate who chases after Hee-joo, in “Gold Land.” Draped in gold accessories, including a gold grill that the actor personally paid for, Lee portrays “a genuinely chilling” character, according to his fellow cast member Lee Hyun-wook.

“Viewers will see new sides of these actors through this series,” Kim said.

The 10-episode “Gold Land” kicks off this Wednesday on Disney+, with two episodes dropping each week.

BY KIM JU-YEON [[email protected]]