Low Life Season 1: Release date news, cast details, streaming details, and more about the Disney+ period drama series

Low Life K-drama
Low Life is an upcoming K-drama (Image via Instagram @disneypluskr)

Low Life is the latest addition to South Korea’s exciting 2025 drama lineup, and it’s already turning heads. Set in the gritty world of the 1970s, this new Disney+ crime thriller dives deep into a tale of sunken treasure, clever conmen, and dangerous betrayals.

The series is based on the popular webtoon Pain by Yoon Tae-ho, and it takes loose inspiration from a real-life archaeological discovery: a 14th-century Chinese shipwreck found near Shinan, South Korea, in 1975.

Low Life promises to explore the extent to which desperate people will go when the treasure is within reach, thanks to its star-studded cast, fast-paced release schedule, and intricate plot. Under the direction of renowned director Kang Yoon-sung, the show combines contemporary drama with historical mystery.

Everything you need to know about the Disney+ original is right below.


When will Low Life Season 1 release?

youtube-cover

Low Life is set to premiere on July 16, 2025. Fans won’t have to wait long to dive into the story as the first three episodes will be available on launch day.

After that, the series will continue with two new episodes every Wednesday, leading up to its two-part finale on August 13, 2025. In total, the season will have 11 episodes, offering viewers a tightly paced story over the course of five weeks.

The show will be streaming globally on Disney+, allowing international audiences to watch the drama unfold in real-time. For U.S. viewers, Low Life will also be released as a Hulu Original, making it available to stream directly on Hulu as well.

Also Read: Ang Mutya ng Section E stars Ashtine Olviga & Andres Muhlach reunite for their first movie as a lead couple


What is Low Life about? Plot details explored

A glimpse into the series (Image via Instagram @disneypluskr)
A glimpse into the series (Image via Instagram @disneypluskr)

The story is set in South Korea in 1977, and opens with the startling discovery of the sunken remains of an ancient Chinese ship that is said to contain treasure off the coast of Shinan. A tumultuous mix of fortune-seekers is drawn in as soon as word of the lost gold spreads.

However, these are misfits, part-time hustlers, and desperate people seeking unexpected wealth and not professional explorers. At the center is Oh Gwan-seok, a seasoned con artist seeking one last chance with his nephew, Oh Hee-dong, who follows him on this perilous treasure hunt.

The difference between betrayal and survival becomes more hazy as they engage in combat with other players in this lethal game, including underworld characters and corporate elites. As new characters appear in each episode, the power dynamics change, and it becomes more difficult to determine whom to believe.

Also Read: Good Boy Episode 11: Release date news, streaming details, and more


Who is in the cast of Low Life?

youtube-cover

Low Life features a lineup of top-tier Korean actors:

Ryu Seung-ryong (Moving, Chicken Nugget) stars as Oh Gwan-seok, the cunning conman with one last gamble.

Yang Se-jong (Doona!, Temperature of Love) plays Oh Hee-dong, the wide-eyed nephew caught up in the madness.

Im Soo-jung (Melancholia, Single in Seoul) portrays Yang Jung-sook, the powerful CEO of Hongbaek Industries, whose ambition complicates everything.

The supporting cast includes a wide range of familiar faces: Kim Eui-sung, Kim Sung-oh, Hong Ki-joon, Jang Kwang, Kim Jong-soo, Woo Hyun, Lee Dong-hwi, Jung Yun-ho, Lim Hyung-jun, Lee Sang-jin, and Kim Min.

The series is directed and co-written by Kang Yoon-sung, who previously worked on Disney+’s Big Bet and is known for directing the hit crime film The Outlaws. He’s joined by Ahn Seung-hwan, who co-developed the script.


Also Read: K-Pop Demon Hunters: All the real South Korean locations recreated in the animated film

Continue exploring Soap Central for regular updates on TV series, films, and more!

Edited by Alisha Khan