The Manipulated (2025) – Ji Chang-wook & Doh Kyung-soo Lead Disney+’s Explosive Revenge Thriller

Framed. Betrayed. Ready for revenge. The upcoming South Korean crime-thriller The Manipulated (조각도시 | Jogakdosi) is set to become one of the most intense revenge dramas of the year. Starring Ji Chang-wook and Doh Kyung-soo (D.O.), the series premieres November 5, 2025, exclusively on Disney+ Singapore, promising betrayal, survival, and bloody vengeance.

🕵️ The Story – A Life Shattered, A Revenge Ignited

At its heart, The Manipulated follows Tae-jung (Ji Chang-wook), an ordinary man whose life is torn apart when he is wrongfully accused of a heinous crime. Cast into prison and left to rot, he discovers that every detail of his downfall was orchestrated by Yo-han (Doh Kyung-soo)—a cold, calculating mastermind.

Emerging from the wreckage of his former life, Tae-jung is no longer just a victim—he’s a man reborn in rage, with only one mission: to bring down those who betrayed him. As the tagline warns: “Framed. Betrayed. Ready for revenge.”

⭐ The Cast – Powerhouse Performances

This drama boasts a dream lineup of talent, each bringing depth to a dark, twisting tale:

• Ji Chang-wook as Tae-jung – the wrongly accused man seeking bloody vengeance

• Doh Kyung-soo (D.O.) as Yo-han – the manipulator pulling strings behind the scenes

• Lee Kwang-soo as Baek Do-kyung – a key ally or betrayer, his true role shrouded in mystery

• Jo Yoon-su as No Eun-bi – a figure caught between loyalty and survival

• Pyo Ye-jin – in an undisclosed but pivotal role

🎬 Behind the Scenes

• Written by: Oh Sang-ho (Fabricated City)

• Directed by: Park Shin-woo (It’s Okay to Not Be Okay), Kim Chang-ju (The Cursed)

• Music by: Kim Tae-seong (Confidential Assignment, Midnight Runners)

• Produced by: Simplex Films & Studio Dragon

• Budget: ₩35 billion – a scale promising cinematic intensity

With this creative team, The Manipulated promises a slick, high-stakes production blending crime, thriller, and revenge genres into one gripping narrative.

🎭 Themes – Crime, Betrayal, Revenge

The series taps into the Korean revenge-drama tradition but with a modern twist. From the gritty streets to corporate corruption, The Manipulated explores how one man’s life can be destroyed by lies—and how vengeance can transform an ordinary man into a relentless force of justice.

Expect dark betrayals, shocking revelations, and brutal confrontations, all set against the backdrop of a city sculpted by corruption.

📺 Where & When to Watch

• Platform: Disney+ (Singapore)

• Premiere Date: November 5, 2025

• Language: Korean (with global subtitles expected)

With Disney+ pushing hard into Korean originals, The Manipulated stands out as a flagship title to rival the likes of Revenant and Vigilante.

⚡ Final Verdict – A Revenge Story That Cuts Deep

With Ji Chang-wook’s intensity and Doh Kyung-soo’s chilling duality, The Manipulated is set to deliver a nail-biting mix of crime, betrayal, and blood-soaked vengeance. For fans of Taxi Driver, Vincenzo, or Fabricated City, this might just be your next obsession.

When justice fails, revenge takes its place. And on November 5, The Manipulated will show just how far one man will go when he has nothing left to lose.