Disney+'s much-hyped K-drama "Tempest" has disappointed, with fans and industry observers declaring it a "major flop" even though it boasts an all-star cast and astronomical production budget.

Koreaboo cites statistics from Good Data Corporation which showed that Tempest trailed behind other current dramas such as "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty," "Queen Mantis," and "You and Everything Else"—the latter of which already had been deemed a letdown by many fans.

Disney+ had set much expectation on Tempest as one of its flagship K-dramas for 2025. Carol Choi, Walt Disney Company Asia-Pacific's Head of Original Content Strategy, termed the project as something that "excites and intrigues Disney teams globally."

Nonetheless, in addition to those dreams, poor viewership of the show has amplified criticism towards the streaming platform, which still receives criticism from Korean viewers complaining that "There's nothing to watch on Disney+."

The K-drama featured two of Korea's biggest actors, Kang Dong Won and Jun Ji Hyun, and it was anticipated to take the domestic and international charts by storm.

However, according to Korean netizen reaction, the main reasons the show failed were due to bad storytelling and bad direction.

People on TheQoo expressed their discontent with the execution of the drama. One netizen typed, "Honestly, the only reason people even watched that much was because of the leads... The story was just... sigh..." Another reaction was, "The plot felt cheesy and outdated. I only finished it because of Jun Ji Hyun and Kang Dong Won."

The other users shared a similar opinion regarding the series' failure to engage. One of them said, "There was no chemistry... Usually, even if a series gets super boring, people can at least squeeze something out if there's chemistry."

Others also wondered whether the streaming platform had any impact on its viewability, saying, "If it had been released on Netflix, the outcome might've been different. Maybe the problem was the Disney+ platform."

As the debate raged online, a further post captured the general mood of disappointment: "Please just stop making this kind of genre... The whole secret agents and trouble in Korea or whatever? It's always the same old."

Even with its star cast, "Tempest's" flop has reignited speculation about Disney+'s struggle to be successful in the crowded K-drama market.