 |
| ▲ Actor Don Lee, who also goes by his Korean stage name Ma Dong-seok, attends the press conference for Disney+'s new superhero series "Twelve," held in Seoul on Aug. 20, 2025. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL,
Aug. 20 (Yonhap) --
Speaking at a press conference at Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel, Lee said he was drawn to the project because of his desire to make an Asian-style superhero story.
The KBS 2TV-Disney+ action series is inspired by the 12 animals of the Asian zodiac. It follows 12 guardian angels who live in human form and fight against evil forces to protect humanity. Lee directly took part in planning the series, which drew attention from the start.
“Director Han Yun-sun and I spent many nights working together from the very beginning, exchanging drafts and ideas,” Lee said. “Because there are so many characters and it’s a fantasy, it took a long time to build the world and story.”
He added, “Since the zodiac is widely used not only in Korea but across Asia, I thought making superheroes based on it could resonate globally and provide fresh entertainment.”
 |
| ▲ The main cast of Disney+'s new superhero series "Twelve" attend the show's press conference held in Seoul on Aug. 20, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Co-director Kang Dae-gyu said the series focused on “adding plausibility to the mythical setting, building the relationship between humans and the 12 angels, and balancing the action for each character.”
“Twelve” also stands out for its star-studded cast. Lee plays Taesan, leader of the angels symbolizing the tiger. Seo In-guk plays Wonsung, modeled on the monkey; Lee Ju-bin plays Mir, based on the dragon; and Kang Mi-na plays Kangji, based on the dog. Park Hyung-sik takes the role of Ogui, a crow-like villain, while Sung Dong-il plays Marok, a manager who assists the angels.
Park said he was intrigued by the series’ concept. “It was fascinating to see a story based on the zodiac,” he noted. “The casting was very fitting, and when I was offered the role of Ogui, I felt it was a challenge I wanted to take on.”
Seo explained that his decision to join, even in a team role rather than as the lead, was influenced by his bond with Lee. “It has been 10 years since I worked with Don Lee on the drama ‘Squad 38,’ so I was grateful,” he said. “Even though this wasn’t a main role, working with Lee and the rest of the cast, who are not easy to gather in one place, was meaningful.”
Seo also trained in parkour for the role and participated in the music. “Since each character has animal traits, I wanted to create unique action, like using my surroundings to leap over cars or hang from pipes like a monkey,” he said. “I also thought epic and cyberpunk music would match the tone, and it was a great opportunity to work with the music director for the first time.”
“Twelve” marks Lee’s return to television after 10 years. “My last drama was ‘Squad 38’ with Seo In-guk,” he said. “I’ve just been working on projects, whether films or dramas, as good ones came along, so the timing turned out this way.”
 |
| ▲ The main cast of Disney+'s new superhero series "Twelve" attend the show's press conference held in Seoul on Aug. 20, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Some observers have compared the series to Lee’s past works, including Marvel’s “Eternals” and the action film “The Roundup: Holy Night Demon Hunters.”
In response, Lee said, “‘The Roundup: Holy Night Demon Hunters’ and ‘Twelve’ were developed from entirely different stories from the start. I tried to minimize overlap between projects. Each time I build a new world, I lose a handful of hair. I worked hard on this one, so I hope viewers will appreciate it.”
“Twelve” will premiere Aug. 23 and air every Saturday and Sunday on KBS 2TV and Disney+.
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
