Unmasked cast and character guide: Who played whom in the Disney+ K-thriller?

Disney+ kicked off 2025 with Unmasked (Korean title: Trigger), a Korean drama that mixed workplace chaos, old-school investigative journalism, and a cold case that never really went away. Set in modern-day Seoul, the show follows the “Trigger” team, underpaid, overworked producers on the verge of getting axed after upsetting their show’s sponsors. Their only shot at saving their jobs? Cracking a 20-year-old case involving the strange disappearance of a once-famous actor.

Written by Kim Gi-ryang and directed by The Uncanny Counter’s Yoo Sun-dong, the series ran from January 15 to February 19, 2025, dropping two episodes every Wednesday. With a total of 12 episodes, Unmasked offered a blend of newsroom drama, corporate tension, and full-on mystery. The show dives deep into ethical lines crossed by media professionals, exposing shady cults, animal abuse cover-ups, and corruption in construction and pharmaceuticals.

Unmasked's cast includes some of the strongest names in Korean drama, Kim Hye-soo, Jung Sung-il, and Joo Jong-hyuk, backed by a solid supporting crew. Every character brought something specific to the table, and no one was there just to fill space. This isn’t one of those dramas where you forget who’s who by episode three. Everyone mattered, and here’s exactly who played whom.

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Here's who plays whom in Unmasked from Disney+

Kim Hye-soo as Oh So-ryong

Kim Hye-soo plays Oh So-ryong, the headstrong producer leading the Trigger team. She’s built a career chasing cases that police won’t touch and never backs down when it comes to exposing the truth. Her style isn’t diplomatic—she challenges executives, steps on toes, and still manages to keep her team moving forward.

Kim gives So-ryong a weight that reflects years of newsroom battles and personal compromise. Every glance or sharp remark shows how much she’s already given up to stay in the field. She’s the engine of the show, holding the team—and the case—together under enormous pressure.

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Jung Sung-il as Han Do

Jung Sung-il portrays Han Do, a socially awkward rookie PD who hides behind editing software but ends up being the team’s secret weapon. He doesn’t say much, but he’s sharp and methodical and catches inconsistencies others overlook.

As the investigation deepens, Han Do gradually grows into a bigger role. Jung plays his hesitation well, showing a man who’d rather disappear into the background but ends up making real breakthroughs. His quiet contribution makes him one of the most crucial characters in solving the 20-year-old mystery that drives the entire show.

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Joo Jong-hyuk as Kang Gi-ho

Joo Jong-hyuk plays Kang Gi-ho, the youngest producer on the team, always looking to prove he belongs. He’s eager, impulsive, and constantly rushing into assignments without thinking through the risks.

Gi-ho adds a dose of chaos to the Trigger group dynamic, but also a lot of heart. He’s the first to show up when there’s danger and the last to give up on a lead. Joo’s performance strikes a balance between wide-eyed ambition and slow-growing confidence as his instincts sharpen across the series.

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Shin Jung-keun as Koo Hyeong-tae

Shin Jung-keun plays Koo Hyeong-tae, the network’s president who’s more interested in keeping sponsors happy than chasing truth. He’s often an obstacle to So-ryong’s plans, blocking investigations when they get too messy.

But Shin never makes Koo a one-note villain. He’s a man trapped in bureaucracy, trying to balance numbers with journalistic integrity. When he and So-ryong face off, their scenes crackle with silent frustration. He’s a reminder that sometimes, what kills journalism isn’t malice—it’s internal politics.

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Lee Hae-young as Park Dae-yong

Lee Hae-young plays Park Dae-yong, the channel’s content chief who once walked in So-ryong’s shoes but has since traded his fire for compromise. He’s not spineless, but he’s cautious—always trying to survive corporate pressure.

There’s a quiet sadness in Lee’s portrayal. Dae-yong remembers what it was like to care deeply but now plays the middleman. He often acts as a translator between the newsroom and upper management, watching younger versions of himself fight the battles he abandoned.

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Jang Hye-jin as Hong Na-hee

Jang Hye-jin plays senior writer Hong Na-hee, who’s the team’s backbone when it comes to strategy and scripting. She stays behind the scenes but knows exactly where every thread leads.

Her dry humor and blunt honesty cut through tension when the newsroom starts falling apart. Na-hee isn’t there for sentiment—she’s there to make sure the facts hold up. Jang’s performance keeps the drama grounded, reminding everyone that even in chaos, someone needs to see the bigger picture.

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Heo Dong-won as Lee Sang-mok

Heo Dong-won plays Lee Sang-mok, a longtime Trigger staffer with a sharp eye for cross-referencing evidence. He rarely goes out on field assignments, but his desk is where pieces start to come together.

Sang-mok doesn’t seek attention, but his role is essential. He checks timelines, uncovers gaps, and points the team in directions they hadn’t considered. Heo’s calm energy adds weight to scenes without taking focus. He’s the kind of newsroom worker you don’t notice until everything falls apart—and then you realize he held it up the whole time.

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Park Soo-young as Son Hui-won

Park Soo-young plays Son Hui-won, an executive voice from KNS’s corporate wing who monitors the Trigger team’s actions from the sidelines. He’s not part of the newsroom, but his decisions shape what stories stay alive.

Park plays Hui-won with a quiet assertiveness. He rarely needs to raise his voice, because his power lies in control—not confrontation. While others fight over editorial ethics, he moves through meetings like a tactician, reminding us that the biggest battles in journalism are often won or lost off-camera.

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Oh Dae-hwan as Jang Hak-ui

Oh Dae-hwan plays Jang Hak-ui, another station executive who handles advertiser fallout and internal PR. He’s the go-between when controversy erupts, and he’s usually the one cleaning up after the Trigger team steps on toes.

Oh gives Jang a weary cynicism. He’s not trying to block justice—he just wants the network to stay afloat. He spends most of the show trying to pull So-ryong back from crossing lines that make the higher-ups nervous. His role shows what newsroom damage control really looks like.

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Choo Ja-hyun as Cho Hae-won

Choo Ja-hyun plays Cho Hae-won, an informant in the mysterious disappearance of Cha Sung-wook, at the center of the 20-year-old case. She’s an important link to the story, having spent years avoiding the media circus.

When the Trigger team reaches out, Hae-won hesitates but slowly opens up as new facts come to light. Choo plays her with subtle restraint—there’s grief in every line, but it never overwhelms the scene. Her perspective forces the team to remember that their story isn’t just content—it’s someone’s life.

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Supporting casts of Unmasked

Trigger Program (PDs, Writers, Editors) seen in Unmasked

• Jeon Jin-oh as Yun Byeong-geun
• Choi Dong-goo as Choi Je-il
• Im Sung-mi as Kim Ji-yoon
• Kim So-ra as Ha Monica
• Park Seo-yeon as Baek Song-i
• Joo Jin-mo as Bae Dal-ha

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KNS/Broadcast Executives and Staff in Unmasked

• Heo Joon-suk as Hwang Jin-woo
• Lee Kang-wook as Yeo Yun-cheol
• Yoon Eun-ji as Son Ye-rim
• Kim Jo-yeon as PD (ep 1)
• Park Yu-mil as Planning PD
• Lee Eun as Elevator Woman (ep 1)
• Park Jeong-min as Programming Director (ep 10)
• Yoo Yong as Wi Jong-u (eps 11–12)

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Police/Legal Figures/Government-Adjacent characters in Unmasked

• Sung Ji-ru as Detective Yu
• Kim Gun-ho as Yongpyeong Detective (ep 1)
• Kim Yeon-woo as Police Officer (ep 2)
• Park Se-jun as Police Officer (ep 2)
• Kim Bum-suk as Detective (ep 3)
• Kim Nak-kyun as Kim Gye-nam (eps 9, 11)
• Kang Gu-ha as Detective (ep 10)
• Park Ji-han as Detective (ep 10)
• Kim Min-joong as Detective (ep 12)

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Oh So-ryong/Han Do’s Personal Circles of Unmasked

• Choi Jung-in as Yang Sa-rang
• Ryu Kyung-hwan as Mr. Hwang
• Lee Soo-mi as Yeom Mi-jin, So-ryong’s mother
• Kim Dae-gon as Han-jeong
• Jung Seung-gil as Han Do’s father
• Kim Keum-soon as Han Do’s mother
• Lee Jong-Yoon as Oh So-Ryong's dad

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Cold Case/Cha Seong-wook Arc characters of Unmasked

• Han Ji-suk as Cha Seong-wook
• Ahn Suk-hwan as Cha Seong-wook’s father
• Choi Dae-hoon as Cho Jin-man
• Nam Kyung-eup as Cho Tae-su
• Lee Dae-yeon as Ma Seong-chun
• Kim Do-shin as Jong-sik (ep 8)
• Rie Akiba as Haru (eps 8–9)
• Na Ho-won as Taxi Driver (ep 6)
• Kim Sung-yong as Graphologist (ep 5)
• Son Kang-gook as Kim Yong-gyun (eps 9, 11)
• Kim Won-suk as Forensics Expert (ep 9)
• Kim Sung-ho as Choi Jin-man’s aide (eps 11, 12)
• Song Won-su as Senior Citizen (ep 11)

Other actors who made an appearance on this show include Lee Da-yeong, Kim Min-seo, Jung A-mi, Lee Seung-hoon, Moon Woo-jin, Yeo Mu-young, Cha Si-won, Jo Yeo-joon, Jung Chae-won, Lee Tae-kyung, Lee Hae-woo, Jung Hae-kyun, Lee Si-hoo, Kwon Eun-soo, Yoon Byul-ha, Yoo Ji-hyuk, Bae Bo-ram, Jun Joon-woo, and Shin Se-hwi.

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