"I wanted to show Korea to the U.S.," said Daniel Dae Kim.
The Korean-American actor and producer leads the U.S.-Korea co-production Butterfly, a global spy drama set primarily in Korea. Produced by an American OTT platform with a Korean-American production team collaborating with U.S. staff, the series blends Korean culture with Hollywood storytelling.
Daniel Dae Kim emphasized incorporating jeong (정)—a uniquely Korean concept of warm emotional connection—into the show, even reflecting it in character names. "Growing up in the U.S., Korea was always central to my identity. With global interest in K-beauty, K-food, and K-pop, I wanted to tell Korean stories," he explained.
A press conference was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall, attended by Kim, Reina Hardesty, Kim Ji-hoon, Kim Tae-hee, and Sean Richard.
Butterfly follows former U.S. intelligence officer David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim) and current agent Rebecca (Reina Hardesty) in a high-stakes pursuit. Filming took place over six months in Seoul and Busan, capturing everyday locations like convenience stores and subways, while highlighting Korean cultural nuances.
Kim adapted characters originally not Asian into Korean, reflecting his own bicultural experiences. "The show blends my life as a Korean-American with the cultural gaps between Koreans and Americans," he said. He proudly noted that although U.S. funding was used, the core production team was entirely Korean.
Kim Tae-hee, playing David Jung's wife Eun-joo, marks her first Hollywood role in 24 years of acting. She described her character as ordinary yet meaningful, aiming to portray a positive image of Korean women.
Kim Ji-hoon, portraying cold assassin Gun, prepared extensively with martial arts practice, including Taekwondo, to bring Korean action styles to the screen.
Daniel Dae Kim highlighted the series' action sequences and universal family themes as key attractions. He also teased hopes for a season two, ensuring Korea remains central in the story.
Butterfly premieres on Prime Video on September 13 and will air domestically on tvN from September 22, every Friday and Saturday at 10:40 PM KST.
