Webtoon adaptation Love Alarm to be Netflix’s first original Korean drama
by girlfriday
We’ve heard some rumblings of Netflix getting into the Korean drama game with Signal writer Kim Eun-hee’s next drama Kingdom, but the first official original Korean drama series from the online streaming platform has been announced as an adaptation of the webtoon Love Alarm. The popular youth romance webtoon is about a fantasy phone app that notifies you if someone within a ten-meter radius likes you. As if high school weren’t awkward enough as it is?
Love Alarm is a current webtoon series by manhwa creator Chun Gye-young, of Pretty Man, The Girl in High Heels, Audition, and Ungplugged Boy, among others. The romance, a love triangle between the heroine and two boys who like her, is complicated by the existence of a phone app that rings an alarm every time a person who likes you is within ten meters. The characters are familiar archetypes: The heroine is a hardworking everygirl, the male lead is a tsundere type who’s cold on the outside and warm on the inside, and his best friend is the sweet, classic second lead who ends up becoming his buddy’s rival in love.
Netflix is planning to adapt the webtoon into a 12-episode Korean drama, and will release all of the episodes at once, as they usually do with other original dramas that they produce. Former CJ producer Lee Jae-moon (who worked on Misaeng and Signal) is producing, and the series is being planned for a 2018 release, to over 190 countries.
I’ll be curious to see who comes aboard to write and direct, and how they’ll cast it, or even just the format, since this drama will be produced and distributed entirely outside the normal broadcasting system. Here’s hoping for some experimentation, and a chance for drama-makers to broaden their horizons.
Via Khan
RELATED POSTS
- Signal writer teams with A Hard Day director for new sageuk Kingdom
- SBS to adapt Moon/Sun, Sungkyunkwan author’s newest novel
- tvN remakes popular Japanese manga The Liar and His Lover
- Bong Joon-ho heads Snowpiercer’s American TV adaptation
- Bride of the Water God finds a home at tvN
- Our love-hate relationship with drama remakes and adaptations
Tags: adaptations, drama production
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
Hello Dramabeans series
![[2022 Year in Review] The Bean Count](https://www.dramabeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/beancount_2022.png)
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Yaya
January 5, 2017 at 7:06 AM
Fine, I won't cancel my Netflix subscription after all. Aish!
Required fields are marked *
leila
January 5, 2017 at 7:14 AM
^LOLOLOL funny hahaha
Required fields are marked *
Aya
January 5, 2017 at 7:25 AM
Your comment is DAEBAK ???
Required fields are marked *
Alessar
January 5, 2017 at 8:30 AM
They also got the rights for Night Light, skipping past DramaFever and Viki both. (Typically one of those 2 gets a show first and it'll hit Netflix months later.) Look for that to drop at once sometime after the show ends its run on the 24th of January.
Required fields are marked *
Rose
January 5, 2017 at 9:30 AM
That's just AWESOME !!
I loved this webtoon so very much ! I always thought that one day it will get a drama adaptation, and there it is !!!
Required fields are marked *
lol2much
January 5, 2017 at 2:21 PM
Long comment - Viki vs Dramafever, now that Netflix is trying to join the party.
Netflix jumping into the Kdrama market, should make Viki and Dramafever nervous. Both Viki and Dramafever have been lucky to have a loyal, customer base, but both have been resting on their laurels.
Dramafever was the first to get in trouble, with their insistence on subbing to an American audience, removing all cultural notes - like translating titles - oppa, director, etc. into just the person's name. Using colloquialisms, not translating letters, signs, and other non-spoken cues, etc. But then they got the smart idea, to compete for Chinese dramas and tVN dramas, given them sole rights, and thus were able to remain relevant.
Viki always had an advantage over Dramafever, by relying on fan subbers, it meant they would always have more dramas subbed and because of their partial release format, would likely get viewers to watch on their site first. Their genius on video commenting system, also allowed them to create a community feel that a lot of viewers like so much that they would ignore a drama on Dramafever, just to watch on Viki.
However, for some inexplicable reason, Viki keeps changing their video interface, creating unnecessary technical issues, that upset a lot of fans, with buffering, disappearance of the same commenting system that won them a lot of viewers, etc. As if that wasn't bad enough, they ended their fan channels, deleting a lot of dramas in other languages that made them the number one destination for international viewers. Even worse, they seemed to jump late into the increasingly popular Chinese drama market, allowing Dramafever to make inroads first. A lot of the biggest, Chinese dramas tend to air on Dramafever, while Viki seems content with the lesser known ones, or badly reviewed ones, just because it stars a Korean idol.
With Netflix now jumping into the market, with their bigger customer base, and higher budgets and already testing out the releasing while on air format (the new It Started With a Kiss, is released as it airs) things are about to change.
Required fields are marked *
Mohammed
January 5, 2017 at 3:46 PM
Netflix is 1000 times more profissional, more respectful to their audience compared to Viki, Dramafever who have been lazy as you said with the technical issues, bad subtitling. Viki pass isnt worth the money when they are not easy to use. Netflix wasnt always this big,rich they got where they are by giving the viewers shows from the whole world.
I rather pay Netflix to see more Korean shows in high quality streams,good translations, licensing of more old shows or new original shows like this.
I want to support the good korean creators by making their shows popular in streaming like Netflix so they can sell more shows, create more quality shows that is outside the cheap, stressing the actors,writers,directors to death live shooting system. Netflix Kdrama means have alot of time, money to make the show you want without caring about rating.
Valentine Joseph
January 5, 2017 at 6:20 PM
I am quite happy about this development. This can also means there will be more daring shows that would probably not be greenlit by SBS or KBS and more preproduced shows
Beez
January 8, 2017 at 6:47 PM
1) Netflix needs to get with the known titles of dramas instead of translating them independently. (i.e., My Love Eun Dong is This is Love) While I'm aware the titles may differ somewhat across streaming sites (i.e. The Girl Who Sees Smells aka Sensory Couple). We need to be able to search for recognizable titles and we don't need more than the already 2-3 English titles a drama gets. They should visit AsianWiki or DramaWiki to get the most commonly used titles; 2) get a better understanding of the term "Korean drama" (currently, under categories "Korean TV Shows", "Korean Dramas", "Romantic Korean Dramas", "Korean TV Dramas" - all only list "melos" (actual dramas in U.S. speak), even though my queue currently has Fated to Love You in it, it (and a few other rom-coms) , they fail to appear under the Netflix categories that I listed above. Now, if they want to appeal to an audience that may not understand that for S. Korea, "drama" just means show - whether dramatic, rom-com, fantasy, cop show - then they should create a Korean rom-com category or something.
I want Kdrama to spread in the U.S. (for the purely selfish reason that people who've never watched one think I'm crazy for happily reading shows with subtitles), but let's make it easy to find the shows we want to see. I'd hate to see Netflix launch Kdramas and then believe it failed because no one is interested. If it fails, it'll be because they didn't make it user friendly (comprehensible).
Annnna
January 6, 2017 at 1:51 PM
Where did you read it?
Required fields are marked *
hades
January 5, 2017 at 12:45 PM
As a K-Drama addict, this has the potential of getting very frustrating. That's three subscriptions I need to have just to watch the K-Dramas I want. That's a lot of money.
Required fields are marked *
Rose
January 5, 2017 at 1:26 PM
Seems a lot of beanies are actually putting money to watch K-drama, wow, did not expect that, I just stream since 2008 when mysoju.com ans the subbing group WITHS2 were everything... Good old times ^^
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 1:56 PM
I'm one of those who pays.
I have subscriptions to Dramafever, Viki, Netflix, and Hulu (on hold currently).
Usually those cover all my drama needs.
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 2:01 PM
I forgot to mention I buy the DVDs through Amazon or Ebay!
Have to be prepared for 10+ years from now when all your favorite dramas are no longer available through streaming/sale because they're old and out of vogue.
Overkill? Perhaps...
I just imagine a reality where I can't watch one of my favorite dramas. Then it all makes perfect sense and is totally worth it. ;)
Raine
January 5, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Did someone say mysoju?!?!?!?! Hahaha. I was a mysoju lurker in the old days too! It's made it hard for me to both paying for subscriptions, but I do actually have Netflix, Hulu and DramaFever (the one that costs $0.99 a month, instad of $10.00 a month) but only because I share it with my Family who are not fans of acquiring shows the way I do. But I still find myself using fansubs here and there because it's convenient... and, um, free to me. XP
kimchikay
January 5, 2017 at 7:24 PM
I feel even more dated…I used to use Crunchyroll for my first few kdramas..I think they only have anime now lol
Raine
January 5, 2017 at 10:03 PM
Crunchroll and DramaCrazy.net!!! The latter had more pop ups than any site should be allowed to have! There was a constant risk of getting a virus if I dared to visit that site. And it was a risk I was willing to take.
sharkie
January 6, 2017 at 5:51 AM
aw... the mention of mysoju.com got me out of lurking. it provided my first dose of streaming. ^_^
hades
January 6, 2017 at 7:27 AM
I didn't even know that Crunchyroll had K-dramas at one point and I've been using them for quite some time. Then again, I wasn't in to K-dramas at that point.
Beez
January 8, 2017 at 6:54 PM
I pay for a few apps and I stream from bootleg sites (I guess) when I want to watch an older series that the Big2 don't have.
But my understanding is WITH2 disbanded. I always look for shows where they did the subtitling work.
I want to purchase Chuno from Amazon (or anywhere I can get a good quality, legal box set, however, I want the WITH2 subs). No one can confirm which subs they have before I buy. Although Amazonxs Instant Video of Chuno is WITH2 (if I recall correctly), but they couldn't tell me if the box set they offer is the same subtitles.
I Quit
January 5, 2017 at 1:27 PM
Comment was deleted
Required fields are marked *
I Quit
January 5, 2017 at 1:31 PM
Comment was deleted
Mini Roo
January 5, 2017 at 2:49 PM
They subscribe because doing so supports the people who worked on the drama in a way that watching through third party sites never can.
TrinPie
January 5, 2017 at 3:10 PM
My question though, do the original shows get any money or credit for you streaming? Torrent websites usually breed piracy which I am personally against. I want to support these shows so I go through paying for subscriptions. And Viki and Drama Fever really aren't that expensive. Drama Fever and Viki is only $4 a month which is $8 total. That's nothing at all. I spend more on a single lunch then I do for a monthly sub on both of those.
Also, having a sub means you don't have adds. If you and others love streaming that's definitely up to you and I don't mind, but I prefer to go through official avenues to watch my dramas and shows. So I'll be sticking to my cheap $8 monthly subs.
Val
January 5, 2017 at 6:23 PM
Dramanice.to and Kissasian do all that work for you
I Quit
January 5, 2017 at 10:38 PM
Comment was deleted
hades
January 6, 2017 at 7:33 AM
Yup. I do subscribe to those sites. Even if the studio etc. didn't get anything--and I hope they do get something--I think it's a good way of not only supporting but building the community. I hope that it also gives international viewers an organized voice that showrunners can hear and heed.
Kdramaluvshassey
January 6, 2017 at 11:09 AM
For some of us, we can't even subscribe if we want to. Because we do not have access from our countries to viki and dramafever.
msbing
January 6, 2017 at 4:55 PM
I would be so willing to pay a subscription! But it's really money threw down the drain... Being a European you cannot subscribe to Dramafever and on Viki a large number of shows will never be available for you - unless you become a subber. Netflix is the same. It was introduced in my country (a relatively small country in Central-Europe with a language unspoken by any other nation), and the films and shows available are painfully limited.
So I either end up watching the sites I paid for through a VPN - which is ridiculous... I mean Viki knows from my sign in data where I'm from, and that I've paid and I still pretend to be watching from an American ip. For the same reason I couldn't complained about streaming incompatibilities, as I never knew where exactly the problem lay. So in the end I just skip the whole process and watch dramas on some obscure, illegal, free streaming site, as I did in 2009 on mysoju.com.
I'm a middle aged working adult, I could really afford to pay for it, but there's no point.
pickledplumtree
January 5, 2017 at 5:05 PM
:D
Required fields are marked *
transient
January 5, 2017 at 5:45 PM
Netfix definitely knows how to keep their customers :D
Required fields are marked *
124xoxodr
April 13, 2017 at 9:46 AM
thats right... im waiting for season 2 of good morning call
Required fields are marked *
sharreb
January 6, 2017 at 12:57 AM
You can cancel for now n resubscribe in 2018 lol
Required fields are marked *
2 TrueBlue
January 5, 2017 at 7:20 AM
Oh Gosh, so I'm going to have to renew my Netflix subscription after all. Actually, I switched over to Hulu recently (because it has Empress Ki, which I have been searching forever to watch). Strangely enough, I started thinking about how incredible it would be if Hulu started making Korean dramas (I even came up with a name for that arm of Hulu: Hulu Asia).
This is such great news for Kdrama lovers. South Korea is a small country. Their dramas and movies have to be exported in order to recoup the money that they invest in unarguably top-notched quality production. Up until recently, China has been a huge market for Kdramas but China has proven itself a bully and an unreliable market. I'm so happy that Netflix has gotten into the game. Maybe Hulu will do the same!
On a similar note, as a non-Korean, I feel like this is such a Golden-Age for S. Korea in terms of international prestige. For a relatively small country that it is, S. Korea has established an amazing prestige and wields incredible cultural influence across the globe. Recently I bought something on Sephora and saw a whole distinct category called "Korean Beauty." Wow. I read somewhere that the whole Kpop and Kdrama scene came about because the government purposely invested a ton of money into their growth. This is just mind-blowing: someone in the government said let's focus on entertainment and grow our influence through television, films and music. Just mind-blowingly, crazily brilliant :)
Required fields are marked *
Aya
January 5, 2017 at 7:31 AM
Couldn't agree more.
It's just amazing like you said a small country like South Korea could expand their culture to all over the world & affect our lives (as kdrama & kpop fans ) like this. "mind blowing indeed"
Required fields are marked *
Sojuboy
January 5, 2017 at 9:09 AM
UK was once a small country will a vast Empire.
Required fields are marked *
Rose
January 5, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Well, that was called colonization......
Required fields are marked *
chocopieb
January 5, 2017 at 6:27 PM
Im sorry but.... LOL
piggybackrider
January 5, 2017 at 8:56 AM
While I like kdramas as well as the next Dramabeans reader I do disagree with your characterization of them as "top-notch quality productions". The vast majority of dramas are quickly produced, cheap shows with low production values. They are mostly shot in cheap looking rooms that mostly look as though assembled in the local Ikea store, and as a general rule make use of the most unispired cinematography imaginable.
Hopefully, an influx of Netflix cash will mean that kdramas get access to higher budgets. It would be exciting to see a kdrama as lush as something like The Get-Down or Westworld.
Required fields are marked *
TruBlue
January 5, 2017 at 10:04 AM
I do agree that not ALL kdramas are "top-notch quality production," but many are, especially in recent years, no doubt bolstered by foreign investment, especially from China. I'll just name a few: DOTS, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, and K2. The cinematography of MDBC was absolutely jaw-dropping. I was and still am floored that they live-shot most of this show.
The cost of producing these shows and the successive tempo in which they are cranked out seem out of proportion to the domestic S. Korean consumption market, at least to me. I do agree that the quality of the end-products of many shows could be better if not for the propensity for live-shooting (not to say that pre-produced shows guarantee better quality but live-shooting put a lot of constraints on what can reasonably be accomplished).
I completely agree with you that Kdramas have a long way to go, but they are heading in the right direction. I, for one, am happy that the dependency on China is easing, albeit reluctantly. What I hope will happen with this influx of investment is better writing, more experimental genres, higher quality but I fervently hope they do not abandon the heart of what makes Kdramas standout (from US-produced shows) - addictive romance that tugs at the heart and soul but not overly sexualized and profane.
Required fields are marked *
piggybackrider
January 5, 2017 at 10:31 AM
Well, I did write vast majority, so I agree that there are (a few) exceptions. I also agree it would a happy concequence of Netflix or other streaming services starting to finance kdramas if the reliance on Chinese partners, with the censorship such collaborations entail, will lessen.
Required fields are marked *
hades
January 5, 2017 at 12:54 PM
More experimental genres is something I want as well.
Required fields are marked *
cinnamon
January 6, 2017 at 6:53 PM
"I fervently hope they do not abandon the heart of what makes Kdramas standout (from US-produced shows) – addictive romance that tugs at the heart and soul but not overly sexualized and profane."
YES 1000x
Required fields are marked *
hades
January 5, 2017 at 12:53 PM
Really high production value/quality is awesome and all but means nothing without a great script, direction, and actors. One of my favorite dramas of all time is very very low budget, but it amazes me to this day how much they were able to get out of so little.
Having said that, I must say that one of my biggest pet peeves with K-Dramas is sloppy editing and it's something that happens much too often in my opinion. Sometimes you can tell they are merging multiple takes together.
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 10:15 AM
Hulu used to be my go to place for k-dramas while they still were under contract with Dramafever to license their library. Even though I had a premium subscription at Dramafever at the same time, I preferred Hulu due to its Xbox One integration (it was much more reliable than the unstable Dramafever app plus you didn’t have to deal with casting through the Chromecast). I dropped Hulu immediately when they chose to not renew their licensing agreement with Dramafever.
I looked and I guess if I want to watch Empress Ki I'll have to pick it up again. It seems to not be available at either Dramafever or Viki.
Required fields are marked *
Ashablue
January 5, 2017 at 10:37 AM
You know you can get it for free online?
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 10:46 AM
I want to do my part to financially support dramaland...
........ but..... um, where? ;)
Required fields are marked *
TrueBlue
January 5, 2017 at 11:10 AM
You can watch Empress Ki on youtube. But the problem is the quality is very poor and many of the videos have audio issues. I marathoned up to episode 30something on youtube because I couldn't find it on dramafever or viki. But I wanted so badly to hear the actors' and actress' voice in its original quality. I finally found Empress Ki on Hulu. I think it's worth it to get Hulu just to see Empress Ki. That said, my husband likes Fresh off the Boat and it's on Hulu. So it turned out to be a win-win for us. Like you, I'm more than happy to pay to get good entertainment.
Azale
January 5, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Use dramafire, this site is amazing. They sub faster than both DramaFever and Viki.
DramalandOnline
January 5, 2017 at 11:27 AM
Dramafire, kissasian, dramanice, dramacool, gooddrama, 4udrama, dramalove. Just type the drama title on Google and many dramasites should appear :o
I get confused when people can't find sites to watch Korean dramas. Are these free websites not available in every country or do they just not want to watch on free sites?
moosicow
January 5, 2017 at 10:44 PM
It is available through OnDemandKorea, if you have access to that site.
LizJ
January 5, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Hulu no longer carries DramaFever shows? Well, shoot...there goes my recommendation for KDrama newbies to watch Goblin over there.
It seems like DramaFever has been moving to a premium "add on" model as far as integrating with other services...you can get it as an add-on for Amazon Prime Video, for example.
And, it is clear that the licensing landscape is changing yet again. I wonder if this is also the reason why the recentCDrama Memory Lost is nowhere to be found with English subs. Perhaps the Chinese are working on an international deal with a service like Netflix.
If Netflix does get a lot more heavily involved with first-run licensing of Asian dramas, it's going to have big implications for both Viki and DramaFever.
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 11:25 AM
It seems I wasn't entirely accurate. They had dropped Dramafever shows, but it seems they do carry some now.
No Goblin though.
(See my comment below)
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 11:23 AM
It seems my above post wasn't entirely accurate.
Hulu does carry some Dramafever shows currently.
Early last year they dropped all their Dramafever shows (contract must have expired), so that's what I was basing it off of.
It seems they've since added some back.
No Goblin though.
Required fields are marked *
TrinPie
January 5, 2017 at 3:16 PM
I was horribly bummed when Hulu stopped carrying DramaFever shows. It was right after DramaFever was bought by Warner Bro. so I don't know if they decided to not renew the contract or if Hulu decided it. But either way I have had to settle on DramaFever whose app is not nearly as smooth and reliable as Hulu. It is cheaper though.
Required fields are marked *
alasecond
January 5, 2017 at 12:15 PM
Not just that, they even paid chefs in the West to "push" for korean cuising in their restaurants.. in initial days. that played a big role in creating the market for korean cuisine abroad
Required fields are marked *
3 Oshi
January 5, 2017 at 7:27 AM
I hope netflix gets it's OITB for kdramas.
Required fields are marked *
4 nimagooy
January 5, 2017 at 7:37 AM
Excited! But I gotta wait a whole year for this?!
Required fields are marked *
5 Flightey Gazelles
January 5, 2017 at 7:47 AM
what's the meaning of tsundere?
Required fields are marked *
Annika
January 5, 2017 at 8:15 AM
Tsundere (ツンデレ ?, pronounced [tsɯndeɽe]) is a Japanese term for a character development process that describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing a warmer side over time.
Required fields are marked *
Harem
January 5, 2017 at 9:12 AM
wrong. Tsundere is someone who is cold outside but warm inside. Theres no such thing as "gradually" as they always been warm within all along. They are just not good in expressing themselves and their feeling.
Required fields are marked *
tsundere
January 5, 2017 at 9:36 AM
You seem to have issues reading comprehension...
'initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing a WARMER SIDE over time.'
Required fields are marked *
tsundere
January 5, 2017 at 9:37 AM
*--issues in--
heh epic fail
cozybooks
January 5, 2017 at 8:17 AM
It means prickly on the outside, but a real marshmallow within. They're initially cold and stand-offish/mean? but soften up over time. It's a Japanese term seen a lot in character descriptions.
Required fields are marked *
Manpreet Kaur Sidhu
January 5, 2017 at 8:18 AM
means that he ist rough on the outside and soft inside
Required fields are marked *
cingdoc
January 5, 2017 at 8:21 AM
The word was found on Wikipedia: "
Tsundere (ツンデレ ?, pronounced [tsɯndeɽe]) is a Japanese term for a character development process that describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing a warmer side over time."
Think GJP from Boys over Flowers
Required fields are marked *
Yaya
January 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM
Or Professor Jin in Drinking Solo.
Required fields are marked *
Mojobobo
January 5, 2017 at 8:38 AM
Your reference would be someone like Reply 1988's Kim Junghwan.
Required fields are marked *
Flightey Gazelles
January 5, 2017 at 9:42 AM
Thanks to all for your answers.
Required fields are marked *
6 Bùi Quốc Khánh
January 5, 2017 at 7:51 AM
That sounds not so much promise. I just curious why Netflix pick it up first. So Kingdom will be push to late 2018?
Required fields are marked *
NewComerDb
January 5, 2017 at 8:13 AM
yeah the plot is not something new,
is like they will add so many cliche thing like cold guys will be a better person when he meet his lover,and change slowly but sure :/ (i have seen this cliche thing so many times.but i still watch it lol)but the different is this drama have new feature (phone that can detect your lovers in 10 M?-_-)lol..but synopsis tend to be different when we watch drama.so now i dont have any expectation for kdrama again
and just watch it.kinda like hwarang i dont like synopsis.teaser.trailer.but get hooked because the drama have something that i cant explain.?.:v
Required fields are marked *
kimchikay
January 5, 2017 at 9:23 AM
In my opinion, they're playing it safe for their first one….it's a typical K drama plot but it's tried and tested and usually loved by most k-watchers (even if you'll end up rolling your eyes at all the cliches). I also think that this type of "plot"can usually engage the non-drama watcher, because they know that the usual kdrama watcher is watching on other sites and probably more "well-watched" compared to new-ish ones.
On the other hand, I recently met an acquaintance of a friend who blurted out that she'd been up late binge watching a kdrama on netflix and that this was the first time she'd stumbled across a korean drama - fell in love with it and proceeded to watch all that netflix had in that department. So yeah, I think Netflix may be creating a second wave of drama addicts as we speak lol
Required fields are marked *
sorrynotsorry
January 5, 2017 at 1:37 PM
"playing it safe for their first one". Yes, I agree, and when I see the continued popularity on Dramafever of Boys Over Flowers which still hits their top 10 list even now, I can't say it's a bad move. My hope is they move away from the cliched dramas (though I love many of them) and produce a variety of content. Much better than being stuck in the godawful live shoot system, looking at ratings every single airing night. Much better for everyone involved: actors, crew and especially the poor writer trying to create a cohesive story.
Also agree about Netflix creating a lot of k-drama fans. I'm one of them. They are all over the world now so if the Korean content is in their international catalog, this is great for Korean dramas because geopolitical concerns in Asia can get messy i.e. THAAD.
Required fields are marked *
Mohammed
January 5, 2017 at 3:53 PM
Netflix isnt a single network, producing company they have 100s of shows in production at the same time. Vastly different amount of money, time for shows compared to Big Three korean networks.....
Every month they have new seasons, new shows premiere.
Their method is giving the creators,producers money, free reign to make their shows, have a premiere when its done. Unless big series fall, spring like Marvel shows.
They have time to support two korean dramas at the same time. They have more original netflix shows than ever. They have expanded hugely in the last two years, they have more news shows per month than i catch up to as a viewer ;)
Required fields are marked *
7 NewComerDb
January 5, 2017 at 8:02 AM
Excited...I know netflix 12 episode is pretty good for kdrama format..especially kdrama tend to drag their plot to make sure fill 16/20/24/30/50.that draggy thing is one of kdrama problem from the very first time i watch kdrama.there is certain part when i watch kdrama in second half its not that Amazing like their first half and i lost interest afterthat because filler>plot.and i am someone who prefer quality over quantity and i dont care if actor/actress that i like star in 12 episode drama eventhough i want to see them more (: but quality first then quantity...Hmm lets see how it turned later...
Required fields are marked *
8 lovehj
January 5, 2017 at 8:08 AM
Can't wait to watch it on my on my big screen TV. Netflix has so many Asian dramas on now: Kdrama, Tdrama, and Jdrama. Netflix even has Ice Fantasy. I hope to get more of Cdrama on. My favorite Netflix original Jdrama is "Good Morning Call". It was a hit so they are making season2 coming in this summer.
Required fields are marked *
9 sooyi
January 5, 2017 at 8:28 AM
I am excited that the webtoon is going to be adapted by Netflix. It's a really nice plot that involves romance and contemporary issues (I find that apps play an active role in South Korean society more than in other societies).
But I hope that the writers won't try to squeeze the story into mere 12 episodes and won't conclude the drama properly or worse, let it off on a cliffhanger. The story is really long (it's on his fourth season, I think) and the author is still giving new updates of the very app. Plus, it's JUST starting to answer our questions about the plot and characters...
Required fields are marked *
10 Over think
January 5, 2017 at 8:38 AM
I guess they will cast the Exo Boys on these
Required fields are marked *
NewComerDb
January 5, 2017 at 8:58 AM
Lol.please dont them(except DO)..i hope they cast real actor..this is netflix so hope they not using bad-populer-idol-actor
Required fields are marked *
SH
January 5, 2017 at 9:09 AM
The plot screams idol actor though, lol.
Required fields are marked *
kimchikay
January 5, 2017 at 9:25 AM
Actually, I think this may be a good thing.
Send all the really terrible idol actors to Netflix, I don't mind lol keep all the really good and decent actors on the networks…we get the best of both worlds haha
Required fields are marked *
mindy
January 5, 2017 at 11:14 AM
But then kdramas/actors will get a bad international reputation ?
I actually hope the opposite happens and Netflix does for K-dramas what it did for American TV. In the US, the high-quality productions that Netflix produced started drawing people away from broadcast television. I think this prompted the US networks to start producing some better, more original content (in general, of course there are still plenty of crappy shows on TV now).
If Netflix can encourage Korean broadcast companies to start experimenting more and start producing higher-quality content, I think that's a good thing.
11 jadea
January 5, 2017 at 8:49 AM
It's exciting that netflix is going to start doing their own original kdramas, but it's not exciting that this is where they're choosing to start. Netflix is a great platform for them to start experimenting with different concepts in kdramas that we don't usually see. It's a great place for less conservative kdramas too, but this is where they want to start instead? The premise is so typical cliche kdrama. I can only hope that they're starting with this because they want to reel people in with something easy before branching out in different directions.
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 10:04 AM
I agree entirely.
I'm stoked they've chosen to delve into creating original korean dramas. It seems to be a perfect fit for them as a company, given their stated goal of expanding to serve targeted, original content to an international audience.
But a kiddie crush love triangle and a phone app? Really?
It's like they did all of 20 minutes of research into the korean drama phenomenon, and decided they'd just choose the most shallow, fluffy, little-to-no-commitment-necessary project they could find.
I mean I get not wanting to go all in without testing the waters, but I'm afraid if this doesn't gain viewership beyond tweens, it will turn them off from creating further korean drama content.
Who knows. Perhaps I have no idea what I'm talking about and this will be huge. Lol...
Required fields are marked *
piggybackrider
January 5, 2017 at 10:41 AM
Not that I disagree with your comment. But I am pretty sure that, at first, they are producing this drama for the local Korean audience, not as much for the international one. It's a ploy to get Koreans to sign for the service. This likely explains their choice.
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 10:53 AM
Yea, I see your point.
It's just so.... forgettable... :\
It's the kind of show I'd only watch if it starred a favorite idol or actress of mine. Like I'd literally only watch it simply to stare at them and exclaim, "Ohhh pretty."
Cast Yoona in it and I'm down. ;)
She can pass as a high schooler right? Maybe? Put her in pigtails and she can do that annoyingly cute aegyo she's so good at. Problem solved.
Required fields are marked *
12 esjpx
January 5, 2017 at 9:08 AM
Why do all these webtoon plots sound the same
Required fields are marked *
shamrockmom
January 8, 2017 at 2:34 PM
Consider watching "Awl" or "Last" for some well acted webtoon based dramas with more mature subject matter. Webtoons seem to run the gamut--just like dramas :)
Required fields are marked *
13 Nina Chikovani
January 5, 2017 at 9:37 AM
I am SO pessimistic about that, I hope that they will at least choose a good writer...I mean drama with this plot wouldn't get more then 5% ratings even in Korea, so what do they expect? Could they maybe make characters a little older?
I really don't want to have a harder time convincing people that no, dramas aren't childrish and no, k-pop doesn't represent Korean culture
Required fields are marked *
Nina Chikovani
January 5, 2017 at 9:46 AM
If they wanted to play safe they could hire a good writer and her write a plot.
Kim Eun Sook would be a good choice- I think her drama would get ratings ANYWHERE....or hire Healer's writer, if they did a little search they would know that international viewers love her.
Required fields are marked *
annie
January 5, 2017 at 3:00 PM
They did recently add DotS to their catalogue... (in the US at least)
Required fields are marked *
14 Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 9:42 AM
I was wondering if they'd move into k-dramas soon, as I saw they had their first original j-drama earlier last year (Good Morning Call). I figured it would just be a matter of time.
I have Netflix, along with my Dramafever and Viki subscriptions so I'm all set for drama madness (Hurray!).
I saw other comments mentioning Hulu. Hulu used to be my go to place for k-dramas while they still were under contract with Dramafever to license their library. Even though I had a premium subscription at Dramafever at the same time, I preferred Hulu due to its Xbox One integration (it was much more reliable than the unstable Dramafever app plus you didn't have to deal with casting through the Chromecast). I dropped Hulu immediately when they chose to not renew their licensing agreement with Dramafever.
Anyway, I'll be excited to see this! :)
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 9:53 AM
Okay, so I committed the sin of commenting before fully reading the article.
I'm less excited given the detailing of the premise.
It seems Netflix is choosing to go the shallow, vacuous route with their debut korean drama. A drama about a kiddie love triangle and a phone app? Ugh...
Hopefully it doesn't fail miserably and end up turning them off from creating korean drama content, as I think there's a lot of potential for viewership internationally. It seems like the perfect fit for Netflix, given their setup, stated goal of expanding to serve an international audience, and focus on serving up targeting content to niche audiences.
Required fields are marked *
Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 9:54 AM
*targeted content
Required fields are marked *
cheekbones
January 5, 2017 at 9:47 PM
Is Good Morning Call considered to be a successful venture for Netflix ? I'm just curious because it chooses yet another teen drama for its first k-drama.
Required fields are marked *
piggybackrider
January 6, 2017 at 3:09 AM
At least in my neck of the woods, Good Morning Call was not the first j-drama produced, or paid for, by Netflix. There was one called Hibana spark and one called Atelier. Netlix also recently co-produced a season of Midnight Diner. All of these shows are more serious than the fluffy teen drama GMC.
I can't pretend to have an insight into Netflix's decision making processes. But I am sure they have a lot of data that shows what their viewers want, and that they primarily back shows they think fall into these categories. Also, we should remember that the non-American shows Netflix produces primarily are a way to entice local audiences to pay the subscription fee. They don't really care how many watch the show per se.
Required fields are marked *
15 Iris
January 5, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Sounds silly, and totally avoidable.
I am disappointed that this is what Netflix is coming up with.
Required fields are marked *
16 ricky
January 5, 2017 at 11:19 AM
I really liked what Netflix, and the team they chose to work on Good Morning Call, did with the drama. I'm looking forward to this.
Required fields are marked *
17 bmore
January 5, 2017 at 11:28 AM
exciting for Kdrama! Hopefully they will kick it into high gear in the first episode to get people hooked fast so they don't leave.
Required fields are marked *
18 iamdeb
January 5, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Maybe we will get some kdramas with a main (and well handled) LGBT relationship somewhere down the line???
Required fields are marked *
19 Majmin Merican
January 5, 2017 at 12:15 PM
Reading all that I can already imagine the lead actors for the three leads. Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung who just finished a top drama recently. They both mentioned wanting to do a drama in school uniform before getting older What about Kim Soo Hyun as the other lead. With these three the ratings will hit the roof!! All actors are extremely good and with a huge fan base. If Netflix decides to go into Korean Dramas it should be done with a Bang!Their chemistry will out of this world. Just my suggestion as I am one of the big fans of Korean dramas. All three are good looking too... Kim Yoo Jung is young and cutesy to pull it of. A very talented young actress with natural beauty.
Required fields are marked *
Sera The Ms Temper
January 5, 2017 at 3:37 PM
These three are too talented for something like this.
Required fields are marked *
Majmin Merican
January 8, 2017 at 1:52 PM
It would be a killing since its Netflix first venture into Kdramas. With these actors fan base and a good script, there'll definitely be a huge increase in subscribers globally. A partnership with the station KBS should be good seeing how this station turns out the best dramas yearly with high ratings. KBS is very fair in the entertainment industry, giving awards to deserving actors. Case in point, the lead actress of Love in the Moonlight got an award although she was ill during the awards night. Would love to see this young actress act in this school drama. She has looks, youth, talents and the right visuals with these two young actors. Seems had acted since four! Even did a stint in the USA. Hope this does happen. Just an opinion of a Kdrama addict!
Required fields are marked *
20 zashi
January 5, 2017 at 12:20 PM
Oh no Netflix subcription is ending soon. Now will have to decide if renewing will be worth it.
Required fields are marked *
21 Eman Resu
January 5, 2017 at 1:46 PM
So AllKpop posted an article about this project.
They quote the producer as saying,"On the surface, it sounds like a typical romance drama, however, it takes place in a much deeper complex world."
Encouraging indication of perhaps more substance? Mere promotional hype? Dunno... You decide. ;)
Required fields are marked *
Flightey Gazelles
January 5, 2017 at 10:15 PM
I think it could turn out to be....more or at least less shallow than the plot summary makes it out to be.
Required fields are marked *
22 Amber
January 5, 2017 at 3:16 PM
So basically the Love Alarm pertains to Tinder with distance set to 10 meters? Hahaha I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet
Required fields are marked *
23 Sera The Ms Temper
January 5, 2017 at 3:40 PM
The plot sounds like webdrama, with 15 min per episode. lol.
I wont watch this unless they cast actors that I really want to watch.
Required fields are marked *
24 Sera The Ms Temper
January 5, 2017 at 3:52 PM
I just came across one Instagram account which copy n paste this article, and not even give credits to DB team. sigh people, always learn how to give credit to original source, ok?
Required fields are marked *
25 Adchicky
January 5, 2017 at 4:10 PM
I watch goblin on iflix.... but i guess its only cover southeast Asia..
Required fields are marked *
26 O_o
January 5, 2017 at 5:19 PM
I heard that Netflix entered the Korean market early last year and despite a few months' free trial period, was not successful in signing up many Korean users because of limited contents that did not cater to the Korean taste. If making their original k-drama contents is their way of trying to attract more K-viewers, I think most Koreans would welcome it as long as it will be sustained efforts to try to offer better and more programs in the future.
I have always considered the networks (out of the network-production-actor) the most evil part of that K-drama trifecta. Just because they used to be the only platforms for K-dramas, they were abusive and unfair in lots of their dealings with other players in the industry. If Netflix can provide another means, while encouraging creativity and fair, better business practice, and more international exposure for K-dramas, what is there not to like?
Also, for the past 2 years or so the K-drama industry has relied on the Chinese market too much and personally, I think the recent blocking of K- entertainment in China is a blessing in disguise. K-drama is its finest when it's focused on the K-values and aims to please the K sensibility. Because after all, the most provincial, localized art turns out to be the most universal and moving. The Chinese market was not good for K-dramas in that respect. Hopefully Netflix can offer that to K-drama makers. Oh, and please provide more and better contents from other countries to Korean Netflix subscribers too.
Required fields are marked *
sorrynotsorry
January 5, 2017 at 6:51 PM
Thanks for the info about Netflix and the Korean market. I heard they were making moves into Asia but wasn't sure how it was going.
I think Netlfix should invest in multiple projects of different genres eventually. I think many actors/writers/PDs would love the opportunity to get off the ratings marry go round and put out a quality project without worrying about ratings/product placement/changing story lines to suit audience. There's a reason so many dramas start going south around episode 7ish.
Required fields are marked *
27 pencl
January 5, 2017 at 7:57 PM
Netflix?! Kdramas have come a long way and so mainstream ?
My earliest memories of kdramas were buying bootlegs on eBay then moving on to downloading from Clubbox.
Required fields are marked *
28 momosan
January 5, 2017 at 8:00 PM
Well, their first Japanese production "Good Morning Call" was ok so there is that. I haven't seen Atelier, their other Japanese drama, though. I should do that sometime!
Required fields are marked *
29 See
January 5, 2017 at 8:39 PM
I'm just happy.
A few months ago I really notice that Netflix is having more and more Asian tv series popping up on their site. Before it was mostly old movies but now its tv series and I like that they are having more Asian tv series. I'm enjoying Netflix a lot lately.
For some reason Hulu doesn’t have any more good Asian tv series like they use to have. Its like since Netflix stared popping more Asian tv series on their site, Hulu stop airing or posting any recent K-drama or Tw-drama.
I've been watching on Netflix:
Bromance
Back To 1989 / 1989
Miss In Kiss
Refresh Man
Be with you
Love, Now
Love Cuisine
Required fields are marked *
30 Lucifermeo
January 5, 2017 at 9:40 PM
So I get that Netflix is trying to gain more Korean subscribers. This sounds like a good start for them, at least monetarily speaking.
But I'm disappointed. From the company that Sense8 arises, I expect much more than ... well, this. All due respect to those who enjoy them, but I'm so freaking tired of those cheesy, makjang Korean dramas that tell the story of absolutely nothing and is focused on pandering to the masses and nothing else. This drama in the making sounds exactly like one, and I hope they wont waste young talents like PBG, KSH ... etc trying to make it. Though that'd be a great move on their part.
Required fields are marked *
31 Lin
January 6, 2017 at 6:11 PM
The second male lead and the femal lead (Kim Soo Hyun) from Solomens Prejury for the high school and the one who plays the dead student for second male lead please. Heck just bring that full cast her and put them into rules as you deem drama gods and casting directors.
Required fields are marked *
32 Trina
January 6, 2017 at 6:59 PM
I am already subscriber of Viki and Dramafever. I am Netflix member but can't get it yet on my tv. Somehow, it is not working and I am still trying to figure it out. I think that it need a modem for wifi which I have but it is connected in another room. Therefore, if I figure it out to attached it on tv. I might be resubscribe Netflix to watch it on my tv.
Required fields are marked *
33 uunsi
January 6, 2017 at 8:18 PM
dk how i feel abt all this. its exciting and all but as a kdrama watcher how relies on piracy to watch her fave shows im not sure how this will pan out. netflix isnt doing that great in asia (especially china) and its products have little appeal for international viewers (who rely on piracy wherever they are). they can dabble in kdramas but i question their success– outside international kdrama fans who reside in europe and north america. most of the world have bad internet especially east asia and i doubt ppl in developing countries would want to fork up $7.99, which only a small percentage of the population can afford. i doubt they'll make a dent on asian market or how fans habits of acquiring, streaming and watching kdramas. they might have an impact on us internal fans in europe and north america, but even then we're gonna rely on whatever avenues we are using now. if i was viki and dramafever, id be a bit nervous but it wont take them out of business. we're still gonna tune in bc netflix wont have the newest tvn drama, they would.
Required fields are marked *
34 Emi Warling
January 7, 2017 at 2:45 AM
I'm actually scared at what this means for Korean dramas.
I'm scared that if this takes off, then this will become a whole western overhaul of k-dramas. I mean I'm pretty sure what lured most of k-drama fans (from the west) into drama land was the fact at how different it was from the wests over produced TV, where shows go on for seasons and seasons even after the story has long finished.
I don't want the heart of Korean dramas to be lost. All the little quirks that makes a drama Korean.
I mean now this is happening will Netflix try and make them change things to fit western standards more? Change little bit here and there which in the end will change the whole feel of a Korean drama into the Hollywood feel.
I am glad that this will give dramas more exposure. I just hope it doesn't come at the cost of the amazing core of what makes k-dramas so addictive.
Required fields are marked *