“Squid Game” It was not an isolated and unrepeatable case. According to data provided by Netflix, more than 60% of its subscribers have tried a Korean title in 2022. Two innovations from last year, ‘We are dead’ and ‘Woo, an outstanding lawyer’became one of the top 10 most-watched TV series outside of English in the platform’s history. Why is K-content captivating the world? “Many Korean creators work with emotions that are actually universal,” he explains. Don Kang, Vice President of Content, Netflix Korea, in a virtual chat with some European media from Berlinale. “But we don’t make TV shows and movies with this universality in mind. We are not trying to sense how a series, character, story will be accepted outside of our country. We are honest with ourselves and the local people. If we’re successful outside of Korea, it’s even better, but that’s not the point.“.
An industry veteran, Kang has worked in distribution for many years and is enthusiastic about the streaming revolution. Not long ago, it was difficult for a Western audience to access Korean cinema (almost entirely confined to the festival grounds) or the often long, often romantic K-dramas of the Asian country as television fiction. A series can now premiere worldwide on the same day and become a global phenomenon in record time; status “La gloria” is the most watched non-English series on Netflix in the first week of January 2023.
Netflix’s massive Korean offering of over thirty titles for this year includes: Second episode of The Glory (March 10)and new seasons ‘My sweet home’ anyone “DP: The Poacher”. Although sequels aren’t trendy in Korea and they prefer to bet on the intro, middle, and conclusion sections, they start making exceptions if “the public really likes something,” Kang says. “But it also has to be a really strong, creative excuse, something that really justifies it.”
There is no shortage of love among true innovations. “Your Time Is Calling”, ‘Behind your touch’, “Fast Course in Love” or a strong bet, “Doona!”about a normal college student (Yang Se Jong) is in a relationship with a former K-pop ‘idol’ (Suzydoing it a bit).
And the thematic axes of the ‘Squid game’, namely survival and class difference, will reappear in series such as. “The Monster of Old Seoul” (“A great fantasy set in 1945, during the liberation of Korea”), post-apocalyptic “Black Knight” or rather pre-apocalyptic “Goodbye Earth”.
But the 2023 shipment was driven by a desire to seek: new stories and new ways of telling. She’s raving about Kang ‘Girl in the Mask’, “thriller” “full of social criticism and purely cinematographic language”. Throughout the year we will see everything from political dramas (“Queen Maker”Something like Korean ‘Borgen’) from ‘We are dead’ creator to a welcoming drama (‘A daily dose of sun’), going through a ‘true crime’ documentary series (“In the Name of God: Holy Betrayal”) about four so-called Korean prophets.
“There will be more types of offers,” Kang confirms. “And that includes some ‘reality shows’ [como el intrigante ‘Zombieverse’, especie de ‘Supervivientes’ en clave apocalipsis zombi]. we would like to know that “Physical ability: 100” currently tops the global Top 10 non-English language series. This means that our search for diversity pays off and the public is looking for the most diverse Korean culture. We came to Berlinale for the world premiere of ‘Boksoon Must Die’, which is about a woman trying to balance her life as a murderer and a single mother by the director I admire, Sung-hyun Byun. Victoria & Albert in South Kensington [Londres] currently hosting an exhibition on Korean popular culture. People are interested in us. Exciting!”.
After ‘Boksoon Must Die’ (March 31), other original Korean movies will also be on our screens. ‘Dancer’A revenge ‘thriller’ from the ‘El Telefono’ director in which he starred Jeon Jong Seofemme fatale from the movie ‘Burning’ or “Yellow Door: Searching for Director Bong’s unreleased short film”It is no different from a documentary about the first and rarely watched short film of . bong joon hoOscar-winning director of Parasites. Thousands of reasons not to say “goodbye Netflix”.