SKT to Release 'Web Drama' Created in Metaverse Next Month... Should I Try a Minor Role Too?

[Asia Economy Reporter Joeslgina] SK Telecom announced on the 21st that it will produce and release Season 1 of the participatory web drama "Land of If" in November, set in its metaverse (extended virtual world) service, Ifland.

"Land of If" is a romantic comedy based on the premise, "What if my boyfriend's appearance (avatar) changed every day?" leveraging Ifland's feature that allows users to easily customize and change their avatars anytime.

Both the cast and the drama's setting were created using avatars and themed spaces within Ifland. Actual web drama actors were cast for main roles, including the lead avatar character representing Ifland, "Choi Charlotte." For supporting and minor roles, auditions were held among general Ifland users, adding meaning to the participatory content. Since August, the production team has held weekly meetings within Ifland, conducting the entire production process inside the metaverse.

In particular, SK Telecom maximizes the advantages of the metaverse world through an open production method that allows any viewer to participate as an avatar.

Before the first broadcast, special events such as public filming and a campfire preview will be held on the 26th and 28th, open to all Ifland users. At the public filming event on the afternoon of the 26th, general users can enter the filming space as avatars without separate auditions and directly participate in the drama production by playing roles such as passing pedestrians.

Minhyuk Choi, the PD in charge of production, said, "Users who have dreamed of acting in dramas in the real world can now realize their acting dreams through avatars," adding, "In the future, in the metaverse, users will be able to create their own characters and participate in role-playing or theatrical play with other users, experiencing differentiated story elements that offer fun beyond games."

Jinsu Jeon, Head of SK Telecom's Metaverse CO, stated, "'Land of If' is meaningful as Ifland users move beyond mere viewers to participate in drama planning with multiple sub-characters and act as lead, supporting, and minor roles," adding, "In Ifland, where imagination becomes reality, we will add new fun to daily life with various sub-characters and further expand the horizon of participatory metaverse drama production."

Meanwhile, Ifland, launched last July, has gained high interest mainly from the MZ generation through various types of content and gatherings, surpassing 3.6 million cumulative users and establishing itself as a leading domestic metaverse platform.