Seol Holiday OTT New Releases
Netflix's 'Jigeum Uri Hakgyoneun'
Disney Plus's 'Neowa Naeui Gyeongchalsueop'
Aimed at 1020 Viewers
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] The way people consume movies and content has changed since the pandemic. In the past, you had to go to the theater to watch, but now there is an additional option to enjoy from the comfort of your home. With the emergence of Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services, content can be enjoyed in various ways.
From the 29th of this month to the 2nd of next month, two new OTT releases targeting the 10-20 age group during the Lunar New Year holiday will meet audiences in their living rooms. A thriller and a youth drama will go head-to-head.
Netflix has unleashed K-zombies, a genre that has established itself overseas, in a school setting. Released on the afternoon of the 28th, "All of Us Are Dead" was created by director Lee Jae-gyu, known for dramas like "Damo," "Beethoven Virus," and the film "Perfect Stranger," and writer Cheon Sung-il, who wrote the drama "Chuno," films "My Girlfriend Is an Agent," and "The Pirates."
A number of rising stars who have recently gained attention appear. Energetic actors such as Park Ji-hoo, Yoon Chan-young, Jo Yi-hyun, Lomon, and Lee Yoo-mi struggle to survive in a school overrun by zombies.
Following the remarkable success of combining high-teen and genre elements in "Sweet Home," Netflix ambitiously presents K-zombies, which have gained attention overseas through works like "Train to Busan." With domestic and international viewers’ interest in K-content soaring after "Squid Game," it remains to be seen whether this high-teen zombie series will be a big hit.
Disney Plus, which left a blemish with "Snowdrop," is introducing a new original series to make up for its sluggish performance in the domestic market. "Youth Class with You and Me," produced by Studio&New, was released on the 26th targeting the Lunar New Year holiday.
Singer Kang Daniel, who has a strong fandom both domestically and internationally, takes on the lead role and acting challenge, joined by actors Chae Soo-bin and Lee Shin-young, portraying the police academy life of clumsy youths. Directed by Kim Byung-soo, known for dramas like "He Is Psychometric" and "Bride of the Water God," and written by writer Lee Hana.
An industry insider said, "Recently, OTT platforms have been releasing new works timed with the peak theater seasons. This trend appears because market demand is similar." He added, "Before the pandemic, the Lunar New Year holiday was considered a prime season when movies could reach 10 million viewers in theaters. OTT platforms seem to expect increased content viewership and buzz during this period."
He continued, "The 10-20 youth generation spends a long time using OTT services and is expected to use them a lot during the holidays. It will be interesting to see what kind of response tailored content targeting them will generate," adding, "In a market where boundaries have collapsed, competition among already saturated content will become fiercer, and viewers’ standards will continue to rise."
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