Chuseok Holiday Original Content 'OTT Battle'

Netflix 'Suriname'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The traditional home theater battle enjoyed by broadcasters every Chuseok, where families gather, has shifted to online video streaming services (OTT). Domestic OTT companies are competing to secure users by releasing their own original content tailored for the holiday season.

According to the industry on the 8th, OTT providers are fiercely competing by releasing exclusive programs such as movies, entertainment shows, and performances for Chuseok. Netflix, which drew global attention last Chuseok with "Squid Game," is attracting users this year with "Suriname," in which it invested 35 billion KRW. Based on the true story of Jo Bong-haeng, a Korean, "Suriname" is set in the South American country of Suriname and depicts a civilian carrying out a secret mission for the National Intelligence Service against a criminal who disguised as a religious group and dominated the drug market. This work, released on the 9th, is director Yoon Jong-bin's first series and stars Ha Jung-woo and Hwang Jung-min.

Coupang Play exclusively released the movie "Emergency Declaration," currently screening in theaters, on the 7th. "Emergency Declaration" is an aviation disaster film that tells the story surrounding a plane that declared an unconditional landing due to an unprecedented terrorist attack. Director Han Jae-rim collaborated with actors Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jeon Do-yeon. "Emergency Declaration" was invited to the non-competitive section of the 74th Cannes International Film Festival.

Wavve promoted its original drama "Crisis X." Starring actor Kwon Sang-woo, "Crisis X" is a comedy drama about a character facing a crisis due to early retirement, stock price drops, and soaring housing prices, who struggles to overcome the challenges. The first to third episodes were released on the 2nd and received positive responses; episodes 4 to 6 will be released on the 9th.

Original entertainment shows are also being released. Tving's "Youth MT," released on the 9th, is an outdoor variety show featuring young actors Park Bo-gum, Kim Yoo-jung, Park Seo-joon, Ji Chang-wook, and others enjoying a joint MT (Membership Training) together. Disney Plus introduced the real variety program "The Zone: Survive to Live," starring broadcaster Yoo Jae-suk. The three human representatives Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Kwang-soo, and Kwon Yuri enter eight different disaster zones through the mysterious door of Palgakjeong and struggle to survive.

The OTT market is becoming increasingly fierce in the competition to attract users. According to Mobile Index, Netflix's domestic monthly active users (MAU) last month were 12.72 million. Thanks to the drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," the number of users is the highest since October last year (12.88 million). Wavve's user count is 4.52 million. Tving mobilized 4.5 million users, boosted by the exclusive live broadcast of Lim Young-woong's concert "I'm Hero." Season, operated by KT and scheduled to merge with Tving, recorded 1.77 million users. The combined user count of the two OTTs is 6.28 million. Coupang Play had 3.87 million users, Disney Plus 1.88 million, and Watcha 990,000, respectively.