Second Half Original Lineup
Brutal Intern·Unsu Ojin Day and More
Dramas and Variety Shows to Continue the K-Content Craze
Native online video service (OTT) TVING is set to showcase major works in the second half of the year.
According to TVING's content review for the first half of the year announced on the 14th of last month, in the original series category, 'Sulkkun Doshi Yeoja Deul 2 (Work Later, Drink Now 2)' and 'Island' ranked first and second in viewing UV (unique visitors), while variety shows 'Duballo Ticketing' and 'Manjjitnam' secured spots in the top 5. In the documentary category, the original documentary that resonated with the MZ generation and 'K-Pop Generation' ranked first and fifth respectively.
Actors Lee Sung-min, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Lee Jung-eun (from left) starring in "Unsu Ojin Nal" [Photo by TVING]
Building on this momentum, TVING is strengthening its position with series that have distinct personalities and variety shows created by hit-making production teams.
Starting with the original series 'Cruel Intern' on the 11th, TVING will release 'Unsu Ojin Nal (The Day of Bad Luck)', and 'Lee Jae, Soon Dead' in the second half of the year. For variety shows, a high-teen coming-of-age reality show is in preparation, created by the production teams behind 'Street Food Fighter', 'Transit Love', and 'You Quiz on the Block'. The first global simultaneous release since the launch of the Paramount+ brand channel is also heating up the atmosphere.
Adaptation of an Experienced Intern 'Cruel Intern'
Actors Ra Mi-ran and Um Ji-won mark the beginning. The original series 'Cruel Intern' will be released on the 11th. It tells the story of Go Hae-ra (played by Ra Mi-ran), who returns as an intern after a 7-year hiatus, and faces a secret and cruel proposal from her successful colleague Choi Ji-won (played by Um Ji-won). The struggles of Go Hae-ra, who channels her inner conflicts into her extensive workplace experience, are expected to resonate deeply with working professionals.
From Relatable Drama to Global Genre Works
Two original series will be released to the global market.
The thriller series 'Unsu Ojin Nal (The Day of Bad Luck)', based on the webtoon of the same name, depicts taxi driver Oh Taek (Lee Sung-min) who picks up a long-distance passenger (Yoo Yeon-seok) offering a large sum, only to realize he is a serial killer, leading to a terrifying ride. Actors Lee Sung-min and Yoo Yeon-seok play the taxi driver and the killer, respectively, with Lee Jung-eun joining as Hwang Soon-gyu, a mother chasing the murderer who killed her son. This is a partnership project with Paramount+ and is set to be released in about 27 countries globally, including the U.S., Canada, and France.
'Lee Jae, Soon Dead', starring Seo In-guk and Park So-dam, boasts a star-studded lineup including Kim Ji-hoon, Choi Si-won, Sung Hoon, Kim Kang-hoon, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Do-hyun, Go Yoon-jung, Kim Jae-wook, and Oh Jung-se. The fantasy series, based on the webtoon of the same name, follows Choi Lee-jae (Seo In-guk) who, just before falling into hell, experiences 12 cycles of death and life as judged by death. It offers diverse genre entertainment including action, noir, romance, thriller, and human drama. It will be available worldwide through Amazon Prime Video.
Variety Show Collaboration by 'Street Food Fighter', 'Transit Love', and 'You Quiz' Production Teams
TVING, known for its strong variety shows, is ambitiously presenting the high-teen coming-of-age reality show 'Boys and Girls in Love'.
This project is a collaboration between PD Park Hee-yeon of 'Street Food Fighter', PD Lee Hee-seon of 'Transit Love', and writer Lee Eon-ju of 'You Quiz on the Block'. It portrays the fresh and exciting growth stories of teenagers reminiscent of a hot summer. Talented arts high school students meet and, through 'love', the source of all art, embark on a journey to find their own muses, unfolding like a watercolor painting.
Paramount+ Brand Channel Series Also Garner Attention
Paramount+ originals and exclusive series available only on the Paramount+ brand channel are also attracting attention. In the first half of the year, four Paramount+ series?'Rabbit Hole', 'Tulsa King', 'From' Season 2, and 'Yellowjackets'?ranked in TVING's top 5 overseas series, creating synergy.
More diverse content will be released in the second half of the year. 'Lioness: Special Operations Team', which was simultaneously released worldwide on the 23rd of last month, recorded the highest number of global viewers on its first day. It became the top contributor to paid subscriptions among all TVING Paramount+ brand channel series, marking a hit. Attention is on whether it will continue to be a strong performer in the second half.
Meanwhile, 'Lioness: Special Operations Team' is a spy thriller drama based on a real U.S. intelligence agency program, depicting the story of female agents trained to destroy terrorist organizations. The transformation of Zoe Saldana into a soldier and the unique aspect of a female-led espionage story are cited as reasons for its popularity.
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