[Exclusive] Cartoonist Lee Hyun-se and Director Kwak Kyung-taek Collaborate on New Work 'Myeongpum Sidae' Webtoon and OTT Dual Production

A Noir Webtoon Set Against the Background of the Public's Preference for Counterfeits and Distribution Processes
Pre-release Early Next Year... Drama Scheduled for OTT Release in the Second Half of Next Year

Lee Hyun-se (69), a leading figure in the domestic comic industry, and director Kwak Kyung-taek (57), a representative of the film industry, have embarked on a project to simultaneously produce a webtoon and a drama based on a single scenario through a two-track production.

Lee Hyun-se (69), a representative figure in the domestic comic and film industries, and director Kwak Kyung-taek (57) have embarked on a project to simultaneously produce a webtoon and a drama based on a single scenario.
[Photo by Travel Team]

On the 29th, Lee stated in an interview with Asia Economy that he will create a webtoon based on director Kwak's scenario titled "Myeongpum Sidae (tentative title)," while Kwak will produce it as a drama, with both versions scheduled to be released next year.

The simultaneous production of expanded content such as dramas and movies based on webtoons, or webtoons based on dramas, is currently one of the most notable production formats in the industry.

Lee explained, "Myeongpum Sidae is a work that originated from the curiosity about why people like counterfeit (fake) products, how counterfeit goods are made and distributed, and why global luxury brands do not actively crack down on counterfeits."

He continued, "We focused on why people who like counterfeits end up living a counterfeit life. Director Kwak and I share the belief that it is about the dreams, admiration, and desires of humans for things they do not currently have but want to possess someday. The genre is expected to be noir," he added.

The webtoon version of "Myeongpum Sidae," which has already begun production, will be pre-released early next year through a platform, and considering the special production environment, the drama is expected to be released via OTT sometime in the second half of next year.

"Myeongpum Sidae" has attracted industry attention early on as a simultaneous production project of video and webtoon through the collaboration of masters from the comic and film industries. The two have maintained a long-standing friendship and previously collaborated in 2008 when they jointly pursued the drama adaptation of Lee’s ongoing webtoon "Changcheon Suhowi."

Lee said, "'Myeongpum Sidae' project will serve as an excellent textbook-like work where one can compare how a cartoonist interprets a story and attempts comic-style direction, and how a film director directs the same story visually."