4 Netflix original K-dramas to watch in 2021, from Hellbound directed by Train to Busan’s Yeon Sang-ho, to zombie horror spin-off Kingdom: Ashin of the North starring Jun Ji-hyun
“The creation of diverse content means a wider selection for consumers to choose from. This is encouraging news for us since it will serve as an opportunity to grow together,” Kim Min-young, vice-president of content for Netflix in Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, said in an online press conference. “Right now, it’s time to grow our own piece of pie instead of fighting over a little piece.”
“The local production industry’s ecosystem is very solid. There are many talented writers, directors and actors, who contribute to the birth of diverse, high-quality stories,” she stated, at the February 25 press briefing.
This year, Netflix announced it will invest US$500 million into the development of Korean original content. Such a decision comes in addition to providing filming studio spaces in Paju and Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and working to improve the accessibility of its content through captions, subtitles and dubbing.
She explained that these efforts are part of the company’s “step to create Korean content that the entire world can enjoy and accompany the growth of the domestic production industry”, highlighting its coexistence with the local market and personnel.
The streaming giant’s ambition to lead the future of global “K-content” is evident in the raft of original series and films that will be unveiled in 2021. The line-up of 13 works includes Kingdom: Ashin of the North, Hellbound, Squid Game and The Silent Sea, all taking place in settings of overwhelming scale and radically imagined narratives.
“The existence of the Kingdom series was made possible only through Netflix. It’s a show that could not be born elsewhere. The platform has been our continuous supporter and ally during our attempts to experiment with new things without prejudice, obstacles or fear,” its director Kim Sung-hoon said.
Train to Busan filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho’s Hellbound begins with the sudden arrival of angels to Earth. The news is far from heavenly, however, as the supernatural beings are there to condemn humans to hell, creating unimaginable chaos and confusion.
Meanwhile, the action thriller Squid Game, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, transforms a children’s street game popular in Korea during the 70s and 80s into a mysterious survival game where participants risk their lives for the grand prize of US$40.5 million.
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- Netflix will invest US$500 million in Korean dramas and movies this year amid competition from other streaming providers like Disney Plus
- Following the success of Song Joong-k’s sci-fi blockbuster Space Sweepers, The Silent Sea, starring Bae Doona, is just one of 13 new titles to look forward to