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Style/ News & Trends

The most expensive K-drama ever? Netflix’s The King, Criminal Minds, Kingdom, Mr. Sunshine, Arthdal Chronicles and more Korean series which cost up to US$45 billion

From Arthdal Chronicles to Criminal Minds and Vagabond, these highly produced K-dramas have put the Korean entertainment industry on the map – but do the expensive production costs pay off and translate into high viewer ratings?

The King: Eternal Monarch, Hotel Del Luna, Mr. Sunshine – which K-drama series cost billions to produce and how well did they fare in the ratings? Photos: SBS; TVN; Netflix

It may be called the “small screen”, but television involves serious spending when it comes to producing the best K-drama series. The reasons are many: elaborate sets; filming in exclusive locations whether at home or overseas; the chosen genre (for example, fantasy and action require a bigger budget due to special effects); and casting well-known (and rather well-paid) hallyu celebrities.

Here are 7 K-drama series that boast slick production values and whopping budgets – how many have you seen?

Arthdal Chronicles (estimated cost: 54 billion won; US$45.7 million)

Starring “Korea’s Leonardo DiCaprio” Song Joong-ki and divided into three parts with a total of 18 episodes, this fantasy drama tackles the struggle for power and delves into the key elements of what makes and defines a civilisation.

According to Kpopmap, scenes were filmed in Korea and Brunei, and a huge, exclusive set was built, too. The show drew mixed reviews, with viewers pointing out similarities to Game of Thrones.

Mr. Sunshine (estimated cost: 30-40 billion won; US$25.4-36 million)

With stunning cinematography and actor Lee Byung-hun taking the lead role, Mr. Sunshine became a hit with audiences. Byung-hun’s fee, overseas filming locations, and the track record of acclaimed screenwriter Kim Eun-sook contributed to the high production costs. Mr. Sunshine follows the story of a child born into slavery, who escapes aboard an American ship and grows up in the United States.

Kingdom 1 and 2 (estimated cost: 35 billion won; US$29.6 million)

The Kingdom series is a zombie drama set in the Joseon era in the 15th century. The historical component accounts for the design costs, and expenditure reportedly went over the budget of US$1.76 million per episode. The show was well-received and was renewed for a second season.

The King: Eternal Monarch (estimated cost: 30 billion won; US$25.4 million)

This was one of the most anticipated series in 2020 due to a powerhouse cast, led by Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun, and backed by a budget of US$25 million. The show depicts two parallel universes: the fictional Kingdom of Corea and modern-day Korea. It made waves internationally but clocked low on domestic ratings due to criticism of the screenplay, editing and directing.

Vagabond (estimated cost: 20-25 billion won; US$18.6 million)

Vagabond , starring Lee Seung-gi, Bae Suzy and Shin Sung-rok, garnered 1.78 million viewers in Korea when it aired its pilot episode. The series tells the story of an ordinary man who gets involved in a plane crash and gets trapped in a web of corruption. According to Koreaboo, filming took place in Portugal and Morocco, and it was reported the cast underwent physical training for their roles.

Hotel Del Luna (estimated cost: 16-20 billion won; US$13.5-16.9 million)

The drama revolves around a mystical hotel that caters to spirits and sends them to the afterlife. Starring rags-to-riches K-pop sensation IU and Yeo Jin-goo, the series required hi-tech CGI to create the world of fantasy. Different sets, celebrity guest appearances, and IU’s luxury wardrobe took a big slice out of the budget. Hotel Del Luna became the highest-rated TVN drama in 2019.

Criminal Minds (estimated cost: 16-20 billion won; US$13.5-16.9 million)

A remake of the original American police procedural series, the South Korean version poured 1 billion won or (US$840, 000) into each episode. The K-drama seems to have invested in costumes, equipment and jam-packed action effects. The pilot episode premiered in 2017 with the highest rating among eight other TVN dramas at the time.

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