Netflix closes deal with CJ E&M, ramps up Kdrama offering and embraces webdramas
We previously covered Netflix’s recent decisions to commission, not one but two, original Korean dramas for global distribution on its service.
While Netflix’s first Korean film Okja took the spotlight of the past two months, as it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2017 and was then made available globally from 28 June, Netflix has also been actively ramping up its catalogue of third-party acquired Korean films but also television series.
Back in November 2016, it hired a specialist for acquisitions of Korean contents for its local and international footprint, Minyoung Kim (previously Head of Content Partnerships in Asia Pacific for Twitter).
On 21 April 2017, Netflix experimented with its first simulcast of a Korean drama with jTBC’s Man to Man. This built up upon a relationship previously established back in February 2016, when it released Beating Again (which was made available to Korean audiences too this 22 June) among others.
Netflix has since acquired and released a few more Korean dramas from jTBC (and even some variety shows), as well as relatively less popular titles from the two of three national Korean networks, MBC and SBS.
Most recently, it has closed a deal with leading Korean media conglomerate CJ E&M to bring its most exciting TV series to the service. The latest of those is crime thriller series Stranger (aka Secret Forest), which will be released on 1 August.
Netflix has also started adding a number of Korean webdramas, showing its desire to embrace this new wave – including commissioning one of its own, My Only Love Song.
We have listed below all the Korean dramas released on the service over the past 3 months (please note some may not be available in the United Kingdom) (source: @netflixkr_up):
My Little Baby (마이 리틀 베이비)Drama10-Jun-2017MBCMBChttps://www.netflix.com/title/80162114
Title | Genre | Release Date | Studio | Channel | Link |
Stranger (비밀의 숲) | Drama | 1-Aug-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80187302 |
Quiz of God (신의 퀴즈) | Drama | 15-Jul-2017 | CJ E&M | OCN | https://www.netflix.com/title/70253240 |
Cheo-Yong (처용) | Drama | 15-Jul-2017 | CJ E&M | OCN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80178207 |
Begin Again (비긴 어게인) | Variety | 4-Jul-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80195736 |
Hyori’s Bed & Breakfast (효리네 민박) | Variety | 4-Jul-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80195839 |
Momo Salon (모모살롱) | Webdrama | 2-Jul-2017 | Kirin Prod | Naver TVcast | https://www.netflix.com/title/80116687 |
Nine: Nine Time Travels (나인) | Drama | 30-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80178276 |
Oh My Ghost (오 나의 귀신님) | Drama | 30-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80178404 |
Gab-Dong (갑동이) | Drama | 30-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80178344 |
Under the Black Moonlight (검은 달빛 아래서) | Webdrama | 29-Jun-2017 | Aura Media | Sohu TV | https://www.netflix.com/title/80163266 |
Magic Phone (마법의 핸드폰) | Webdrama | 29-Jun-2017 | Aura Media | Sohu TV | https://www.netflix.com/title/80163277 |
28 Faces of the Moons (28개의 달) | Webdrama | 29-Jun-2017 | Aura Media | Sohu TV | https://www.netflix.com/title/80163409 |
Beating Again (순정에 반하다) | Drama | 22-Jun-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80091779 |
Let’s Eat 2 (식샤를 합시다 2) | Drama | 19-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80183878 |
Let’s Eat (식샤를 합시다) | Drama | 19-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80177986 |
In Need of Romance 3 (로맨스가 필요해 3) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80183186 |
In Need of Romance 2 (로맨스가 필요해 2) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80183080 |
In Need of Romance (로맨스가 필요해) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/70249772 |
It’s Okay That’s Love (괜찮아 사랑이야) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80031632 |
Bad Guys (나쁜 녀석들) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | OCN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80178427 |
A Gentleman’s Dignity (신사의 품격) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | SBS | SBS | https://www.netflix.com/title/70278871 |
Incomplete Life (미생) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80165295 |
Reply 1994 (응답하라 1994) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/80165487 |
Reply 1997 (응답하라 1997) | Drama | 17-Jun-2017 | CJ E&M | tvN | https://www.netflix.com/title/70297144 |
Singles Villa (싱글빌라) | Webdrama | 10-Jun-2017 | Aura Media | Sohu TV | https://www.netflix.com/title/80163369 |
My Only Love Song (마이 온리 러브송) | Original Webdrama | 8-Jun-2017 | Netflix | Netflix | https://www.netflix.com/title/80178564 |
Heroes (영웅들) | Drama | 1-Jun-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80154476 |
Temptation (유혹) | Drama | 1-Jun-2017 | SBS | SBS | https://www.netflix.com/title/80154733 |
It’s Okay Daddy’s Girl (괜찮아, 아빠 딸) | Drama | 1-Jun-2017 | SBS | SBS | https://www.netflix.com/title/80154749 |
My Princess (마이 프린세스) | Drama | 1-Jun-2017 | MBC | MBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/70202359 |
Miss Ripley (미스 리플리) | Drama | 1-Jun-2017 | MBC | MBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/70202351 |
Diary of a Night Watchman (야경꾼 일지) | Drama | 1-Jun-2017 | MBC | MBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80145282 |
Last (라스트) | Drama | 22-May-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80098047 |
Secret Love Affair (밀회) | Drama | 22-May-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80091781 |
Can We Get Married? (우리가 결혼할 수 있을까?) | Drama | 22-May-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80091783 |
This is My Love (사랑하는 은동아) | Drama | 22-May-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80091778 |
Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup: 12 Years Reunion (12년만의 재회: 달래 된, 장국) | Drama | 22-May-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80098046 |
Hidden Singer (히든싱어) | Variety | 20-May-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80176819 |
Man To Man (맨투맨) | Drama | 21-April-2017 | jTBC | jTBC | https://www.netflix.com/title/80176866 |