If, like me, you've found yourself constantly enamored with Korean content on Netflix, you're probably wondering how it all even happened.
It seems that over the course of a decade – maybe even longer than that – more and more people have fallen head-first into the K-content rabbit hole. Of course, when you consider the number of Korean titles at your viewing disposal on various streaming platforms, it's difficult not to get curious about this literal 'new' world of films and series.
We give you the lowdown on what to expect in the second half of 2022 for all your K-content needs on Netflix.
Disclaimer: Not all series/films listed have confirmed release dates. However, they are expected to come in 2022.
Upcoming series.
1. Remarriage & Desires (July 15, 2022).
Focused on the commercialized marriage/dating business, Remarriage & Desires presents itself as a satire of Korean society and people's ruthless desire to reach high-status recognition. That's where matchmaking agency Rex comes in, helping ambitious souls 'upgrade' their social status by marrying or remarrying into the ranks of the elite. The one thing everyone wants: To snag someone from the “Black” tier, the highest group consisting of the top 0.001 percent of the population.
2. A Model Family (August 12, 2022).
A man on the brink of bankruptcy and divorce stumbles upon a car loaded with cash. In an unfortunate twist of events, this incident also puts him in the path of the second-in-command of a drug organization. Now you've got a family who's got their hands on some dirty money.
3. Glitch.
Hong Jihyo attempts to track down her missing boyfriend with the help of members of a UFO club. As she carries out her search, she comes across a mysterious secret.
4. The Accidental Narco (working title).
This story follows an ordinary entrepreneur who finds himself unwillingly risking his life as he joins a secret government mission to capture a Korean drug lord. Based on real-life events.
5. The Fabulous.
The Fabulous revolves around the highly-realistic romances of young people as they explore what it means to love and dream, while devoting their lives to working in the fashion industry – where fashion and passion often meet.
6. Love To Hate You.
Love To Hate You explores a war-life relationship between a woman who hates losing to men and a man who's frantically suspicious of women. They later discover life remedies behind their opposite characters.
7. Somebody.
Image courtesy of Netflix.
Somebody – a social dating app – gets entangled in a murder case, pulling the developer of the app (as well as her friends) into a complicated web of inexplicable issues surrounding a mysterious figure named Yoon-oh.
8. Black Knight.
The year is 2071, and air pollution has become so deadly, people have to rely on respirator masks to breathe. Just one percent of the human race has survived, and a strict social order has been put in place on the deserted lands of the Korean Peninsula. Delivery drivers play a crucial role in this system. For some people, like refugees, becoming a delivery driver is the only way to survive in a harsh world.
Upcoming films.
1. Carter (August 5, 2022).
An agent wakes up with a complete loss of memory. Before he can even begin to uncover what has happened to him, he's immediately thrown into a mysterious mission.
2. Seoul Vibe.
Set during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, a ragtag team of baby drivers – known as the Sangedong Supreme team – carries out a special operation to uncover the corruption that has driven a series of illegal capital fund transactions.
3. 20th Century Girl.
In the year 1999 (the final year of the 20th century), 17-year-old Bo-ra finds her first love: A sweet, pure but heartbreaking relationship. Fast forward to many years later in the 21st century, news about her first love rekindles a once-forgotten teenage romance.
4. JUNG_E.
In the 22nd century, Earth has become a desolate wasteland thanks to the devastating effects of climate change. In a shelter built for human survival, internal war breaks out. Victory can only be achieved in one way – finding a way to clone the legendary mercenary JUNG_E into a scalable robot.
The rise of K-content and the people behind it.
At a press conference that Mashable Southeast Asia attended in South Korea on June 22, 2022, Keo Lee (Director of Content, Netflix Korea) and Gabrielle Jung (Creative Manager, Netflix Korea) shared their insights on Netflix's K-content slate for 2022, touching on certain productions they've worked on.
When we think about the meteoric rise of Korean titles on Netflix, you'd probably imagine entire buildings filled with hundreds of people working on a dozen projects at once. And this is just for Korean content alone.
While that may be the case for a lot of companies, we were surprised to find out that there are just roughly 20 Creative Executives focused on all Korea-based Netflix Originals. That's just 20+ people. Yet, we've been bombarded (in a good way, of course) with a ton of Korean content on the streaming platform.
In striking a fine balance between making content that's uniquely Korean, while still being palatable for a global audience, Lee says the key is to focus on Korean tastes. He suggests that Korean preferences just so happen to align with the rest of the world, or rather, the rest of the world loves anything that Koreans love.
"It’s a question we ask ourselves a lot: Who are we programming for? The clear answer is we are programming for Korean audiences, I think it is most important that a show is resonant with Korean audiences and tastes. I would say we’re just really fortunate that Korean tastes have often been a good indicator of global tastes as well," he said.
He goes on to add that Korean audiences have insanely high standards, which (in effect) forces Netflix Korea to produce the best content possible. In doing so effectively, the content naturally courts good reviews from a global audience.
Touching on gender representation, Jung (who worked on both All Of Us Are Dead and Squid Game) puts a lot of emphasis on strong female characters.
"As a woman, I try to have lots of input in making diverse women characters. It doesn’t always have to be positive, but something you haven’t seen, like athletes or leaders," she said.
"I feel like Netflix should provide a safe environment for creators, to allow them to be vulnerable and try something new and bold, like a playground to have fun and create."
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