Buzz
The trend of adapting webtoons into Korean TV shows continues to flourish, thanks to the enthusiastic reception from audiences worldwide.
In recent years, the South Korean entertainment industry has witnessed a significant rise in the popularity of TV dramas adapted from webtoons. With a unique blend of compelling storytelling and stunning visuals, these TV series have garnered positive feedback from viewers globally.
Many of these shows have proven their popularity with a dedicated fan following. Let's revisit some of the Korean TV dramas adapted from webtoons that have 'stirred up' social media:
Itaewon Class
Released in 2020, the series features a talented cast including Park Seo Joon, Kim Da Mi, Yoo Jae Myung, and Kwon Nara. The script is based on the popular webtoon of the same name, written by the author and screenwriter Jo Gwang Jin.
Itaewon Class revolves around the lives of a group of young individuals collaborating to combat unjust forces. Premiered in 2020, the JTBC drama recorded an impressive 18.3% viewer rating for its final episode, becoming the second-highest-rated show in the network's history. By 2021, Itaewon Class clinched the Outstanding Drama Series award at the 25th Asian Television Awards.
D.P.
Adapted from the webtoon D.P. Dog Days by the series' own screenwriter, Kim Bo Tong, D.P. follows rookie An Jun Ho in the South Korean military. After a few days of enlistment, Jun Ho, due to his exceptional qualities, gets assigned to the squad responsible for catching deserters. As he engages in operations to apprehend deserters, Jun Ho begins to question the humanity of his job. He teams up with Corporal Han Ho Yul to search for draft evaders, leading to an adventurous journey.
Immediately after its release, the series garnered positive reviews from critics. The Korea Times noted that D.P. easily resonates with the public through realistic and somewhat intense scenes. The story spans from the past to the present, revealing the dark corners of the South Korean military, which has always been a troubling issue.
Not only embraced by audiences, D.P. also received numerous prestigious nominations in South Korea. Among them, the series won the Green Dragon Award for television dramas in 2022, applauded by industry insiders.
True Beauty
True Beauty garnered attention even before its release, being based on the popular webtoon of the same name. The series has a highly captivating storyline, portraying the life of Im Joo Gyeong, a high school student who struggles with her appearance. In school, she faces constant bullying and discrimination for being deemed unattractive. She later masters the art of makeup to transform into a dazzling 'goddess'.
The show features a cast of young actors with striking appearances, notably including Cha Eun Woo – often listed among the most handsome idols in K-Pop, 'new generation goddess' Moon Ga Young, and Hwang In Yeob.
Reborn Rich
When talking about famous webtoons, Reborn Rich is impossible to overlook. This TV series stars leading actors Song Joong Ki, Lee Sung Min, and Shin Hyun Bin. Right from the first episode, Reborn Rich captivated audiences with its compelling plot and stellar performances by the cast.
Notably, the finale of Reborn Rich recorded an impressive viewer rating of 26.9% in South Korea, securing the second position on the list of Korean TV dramas with the highest viewer ratings in history.
The story revolves around Yoon Hyun Woo (portrayed by Song Joong Ki) – a loyal employee of the Soonyang conglomerate. However, Hyun Woo is later murdered by a member of the family. The narrative takes a turn as Hyun Woo wakes up in 1987, realizing he has been reborn in the body of Jin Do Joon – the youngest grandson of the Soonyang conglomerate. Seizing this opportunity, he begins to plot revenge by taking over the entire conglomerate.
Sweet Home
Sweet Home premiered in 2020, starring Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Do-hyun, and Lee Si-young. Since its release, the series has garnered global attention, consistently ranking among the top trends on the Netflix platform.
The story follows the solitary journey of high school student Cha Hyun Soo (portrayed by Song Kang). Cha Hyun Soo, with a history of suicide attempts, lives a selfish and disdainful life outside of society due to severe trauma from being a victim of school violence. He leaves home and rents a different room. The plot unfolds as he repeatedly loses all his loved ones and has to navigate life alone.
However, things are not as simple as he thinks. He gradually discovers terrifying creatures that exist and haunt him. Cha Hyun Soo, along with Pyeon Sang Wook (played by Lee Jin Wook) and others living in the same apartment, must stand together to fight against the monstrous creatures and grasp onto fragile lives.
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver is based on the successful webtoon The Deluxe Taxi, which has seen two highly acclaimed seasons. The series draws inspiration from heinous real-life crimes in South Korea, captivating audiences with its stark reality. The final episode of the show achieved the fourth-highest viewership rating for any Friday-Saturday drama in the history of SBS. Additionally, the final episode of Season 2 received even higher praise, setting a new record for mini-series.
With the success of two seasons, Taxi Driver has been greenlit for a highly anticipated third season.
Kim Do Gi (portrayed by Lee Je Hoon) is a graduate of the South Korean Military Academy whose mother was murdered when he was young. Unable to seek revenge for his mother's death, he decides to become a taxi driver for a company providing a 'call for revenge' service. This company offers a revenge service to help wronged customers and deliver justice.
All of Us Are Dead
This is a horror series about a zombie outbreak in South Korea. Unlike other zombie-themed shows, All of Us Are Dead is set entirely in a school, depicting the survival of students against a virus that turns humans into the undead. It is not just a struggle against danger but also a test of humanity facing envy and boundless greed.
In the first 6 days of release, the horrifying school series amassed a total of 124,790,000 hours viewed worldwide, nearly doubling the viewing hours of Squid Game. The show continued to climb in viewer ratings, topping the Netflix TV category in 53 countries and territories, including Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, France, Italy, and more.
