Netflix brings Korean unscripted shows to the world
FROM FINDING LOVE TO FIGHTING ZOMBIES
This year, Netflix will release at least eight Korean unscripted titles, double that of last year. Its commitment to production and creativity puts Netflix at the forefront of sharing unscripted Korean shows with audiences around the world.
In this sneak peek into its growing unscripted slate, the lineup includes a rich variety of themes such as dating, physical endurance, mind games and zombies, and members will be able to enjoy a new unscripted show either monthly or bimonthly.
--New rules, new setting, new ‘Inferno’-
To start off, Netflix is bringing back hot dating reality show “Single’s Inferno” for a third season, with changes in rules and location to further spice up the romantic roulettes.
When the streamer received the proposal for “Single’s Inferno” at the end of 2020, there weren’t many dating programs in Korea. Netflix set out to close the gap locally and ended up winning fans globally. The first season became the first Korean unscripted show to debut on the Global Top 10 Non-English TV list. Following suit this year, Season 2 featured in the Global Top 10 for four weeks, and pulled in even higher viewing hours.
One of the unique characteristics of Netflix’s unscripted shows is that, unlike TV broadcasters that air an episode each week, the production of its entire season is complete before the drop. This enables Netflix to deliver higher quality and provide localized subtitles, as well as dubbing in some countries, so that viewers in over 190 countries can enjoy the show at the same time.
--Fresh spin on the familiar-
Dating and survival reality TV shows are well-loved formats around the world, and Netflix has put its own inimitable stamp on them. For a new take on young love, “Nineteen to Twenty” is a never-before-seen style of reality show that will evoke romantic memories of your youth.
The extremely grueling “Physical: 100” is currently #2 in its Global Top 10 Non-English TV series, and is featured in the Top 10 in 62 countries worldwide. We are just two weeks from finding out the winner. Following that, Netflix will have “Siren: Survive the Island”, where teams of Korea’s fittest women with different occupational backgrounds fight to survive on an uninhabited island.
Because of its commitment to preserve the creator’s vision, Netflix has had the opportunity to work with some of Korea’s top unscripted showrunners and creatives. Jeong Jong-yeon, who pioneered Korea’s survival shows based on mind games, is the mastermind behind its upcoming series “The Devil’s Plan.”
And since Korea is famous for its zombies, Netflix decided to take the genre to the next level with “Zombieverse”, where contestants are fighting for survival as Seoul comes under a zombie attack. To make the set more realistic, it involved the art team from “All of Us Are Dead” while the zombies were trained by the choreographers of “Kingdom.”
It will also be launching its first unscripted mid-form show. With a short running time of half an hour, as well as an incredibly short production time of three months, Netflix will be able to present timely and relevant topics to its members.
Netflix is committed to creating must-watch entertainment for a variety of audiences in Korea and around the world, and it is thrilled to see its growing lineup of unscripted titles find new fans everywhere.