Netflix Korea launches ‘My First’ original series as subscriptions grow
SEOUL: Following its recent zombie hit Kingdom, global streaming giant Netflix will next week launch its latest Korean original series, coming- of- age romance drama My First First Love.
Loosely based on a web series by Jung Hyun-jung and Kim Ran, My First recounts the ups and downs of a group of friends living under one roof.
Composed of young, rising actors and K-pop figures who already have fanbases across Southeast Asia, its cast includes: Ji- soo, girl band DIA’s Jung Chae-yeon, boy band B1A4’s Jinyoung Choi Ri and Kang Tae- oh. apparently, it contains elements of a reality show with a focus on how hearts ae both broken and mended — key ingredients of a hit Korean drama.
“Netflix gave me much more detailed and edgy questions about the script and plot, compared to what I had been given when pitching my series for terrestrial broadcasters,” said Oh Jin- seok, the series director.
“But as soon as I passed that phase, the company gave me full freedom. That was very cool.”
Kingdom, Netflix’s second Korean production ( but first to be streamed) premiered in January and was well-received.
According to local market research firm Nielsen Korea Click data, Netflix’s subscribers in Korea reached two million in February, up from one million in October last year.
Analysts point to “Kingdom” attracting new subscribers in Korea, though how long the series’ effect can last is unclear.
Since top Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s Okja in 2017, the streaming giant has accelerated local language production in Korea. Four-part omnibus drama, Persona, starring singersongwriteractress IU, was launched last week. Love Alarm and second seasons of Kingdom and My First are slated for launches later.
Sixteen episodes of My First have been shot. The first eight screen as season one, from this Thursday.
According to information from Netflix, My First First Love is slated to stream in 190 countries.
Commenting on starring in the series, Jinyoung said: “I knew about Netflix before starting on this project. I watched it often and I am very excited, I know Netflix is very diffferent from other platforms, so my expectations of fan reactions were very high.” Jinyoung is very popular in the Philippines.
On the other hand, Jisoo had previously starred in an indie film in the Philippines entitled Seoul Mates, and often meets fans in the Philippines.
According to media reports in the Philippines, Jisoo is also able to speak simple phrases in Tagalog.