Walt Disney’s OTT (over-the-top) video streaming platform Disney+ will stream the Korean drama “Snowdrop” starring Jung Hae-in and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo.
“Snowdrop,” which will start airing in December on JTBC, will also be available on Disney+, Walt Disney Co. announced on Oct. 14 during a press conference in Seoul.
The drama is one of the programs that Disney+ will show as it prepares its launch in lucrative South Korea on Nov. 12.
In addition to “Snowdrop,” other Korean dramas that will be available on Disney+ are “Rookies” (Kang Daniel), “Moving” (Jo In-sung and Han Hyo-joo), “Grid” (Seo Kang-jun) and “Sixth Sense Kiss” (Yoon Kye-sang and Seo Ji-hye).
A spin-off of the popular Korean show “Running Man” will also be launched that will star Kim Jong-kook, Haha and Ji Suk-jin, and “BLACKPINK: The Movie” will also be available on the OTT platform.
Netflix has been successful in entering South Korea and offering Korean shows to its global audience including the No. 1 hit series “Squid Game” and Disney+ will try to capture a slice of the profitable market.
“Disney is a global entertainment company that has been playing an important role in many regional markets including Korea. Based on this experience, we will connect our content capabilities with Korean creators to provide a variety of local content, and also to grow together,” said Disney+ CEO Oh Sang-ho during an online press conference, the Korea Herald reported.
Jay Trinidad, Disney’s general manager of the direct-to-consumer division in the Asia-Pacific region, said, “I would say three things really stand out when I think of the Korean content and why it’s part of our strategy here at Disney.”
“I think the first one is a global appeal. I don’t think we need to talk about this too much. For us, it’s very interesting that Korean content obviously appeals in Korea, but it appeals very broadly across the Asia Pacific, especially in Southeast Asia, and it appeals globally,” he added.
Second, he said, “I think different markets are in different stages of maturity of their ability to produce great content and top-of-the world class production values are being produced here.”
Third is creativity, according to Trinidad, saying, “‘Parasite’ for example, receiving the (Oscar) award -- one of my personal favorites -- you can tell that it’s not just us but the world is seeing the level of creativity. The shows that are produced, the storylines, the writers, everything about the content is extremely creative.”
Disney+ service will be offered in South Korea for a monthly subscription fee of 9,900 won ($8.40).