Studio Dragon, a subsidiary of CJ ENM, has once again proven its prowess as a leading drama production company with a series of global hits in 2023, including 'Unknown Seoul,' 'Gyeonwoo and Seonnyeo,' 'Marry My Husband - Japanese Version,' and 'The Tyrant's Chef.' However, the company faced a setback with 'Ask the Stars,' which failed to meet expectations despite a hefty investment of 50 billion won.
Known for producing major global hits like 'Crash Landing on You' (2019-2020), 'Sweet Home' (2020), 'Vincenzo' (2021), 'The Glory' (2022-2023), 'Marry My Husband' (2024), and 'Queen of Tears' (2024), Studio Dragon continues to solidify its reputation as a powerhouse in K-drama with this year's successes, including 'The Tyrant's Chef.'
Recently concluded, 'The Tyrant's Chef' has been hailed as one of the 'K-Dramas of the Year' due to its overwhelming domestic and international success. The final episode on tvN achieved a peak viewership rating of 20%, while globally, it topped Netflix's non-English TV show category for two consecutive weeks, amassing a total of 38.4 million views and 360.4 million viewing hours over six weeks. It also maintained the top spot in Good Data Corporation's TV-OTT drama buzz category for six consecutive weeks.
The performance of 'Marry My Husband - Japanese Version,' released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video in June, is also noteworthy. This project, targeted at the Japanese market, set a record for the highest number of viewers in Japan among Prime Video original dramas within a month of its launch. It stands as a testament to the effectiveness of Korean production capabilities in international markets, offering a new growth model for the K-content industry by transcending cultural and regional boundaries.
'Unknown Seoul' and 'Gyeonwoo and Seonnyeo' also achieved significant success in the global market. 'Unknown Seoul,' a hit in the first half of the year, ranked third in Netflix's global non-English TV show category shortly after its May release and remained in the TOP 10 for six consecutive weeks. Following its June release, 'Gyeonwoo and Seonnyeo' also performed well, ranking second in Amazon Prime Video's global TV show category and entering the TOP 10 in 43 countries worldwide.
Studio Dragon is set to continue its momentum in the fourth quarter with a diverse lineup of dramas across multiple platforms. The Netflix series 'All Will Be Fulfilled' premieres tomorrow (3rd), followed by 'Typhoon Company' on tvN, TVING, and Netflix starting November 11th. 'Annoying Love' will be available on tvN, TVING, and Amazon Prime Video from November 3rd. Additionally, Disney+ original 'Fragmented City' is set for release on November 5th, TVING original 'Dear X' on November 6th, with Netflix's 'Price of Confession' and tvN's 'Pro Bono' also slated for release by the end of the year.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr