Fantagio Expands IP with New Drama 'Kim Manager' Production Deal

Fantagio has signed a production contract for the drama 'Kim Manager', marking a significant step in expanding its intellectual property as a comprehensive content company. Previously known as an entertainment agency with stars like Cha Eun-woo and Kim Seon-ho, Fantagio faced tax-related controversies earlier this year. Cha Eun-woo, currently fulfilling his military service, was reportedly under tax investigation for alleged tax evasion of 20 billion KRW, while Kim Seon-ho disclosed that he paid additional personal income tax following the controversy.

On the 16th, Fantagio announced its production contract for the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Kim Manager', set to air in June.

'Kim Manager' tells the story of an ordinary man and citizen, Kim Manager, who reveals a secret that must never be known to save his beloved daughter, risking everything in the process. The drama stars actor So Ji-sub, known for his acclaimed action performance in the Netflix drama 'Square'. The original work of 'Kim Manager' is a popular Naver webtoon that maintained the top spot on Naver's Tuesday webtoon rankings for nearly four years.

Fantagio has been consistently producing various genre dramas, including 'Fantasy Sonata' and 'Treat Me Carelessly', both based on webtoons. A Fantagio representative stated, "This contract is a recognition of Fantagio's content planning and production capabilities," adding, "We will continue to present competitive works targeting both domestic and global audiences."

Since 2022, Fantagio has actively ventured into drama and content production, pursuing drama production annually. The company is expanding its business scope beyond management to include domestic and international performance businesses, solidifying its position as a comprehensive entertainment company.

Namkoong Kyun, Chairman of Fantagio, expressed, "The production contract for the SBS drama 'Kim Manager' demonstrates our growth as a comprehensive entertainment company encompassing content planning and production," and added, "We will continue to achieve sustainable growth through competitive IP and high-quality content."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr