Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Studio Dragon to launch three Japanese dramas
Poster for Japanese version of hit Korean drama "Marry My Husband" / Courtesy of Studio Dragon
By Park Jin-hai
The global expansion of K-content is now extending to Japan through joint drama productions.
Studio Dragon, a leading Korean drama production company under CJ ENM, announced Thursday that it plans to release three Japanese dramas this summer, marking a shift from simple remakes or rights sales to full-scale joint productions that combine the creative forces of both Korea and Japan.
The summer lineup of Japanese-language series includes the adaptation of "Marry My Husband" on Amazon Prime Video in June; "Hatsukoi Dogs," co-produced with TBS and slated for release in July; and "Soul Mate," a Japanese Netflix series to be released worldwide in July.
Studio Dragon has been working with international talent to highlight the strengths of K-dramas, resulting in projects such as the American series "The Big Door Prize," jointly produced with U.S. studio Skydance and released through Apple TV+.
"The American drama 'The Big Door Prize,' the Japanese dramas 'Marry My Husband,' 'Hatsukoi Dogs' and 'Soul Mate' are all examples of Korean production companies directly creating dramas in the local language, beyond simply investing in overseas productions or selling remake rights, thus expanding the global territory of K-dramas," said Kim Jun-hong, public relations manager at Studio Dragon.
"Japan is an attractive market with a large drama sector and long-lasting hit intellectual properties (IP). We plan to infuse Studio Dragon’s global box office experience into Japanese productions."
Cast members of Korea-Japan joint drama "Hatsukoi Dogs" / Courtesy of Studio Dragon
The Japanese-language version of "Marry My Husband," which will be released on June 27, is not a mere remake of the Korean drama but a newly adapted series based on the original web novel, tailored to Japanese sensibilities.
Studio Dragon and CJ ENM JAPAN jointly planned the project, while Korea's Jayuro Pictures, known for producing the film "You Are the Apple of My Eye," and the long-established Japanese production company Shochiku handled the production together.
Rising Japanese star Fuka Koshiba has been cast as the female lead, while acclaimed Korean director An Gil-ho — known for hit series such as "The Glory," "Memories of the Alhambra," and "Stranger" — will helm the production. Producers from Studio Dragon and CJ ENM are joining as executive producers for the Japanese adaptation, bringing their K-drama expertise.
Set to premiere on TBS in July, "Hatsukoi Dogs" is a Korea-Japan joint project, co-produced by Studio Dragon and TBS, one of Japan’s five major terrestrial broadcasters.
The production, an extension of a 2011 agreement between CJ ENM and TBS, is a healing romance that follows a third-generation Korean chaebol heir, a Japanese veterinarian and a lawyer as they meet through a mysterious dog with a hidden secret. Amid conflict, they build friendships and heal emotional wounds.
Studio Dragon’s producer participated as a co-producer and writer, with both Korean and Japanese actors involved. Japanese actors Kaya Kiyohara and Ryo Narita play the divorce lawyer and the veterinarian, respectively, while Korean actor Na In-woo stars as the chaebol heir who moves from Korea to Japan and hides extraordinary abilities.
In August, Studio Dragon’s subsidiary GTist will release the Japanese drama "Soul Mate" on Netflix. The series, written and directed by Shunki Hashizume, a prolific novelist and creator in Japan, follows Japanese man Ryu Narutaki (Hayato Isomura), who leaves everything behind in Japan and is saved by a Korean boxer Hwang Yo-han (Ok Taec-yeon), in a foreign church. Over the next 10 years, set across Berlin, Seoul and Tokyo, the two men heal and comfort each other as they navigate uncertain futures.