Starting this March, more K-contents are about to premiere in China through Bilibili, the Chinese version of YouTube, starting with "Prison Playbook," "Another Miss Oh," "Queen & I" and more!
Keep on reading for more details.
'Prison Playbook,' 'Another Miss Oh,' and 'Queen & I' Airing in China this March
According to a Korean media outlet, Kyunghyang, the Chinese Embassy in Korea and entertainment company CJ E&M announced that three K-dramas would be released in China as the Hallyu ban is slowly being lifted.
The Chinese audience would now get to see how diverse K-dramas are, starting with "Prison Playbook."
Initially released in 2017 via tvN, the comedy-drama series reportedly started airing in China last March 6.
"Prison Playbook" stars Park Hae Soo, Jung Kyung Ho, Lee Kyu Hyung, Jung Hae In, Park Ho San, Choi Moo Sung and more.
It follows the story of the famous baseball player Kim Je Hyuk, portrayed by the "Squid game" star, and his journey inside the prison. He was sentenced to 1-year-imprisonment after unintentionally killing the perpetrator who assaulted her sister.
"Prison Playbook" gained a positive response from the viewers and has surpassed 2 million views in just two days after debut, while viewership rating peaked at 11.195 percent during the season finale.
Another K-drama airing in China is the 2012 "Queen & I," starring Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na. With a total of 16 episodes, the rom-com series is among the highest-rated K-drama at the time.
Interestingly, Yoo In Ah's portrayal as Choi Hee Jin made her win the Rising Star Award at the 1st K-Drama awards in 2012.
Aside from China, "Queen & I" was also released in The Philippines, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Macau and other Southeast Asian countries.
Joining K-dramas being shown in China is the 2016 rom-com "Another Miss Oh."
Initially released by tvN, the 18-episode series stars Eric Mun, Jeon Hye Bin, Seo Hyun Jin, Kim Ji Suk, Ye Ji Won and Lee Jae Yoon.
Like the two other K-dramas, "Another Miss Oh" also gained popularity outside South Korea and was remade in Thailand, titled "Unlucky Ploy."
Jung Hae In & Son Ye Jin's 'Something in the Rain' Released in China
Apart from "Prison Playbook," "Another Miss Oh," and "Queen & I," Jung Hae In and Son Ye Jin's K-drama "Something in the Rain" was also released in China.
According to The Korea Times, the 2018 melodrama is "the first Korean TV show to have won approval from Beijing's TV watchdog" National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) since 2017.
Helmed by "One Spring Night" director Ahn Pan Seok and penned by Kim Eun, it depicts the unconventional love story of Yoon Jin Ah (Son Ye Jin), who falls in love with her younger brother's friend, Seo Joon Hee, played by the "Snowdrop" actor.
As mentioned by the Korean outlet, the Chinese government is showing leniency towards its stance with K-contents.
The outlet also shared that the 2020 comedy movie "Oh! My Gran," which stars veteran actress Na Moon Hee, hit the big screen in China last December 2021.
Interestingly, it is "the first Korean-made film released in China" after the 2015 movie "Assassination."
