SM Entertainment to produce Korean TV series of Japanese comic

SM Entertainment C.E.O Lee Soo-man [SM Entertainment]

Top Korean talenthouse SM Entertainment will be producing a new TV series based on popular Japanese comic “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (Hana Kimi).”

SM explained in a press release that the agency has bought the rights to "“Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (Hana Kimi)," translated into "Lovely You," which is written by famed manga artist Hisaya Nakajo, and will turn it into a 16-part series in Korea.

Over 17 million copies of the original comic has been sold and Japan's TV version of it ran for eight years starting 1996, recording an average viewership rating of 17 percent. The Taiwanese adaptation of the show brought in high viewership ratings as well during it run in 2006.

SM's version of the show, set to air in Korea this summer, tells the story of the dreams and hopes of good-looking teenage males in high school.

Founded by former singer Lee Soo-man in 1995, SM Entertainment is one of the most influential entertainment agencies in the country alongside YG and JYP Entertainment.

They are well-known for managing the successful singing careers of H.O.T and S.E.S and some of the biggest names in the K-pop market including Girls' Generation, Kangta, SHINee and TRAX.

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Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@