NEW, Expansion of Web IP Area... Production of 4 BL Contents

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Content media group NEW is launching web IP-based content production and investment, starting with four BL dramas.

On the 7th, NEW's film division announced, "We have established a content planning team dedicated to new media and secured various web IPs, including webtoons."

They are determined to expand their business scope by directly producing and investing in transmedia content that transcends the limitations of formats and genres such as web dramas, web entertainment, and sitcoms, beyond just investing and distributing films based on web IPs.

Additionally, they plan to maximize added value by planning secondary content expansions such as webtoons and OSTs, building a foundation to showcase various attractive content optimized for each distribution channel and fan base.

NEW's film division will present four BL (Boys Love) web dramas in collaboration with major production companies such as Kenaz, Myung Films, Gogo Studio, and RaemongRaein, as well as directors Hwang Daseul, So Junmun, and Hwang Gyuil. BL content has established a solid fan base both domestically and internationally, including across Asia.

The drama "Blooming" will be released on the 31st via VOD platforms such as Naver SeriesON and IPTV. It is co-produced with Kenaz, a webtoon-specialized creative studio that produced the popular BL webtoon "Something is Wrong with Popularity," which has accumulated 230,000 views.

"Ddarabaram," scheduled for release in the first half of this year, is co-produced with Myung Films, known for works such as "Connection," "Joint Security Area JSA," and "Architecture 101."

"Bon Appetit," co-produced with Gogo Studio, depicts a delicious romance between office worker Dohun, whose daily life revolves around instant food, and his neighbor Yunsu, who cooks well, combining BL with cooking and eating shows.

"Tractor Carries Love" is co-produced with RaemongRaein, the production company that recently released "Semantic Error" (Watcha) to great acclaim. Based on the webtoon of the same name, filming is underway for a release scheduled in the second half of this year.

Kim Jaemin, head of the film division, said, "In the pandemic environment, we discovered new possibilities in the domestic and overseas markets where BL content has been activated. The four BL dramas have already completed overseas pre-sales," adding, "We will maximize the value of content and build a value chain that leads market growth together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.