'Prince Harry Documentary' Simultaneously Released Worldwide... "Only Korea Can't See It"

Yeongdeungwi 'OTT Rating Review' Takes at Least 10 Days
If the Revised Youth Protection Act is Enforced in April Next Year
OTTs Will Conduct Their Own Rating Classification

On the 8th (local time), the Netflix series 'Harry and Meghan' was released simultaneously worldwide. In Korea, the main content has not been released due to the video rating review system.

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] "They say it's a simultaneous worldwide release, but only Korea can't watch it."

The documentary about the British Prince Harry and his wife was simultaneously released worldwide on the global online streaming service (OTT) Netflix on the 8th (local time). However, in Korea, due to the OTT rating review system by the Korea Media Rating Board, which usually takes about 10 days, only the trailer has been available even after four days.

On the 13th, the documentary series "Harry & Meghan," released as a total of six episodes by Netflix, is still only offering the trailer. Unlike overseas, in Korea, the release date differs because it must go through the OTT rating review system of the Korea Media Rating Board, which takes about 10 days. Similar delays in domestic release dates occurred with works such as "Michael Jordan: The Last Dance," which highlights Michael Jordan's athletic career, and the animations "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" and "Tekken: Bloodline."

The documentary covers the love story of Prince Harry and his wife, along with behind-the-scenes stories of Meghan Markle, an American actress, adapting to the British royal family. It raised expectations that secrets of the British royal family would be revealed, including the reasons why the couple left the British royal family and moved to the United States in 2020.

Releasing major OTT works simultaneously worldwide has a similar effect to releasing blockbuster movies simultaneously in theaters. Netflix has attracted strong attention by producing original content and pursuing an aggressive release strategy. It also leads global trends through word of mouth online.

Starting next year, the situation will change domestically as well. In September, the National Assembly passed a partial amendment to the "Act on the Promotion of Movies and Video" (Yeongbi Act) in the plenary session, introducing a self-rating system for OTT online videos. From April next year, when the amendment takes effect, OTT companies will be able to classify ratings on their own, except for restricted viewing ratings.

This year, domestic OTT companies such as TVING and WAVVE have expressed difficulties in business operations due to the Korea Media Rating Board's review. The most urgent demand was for a self-rating system. Release dates were often delayed due to the board's review. During certain peak seasons when OTT reviews piled up, the process sometimes took more than three months. Because of this, they even faced difficulties in attracting overseas investment. In countries like the United States, OTT platforms already conduct self-rating classification.

Even after the amendment takes effect next year, not all OTT operators will be able to perform self-rating classification. Self-rating operators will be designated by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for a period of up to five years after undergoing an examination of ▲appropriateness of business operation plans and ▲appropriateness of youth and user protection plans among currently operating OTT businesses.

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