[Exclusive]'Whale Star' filming begins..Jeong Min-chae (CEO) "Goal is to secure a powerful IP" [★Research Institute] [Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

[Editor’s Note] [★Research Institute] StarNews meets with people who drive the entertainment industry, uncovering their unique know-how and success strategies. We introduce the practical experience and philosophy of those who quietly pave the way behind the scenes of glamorous stars.

-Following Interview ②

Take One Studio, a subsidiary of Take One Company, is advancing the commercialization of various genres centered on original IPs such as movies, dramas, webtoons, and short-form content.

Notably, a drama based on the Naver webtoon 'Whale Star,' which received the Presidential Award at the 2021 Korea Content Awards and has garnered high expectations from numerous original fans for its adaptation, recently began filming. 'Whale Star' is a story set during the Japanese colonial period's anti-Japanese independence movement, depicting a man who devoted everything to his country and a woman who risks her life to protect him. The drama is directed by Heo Jin-ho, widely recognized as one of Korea's top directors in both melodrama and period dramas, and features actors Choi Woo-sik, Moon Ga-young, and Heo Nam-jun.

Jeong (CEO) stated, "'Whale Star' is a masterpiece in its original form, with depth, scale, and the power to move audiences. That is why adapting it into a visual format was not an easy task. Preparation took a long time, and the casting process was also challenging. Especially these days, producing a drama with such a large budget is not easy, so I am pleased that we are moving forward with filming using talented actors and a strong script."

He also added, "As a work with high expectations from original fans, there is pressure, but the script includes new interpretations, episodes, and other stories. When the drama is released, I believe it will not only satisfy existing fans but also create a new fanbase."

He also explained their approach to securing IPs. Jeong (CEO) said, "We contacted the creators of 'Whale Star' just a few weeks after the webtoon serialization began. It was a project we saw as highly promising from the start."

He continued, "There are many webtoon adaptations, and we also have cases like our recent production 'Your Honor,' where we remade a foreign drama. We are securing IPs through various methods, including projects based on original stories."

He added, "However, we have an internal organization dedicated to webtoons, and our understanding of webtoon market trends and information is quite high, which gives us a clear advantage in that area."

Jeong (CEO) emphasized that their approach to the short-form platform business is not simply about producing dramas to generate revenue. He said, "Continuing our webtoon business and original IP development is ultimately because our goal is to be an 'IP company.' Ultimately, we want to develop powerful 'super IPs' and, based on them, create primary content such as dramas, movies, and animations."

He further explained, "Successful IPs from there can be expanded into various secondary businesses such as games and merchandise. Looking at the U.S. and Japan, it is common for a single powerful IP to be loved for decades and drive the entire industry. I believe that is the flower of the content industry."

However, he also expressed disappointment with the current structure of the Korean content industry. Jeong (CEO) said, "Korea has a structure where it must keep creating new things and keep succeeding. If one thing goes wrong, it often becomes difficult again. A structure that allows for stable growth by holding onto good IPs over the long term is still lacking."

He continued, "For the content industry to become more advanced and develop, it ultimately needs powerful IPs that can endure over time. Idols also have limited activity lifespans, and when people themselves become IPs, there are many uncertainties. However, securing IPs that can last long allows both the industry and the company to operate much more stably."

Jeong (CEO) explained that they are utilizing the short-form platform from this perspective. He said, "Currently, we have about 40 to 50 plans and scripts internally, and our goal is to expand this to over 100 by the end of this year. We are developing each project with expectations, considering the potential and probability of it growing into an IP."

He added, "The short-form format is a very good framework for quickly producing these IPs and rapidly confirming market response and potential. We are approaching it from the perspective of being able to see results quickly and move to the next stage."

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*This content was translated by AI.