OTT (Over-the-Top) rivals Disney+ and Netflix are going head-to-head with their original series "Uncle Samsik (삼식이 삼촌, サムシクおじさん)" and "The 8 Show (더 에이트 쇼,極限のマネーショー)," respectively.
Both platforms have enlisted top-tier actors from Chungmuro, Song Kang-ho and Ryu Jun-yeol, to lead their projects in a bid to capture viewer attention.
Song Kang-ho and Ryu Jun-yeol, who previously co-starred in the film "A Taxi Driver(택시운전사 )," are now competing against each other in these new series. Song Kang-ho is making his highly anticipated debut in a series with "Uncle Samsik," while Ryu Jun-yeol, looking to recover his public image after personal controversies, aims for a hit with "The 8 Show."
Disney+ has previously impressed with titles like "The Worst of Evil," "Moving (무빙)," and "Vigilante(비질란테)," while Netflix has captivated audiences with "Parasyte: The Grey(기생수: 더 그레이 )," "Goodbye Earth(종말의 바보)," and "My Name Is Loh Kiwan(로기완)." Both streaming giants are targeting the global market with these new Korean dramas, drawing significant attention from international viewers.
★ The Perfect Combo: Director Shin Yeon-shik and Song Kang-ho in Disney+'s 'Uncle Samsik)'
Premiering on the 15th, Disney+’s "Uncle Samsik" tells the passionate story of Uncle Samsik (Song Kang-ho), who insists on eating three meals a day even during wartime, and an elite young man, Kim San (Byun Yo-han), who dreams of creating a prosperous nation amidst the chaos. This marks Song Kang-ho’s first series role in his 35-year acting career.
"Uncle Samsik" garnered significant attention even before its release due to the collaboration between director Shin Yeon-shik, known for his work on "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet" and "Cobweb," and Song Kang-ho. Shin specifically wrote the screenplay with Song in mind, resulting in a perfect 100% performance sync. The series also stars Byun Yo-han as Kim San, Lee Kyu-hyung as Kang Seong-min, Jin Ki-joo as Joo Ye-jin, Seo Hyun-woo as Jung Han-min, Oh Seung-hoon as Ahn Ki-cheol, Joo Jin-mo as Ahn Yo-seob, Tiffany Young as Rachel Jung, and Yoo Jae-myung as Jang Doo-sik, forming a stellar cast that tightly weaves the narrative.
The initial response has been overwhelming. Since its debut on the 15th, "Uncle Samsik" has topped both the Disney+ Korea TV show and overall rankings on the OTT content ranking site FlixPatrol.
Foreign media reviews are enthusiastic: "Conclusion: Stream it! Two fantastic lead actors drive the story" (Decider) and "Episodes 1-5 of 'Uncle Samsik' are an exhilarating journey! The emotions, acting, and dialogue delivery by Song Kang-ho and Byun Yo-han are simply WOW!" (Times Now).
"Uncle Samsik" consists of 16 episodes, released two per week every Wednesday, with three episodes in the final week.
★ Will Netflix's 'The 8 Show' Continue the Webtoon Adaptation Success?
Following the success of webtoon adaptations like "Moving (무빙)" and "Vigilante (비질란테)," Disney+ has found its competitor in Netflix's "The 8 Show," an adaptation of Bae Jin-soo's popular Naver webtoons "Money Game" and "Pie Game," which have a combined global view count of 300 million.
"The 8 Show" is a gripping tale of eight individuals trapped in a secretive space divided into eight floors, where they participate in a dangerous but lucrative show where "time is money." Directed by Han Jae-rim, known for films like "The King" and "Emergency Declaration," this is his first series, skillfully combining the two webtoons with sophisticated direction and solid storytelling.
The cast is equally impressive, featuring Ryu Jun-yeol (3rd floor), Chun Woo-hee (8th floor), Park Jung-min (7th floor), Park Hae-joon (6th floor), Moon Jeong-hee (5th floor), Lee Yeol-eum (4th floor), Lee Joo-young (2nd floor), and Bae Sung-woo (1st floor). Each actor brings their unique charm, depicting raw desires as they cooperate, clash, and betray each other, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions to viewers.
"The 8 Show" is also receiving a warm reception globally. According to FlixPatrol, the series ranked 5th in the 'Netflix TV Show Top 10' on its second day, the 19th. Domestically, it started at 3rd and quickly reached the top spot within a day. The show has also performed exceptionally well in Hong Kong, reaching 2nd place overall, and has secured 3rd place in nine other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
"The 8 Show" consists of 8 episodes and is available on Netflix.