A+E NETWORKS LAUNCHES FIRST KOREAN SCRIPTED DRAMA, “BACKSTREET ROOKIE”

A+E Networks signed an international deal with U-NEXT in Japan and Iqiyi for a global SVOD launch it's first Korean Premium Scripted Drama “Backstreet Rookie,” set to premiere on 19th June.“This is a proud moment for A+E Networks Korea,” Youngsun Soh, General Manager, A+E Networks Korea said. “In a short span of time, we have brought together the spirit of a global media company and a local Korean enterprise to create a 360 media organization."

The series will air as a Friday-Saturday drama on SBS in Korea, followed by Lifetime Korea. The network holds worldwide distribution rights to the show, deciding to sign onto the show as its first investor in 2019 which paved the way for its development and production. It has now signed global SVOD partners for a worldwide premiere. "We now cover content investments in premium scripted, linear unscripted, and digital originals, with a multimedia audience footprint in Korea and the international marketplace," Soh said. "We hope that the audience will appreciate the hard work that has gone into adapting 'Backstreet Rookie' from its webtoon origins and the onscreen chemistry of the series’ stars.”

Based on the hit webtoon, "Backstreet Rookie" was produced locally. Changwook Ji stars as Dae-Hyun Choi, a thirty-something store owner, and Yoojung Kim is college co-ed Saetbyul, who Dae-Hyun hires as a part-time employee against his better judgment. Directed by former SBS director Myoungwoo Lee, it is highly anticipated that Lee will hit another rating homerun in the follow-up to the success of The Fiery Priest in 2019. It is serves as a reunion for Yoojung Kim with Lifetime Korea. She was the brand ambassador for its launch in 2017 and starred in the hit Lifetime digital original Half Holiday in 2019.

A+E Networks has made strategic investments in the Korean content market since its South Korea launch in 2017 and has produced original content across linear and digital. The move into premium scripted marks the realization of A+E’s objective to create and aggregate premium Korean content across all genres for representation worldwide. For "Backstreet Rookie" it joined hands with Taewon Entertainment, a pioneer in the Korean content market across Film and TV. “

Saugato Banerjee, Managing Director, Asia, A+E Networks, said: “A+E Networks Asia is charting a new course in its journey to find, nurture, develop, and produce scripted content in Asia with premium, local A-list talent in front of and behind the camera. The much-awaited premiere of Backstreet Rookie demonstrates the breadth of our content creation ambitions.”