Turner buys Korean drama

Turner has acquired Korean drama Saimdang (WT) for its channels in southeast Asia.

The high-end Korean drama is produced by Korea’s Group 8 for free-TV channel MBC. It stars Lee Young-ae, marking the return of the Jewel in the Palace actress to the small screen.

Turner has taken all rights for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

The upcoming 30x60mins series will go out almost simultaneously on Turner channels with the Korean broadcast on MBC.

Turner has picked up free TV, pay and SVOD rights and will make it available across different channels and platforms when it launches in mid-2016.

the show is a modern interpretation of the life of Shin Saimdang, the sixteenth century Korean artist and poet. Lee Young-ae plays the lead and another role, that of a modern day university lecturer, in the series.

Ricky Ow, president of Turner Asia Pacific said: “Lee Young-ae is one of the most recognisable characters in Korean drama and there’s no doubting that Saimdang will be a huge hit in 2016.”

“Saimdang is already generating considerable attention right across Asia,” added B.J. Song, the president of Group 8. “Lee Young-ae is a huge star, not just in Korea, but around the region and we know that her fans will be anxious to see her return.”