‘Squid Game’ star Jo Yu-RI teams with son Ye-jin for K-pop-drama
Netflix doubles his Korean content strategy with ‘Variety’, a new series that combines A-list talent son Ye-jin with rising star Jo Yu-Ri in a drama in the world of K-pop.
The casting represents a smart move by the streamer, which combines the proven global attraction of “crash landing on you” veteran son Ye-jin with Jo Yu-Ri, whose breakout role as player 222 in the seasons 2 and 3 of the Squid Game “positions her as one of the most convincing young actors of Korea.
Behind the camera, Netflix gambles on Kim Yong-Hoon, whose “Mask Girl” became a hit for the platform, spent four weeks in the worldwide top 10 non-English TV rankings and the number 1 place in the second week claims. Known for its characteristic visual style and masterful tension build-up in crime stories, Kim is now changing his lens in the glamorous but murderous world of K-pop, whereby the fierce desires and ambitions that encourage them to explore.
The series aims to investigate the complex dynamics between industrial managers and fans. Son Ye-Jin’s SE-UR, a top management that fights to breathe new life into a wrestling idol group, reflects the high-stakes nature or Korea’s entertainment company. In the meantime, Jo Yu-Ri’s Seung-Hui-a obsessive fan-the former IZ*one member is able to explore the Fan-Idol Dynamics from a perspective she knows intimate.
The casting of Jo Yu-Ri is particularly remarkable given its unique position and both a former K-pop idol and emerging dramatic actor. Her transition from the music industry to Netflix’s prestige -content slate reflects the broader evolution of Korean entertainment, where boundaries between different media sectors continue to fade.
The Rentigt Netflix project with PowerHouse Production Partners CJ andM Studios and Unu, part of the continuous investment of the streamer in Korean content that has paid enormous dividends after the worldwide success of originals such as “Squid Game” and “Kingdom” and “Kingdom”, as “Cashdom divided”.
For son Ye-Jin, “Variety” represents another strategic Netflix partnership while building her career after “crash landing on you”. The actor is also affiliated with Park Chan-Wook’s “no other choice” and Netflix’s period drama “Scandals”, which positions her and one of the most requested talents of Korea on both film and streaming platforms.
