Certainly, high production costs don’t always guarantee a well-made drama or film, but investments in filming locations and post-production work provide viewers with a variety of visuals that make the drama more memorable and impactful. . Let’s take a look at five dramas that left a lasting impression on viewers thanks to their substantial production budgets.
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Moving (2023)
In Moving, we discover the story of individuals with superpowers who lead ordinary lives, hiding their true identities until they are confronted with a mysterious threat. Based on a popular webtoon, the script of the drama was written by the original author, Kang Full, who personally proposed a 20-episode series to the production company to fully explore the stories of the characters who are not present in the original work.
To bring superpowers such as physical regeneration, flight and superhuman strength to life, the series invested two years in post-production of CG and visual effects, which required the creation of a total of 7 540 graphic cuts, approximately 3 to 4 times the number of graphic cuts typically used in blockbusters. Thus, the production of the drama cost around 65 billion KRW or around 650 million USD, making it the most expensive drama ever produced in South Korea as of 2024.
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Arthdal Chronicles (2019)
Arthdal Chronicles is a drama that tells the grim stories of heroes who create different legends in the ancient land of Arth. Despite its historical aspect due to the fact that it takes place at a time when tribes were numerous, this drama is rather a fantasy work, because it is not based on historical facts. Even before it aired, the series’ extensive mythology and narrative led to speculation that it was the Korean version of “Game of Thrones.” To bring the ancient world to life, the series was filmed in various overseas locations, including Ethiopia’s Danakil Desert, Brunei and Bali.
As soon as it was broadcast, this drama was talked about because of its colossal budget of 54 billion KRW or approximately 540 million dollars. As for the second season, broadcast in 2023, it reused existing sets and would have benefited from a production budget of 20 to 30 billion KRW or approximately 200 to 300 million USD.
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Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Mr. Sunshine was a highly anticipated drama due to the collaboration between Lee Byung Hyun and Kim Tae Ri as well as director Lee Eung Bok and screenwriter Kim Eun Sook, who had already demonstrated excellent chemistry in Descendants of the Sun and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.
Set in the early 1900s, during the turbulent Joseon era, the film follows young people from diverse backgrounds who are swept away by the tides of history. To authentically represent the period of the Korean Empire and Japanese occupation, the production team traveled throughout the country, built a set of 8 pyeong (approximately 000 square meters) and enlisted the help of some 26 second-rate actors. This quest for authenticity has resulted in stunning images, with each episode praised for its cinematic quality. The total cost of production thus amounted to 400 billion KRW or approximately 10 million USD.
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Narco-Saints (2021)
Based on the true story of Jo Bong Haeng, who led a drug cartel in Suriname and was known as a drug lord, “Narco-Saints” features a civilian entrepreneur who played a crucial role in capturing of the drug lord, describing the tense process of his arrest. It was upon discovering the true story that Ha Jung Woo suggested the adaptation to director Yoon Jong Bin and the production cost approximately 35 billion KRW (approximately 35 million USD), which was 10 billion KRW more than Squid Game.
After spending about two months in the Dominican Republic for filming, the crew had to continue filming at a palm farm on Jeju Island due to the COVID-19 bird flu pandemic. Significant post-production work was required to recreate the South American settings.
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Sweet Home (2020)
Sweet Home, whose final season will air on July 19, is another drama with a colossal production budget that introduces us to people’s struggles for survival in a world where humans transform into monstrous creatures devoured by their desires. Based on a popular webtoon, season 1 features a devastated Seoul and a multitude of creatures, all with a production budget of 30 billion KRW or approximately 30 million USD. The high-quality visuals as well as the story infused with Korean sensibility have earned the series much praise.
It is worth noting that seasons 2 and 3 were filmed one after the other and were released last year. Reportedly, the final season’s per-episode budget is even higher than that of season 1, which was KRW 3 billion per episode.
Other dramas with particularly high production budgets include The Escape of the Seven (46 billion won), Uncle Samsik (40 billion won), Song of the Bandits (36 billion won), Gyeongseong Creature (70 billion won), won), The King: Eternal Monarch (32 billion won) and Kingdom (32 billion won).
The question that arises is whether Song Kang Ho’s 700 million KRW per episode for “Uncle Samsik” is justified?