KBS2's "Descendants of the Sun" is the latest South Korean drama series to air in Japan. Starring Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo, the 19-episode romantic melodrama will premiere on June 21 in Japan's Hikari TV, Cat TV, Sky PerfecTV!. and J:Com TV channels.
Much to the delight of Japanese fans, the blockbuster TV series will premiere a special preview of the show's first episode in Tokyo and Hyogo a few days before its broadcast date. The exciting news came to light when @SongJoongKi_SG posted a screenshot on their official Twitter account earlier today, June 6. As of this writing, the said post has been retweeted 170 times.
Earlier reports claimed that the blockbuster television series was sold to Japan for a price tag of nearly 2 billion won (roughly $1.7 million). KBS, one of the three major broadcasters in Korea, has marked an agreement for the TV rights to an unnamed Japanese broadcaster for an estimated $100,000 per episode, The Korea Times reported.
It marks the most expensive deal ever made in three years. It can be recalled that Japanese broadcasters have been hesitant to South Korean dramas for the past years due to both countries' chilly diplomatic relations, which was brought about by their conflicting views on Dokdo Islets and other notable issues.
Adding on, actor Song Il Gook's participation in a dissent event encompassing the contested Dokdo Island on Aug. 15, 2012, have also contributed to the sharp decline of Japanese interest in Hallyu shows. Soon after the controversial event, reports claimed that the Japan's export price for Korean dramas fell well beneath $100,000, and have reportedly been stuck in the five-figure range for quite a while.
"After its popularity exploded in both South Korea and China, Japanese buyers wanted to be the first ones to buy 'Descendants of the Sun'," one industry representative stated to Soompi. "Because it stars Hallyu actress Song Hye Kyo and recently discharged Song Joong Ki, as well as having a positive response that it is entertaining, the drama had an increasingly expensive price tag, and the competition among buyers became fiercer."
The TV series is a romantic melodrama that tells the tale of doctors stationed in the anecdotal war zone and disease raging country of Uruk and follows the romantic story that ensues between Dr. Kang Mo Yeon (Hye Kyo) and Army Captain Yoo Shi Jin (Joong Ki). The 19-episode will track both their personal and professional struggles while highlight various issues about the value of life.
The drama aired on KBS2 from Feb. 24 to April 22. It shortly became a major hit in South Korea and received tremendous fame across Asian countries, most notably in mainland China. The major hit TV series is the first drama that was pre-produced prior to airing.
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