Feb. 14, 2023

Mounting costs of Asian Dramas

Asian shows appeal worldwide. Japan's Alice in Borderland, South Korea's Kingdom and Indian Matchmaking, which was shot between India and the United States, have all been breakout successes around the globe. Hence, it no secret that production cost has escalated.

Two factors have driven Netflix's growth in Asia. Last year, Korean dramas, dominated its top 10 lists in Southeast Asia. Regional viewership for Korean content quadrupled last year compared to 2021. Regional viewership of Japanese anime, meanwhile, doubled year-over-year. By K Dass, Viral Exclusive.

The popularity of Asian dramas has grown immensely in recent years, with productions from South Korea, Japan, and China gaining global attention. However, as the quality of these dramas continues to improve, the cost of production has also increased significantly.

There are several factors contributing to the rising cost of producing dramas in Asia. One of the primary reasons is the increasing demand for high-quality content. As viewers become more discerning and platforms compete for subscribers, there is a growing need for dramas that are visually stunning, well-written, and well-acted. This means that production values must be higher, and more money must be spent on talent, sets, costumes, and special effects.

Another factor is the rise of streaming platforms, which has led to a shift in how dramas are produced and consumed. Rather than relying on traditional TV networks, many production companies are now creating dramas specifically for streaming services. This has opened up new opportunities for creativity and experimentation but also means that budgets must be adjusted to account for the different needs of streaming platforms.

What's most costly?

When it comes to the breakdown of costing for drama production, there are several areas that are particularly costly. One of the most significant expenses is talent, including actors, directors, and writers. As the popularity of Asian dramas has grown, so too has the demand for top-tier talent, which has driven up prices. A-list actors can command salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per episode, while top writers and directors may also demand high fees.

Another significant cost is sets and locations. Many dramas are shot on location, which can be expensive, particularly if they require international travel. Even when productions are shot locally, however, sets must still be constructed and dressed, which can be a significant expense. Historical dramas, in particular, may require elaborate sets and costumes to recreate the past accurately.

Costumes and makeup are also essential factors in the cost of drama production. Many dramas require period costumes or elaborate makeup to create a specific look or character. This can be particularly challenging in historical dramas, where costumes and makeup must be accurate to the time period being portrayed.

Finally, special effects are also a significant cost in drama production. Many dramas, particularly those in the fantasy or sci-fi genres, require extensive special effects work to create a convincing world or creatures. This can be a time-consuming and expensive process, requiring the expertise of skilled visual effects artists.

Korean dramas are smashingly pricey

The lavish production designs, A-list cast, detailed set designs, special effects, filming locations and fashionable outfits are needed to create a top-tier drama. That's why Netflix is investing US$500 million on original Korean content alone.

With more and more people jumping on the K-drama mania, we can expect more Korean dramas to also spend more on production costs to deliver the best production quality possible. Here, we break down some of the popular Korean dramas with the highest production costs whether it's fantasy, historical or romance.

10 Most expensive Korean dramas estimated cost:

1Arthdal Chronicles54 billion won

2Mr Sunshine40 billion won

3Kingdom 1 & 235 billion won

4The King: Eternal Monarch30 billion won

5Sweet Home30 billion won

6Vagabond25 billion won

7Legend of the Blue Sea22 billion won

8Crash Landing On You20 billion won

9Vincenzo20 billion won

10Hotel Del Luna20 billion won

In summary, the rising cost of producing dramas in Asia is due to a combination of factors, including the increasing demand for high-quality content, the rise of streaming platforms, and the need for top-tier talent. Among the costliest areas of production are talent, sets and locations, costumes and makeup, and special effects. As the popularity of Asian dramas continues to grow, it is likely that the cost of production will also continue to increase, as viewers demand more innovative and visually stunning content. However, despite these challenges, the Asian drama industry remains a vital and exciting part of the global entertainment landscape, with a wealth of talent and creativity on display.

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