When Webtoon Adaptations Fail To Meet The Hype
On July 7, the Korean outlet MBN published the exclusive report which announced the potential casting of Miss A's Suzy as the leading female in the upcoming drama, "Cheese in the Trap." According to the report, Suzy was in talks to join the series, which has confirmed Park Hae Jin as its leading man. This news was met with negative comments from domestic viewers, which could reflect a backlash against the surge of webtoon adaptations and the influx of acting idols who have led high-profile dramas in 2015.
While Suzy remains a popular acting idol, Korean audiences expressed their displeasure at this initial report. Netizen Buzz published the top voted comments from Korean netizens. "Suzy doesn't fit [the role of] Hongseol, at all," said a netizen, whose comment was positively received by more than 3,100 users.
The user went on to note that Suzy did not fit the description of Hongseol, a character who is known for sharp, cat-like feature and a small body frame. "Hongseol is not big-boned like Suzy is," noted the forum user. "I'm saying this as someone who likes Suzy, please pass on the role."
Representatives for tvN and JYP Entertainment swiftly responded to the strong comments. In an article published by TV Report, the agency and television production company denied her acceptance of the role. "The issue is currently under consideration," said a representative for JYP Entertainment. "Previous reports that she had accepted the role are not true."
TV Report followed their article which included responses from JYP and tvN with a report which noted the casting possibilities of Oh Yeon Seo and Chun Woo Hee, as the leading ladies of "Cheese in the Trap."
The upcoming tvN series is based on the popular Naver webtoon, which has captivated readers since its debut in 2010. While the large readership and following of "Cheese in the Trap" should work to the advantage of the series, serves as a hindrance for casting.
Increased attempts to adapt webtoons have led to some hits but also several misses. The KBS2 teen series "Orange Marmalade" debuted with great expectations, but viewership has decreased as the series shifted from a contemporary setting to the Joseon period.
The series, which is based on a popular weekly webtoon, premiered with 4.2 percent of nationwide viewership and reached a low of 2.5 percent on June 26. The dismal ratings are not necessarily a reflection of the acting performance from its young stars, but the shift of content from its initial focus.
The SBS drama, "Jekyll, Hyde and Me," was also met with mixed reactions from audiences. The drama starred Hyun Bin and Han Ji Min, but it was unable to compete against the rating juggernaut of "Kill Me, Heal Me."
Webtoons continue to grow in popularity, particularly those that are subtitled for international readers, on sites like Naver Webtoons. As they continue to reach new audiences, the temptation to market them as the latest addition to the Hallyu machine is great. However, the backlash from domestic audiences could serve as a cautionary note for producers who are sourcing web comics as inspiration for live-action dramas, particularly those which are led by acting idols.
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About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor for KDramastars. She is also a contributing writer for KpopStarz, MTV Iggy, Viki and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing, she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).
