K-dramas adapted from webtoons have long been fan favorites, and 2022 is no exception.
For a long time, Korean TV series based on webtoons have achieved much success. In 2022, the number of webtoons being adapted is increasing. Let’s take a look at 6 most anticipated webtoon to K-drama adaptations of this year.
1. All Of Us Are Dead (January 28)
Joo Dong Keun’s webtoon Now At Our School received many requests to be adapted into a drama. The series tells the story of students who get stuck at a high school where a deadly zombie virus is spreading. Although many people outside are trying to rescue them, they still have to stand up and protect themselves in order to survive.
With the success of the webtoon, Netflix soon acquired the rights to adapt it into an original series with the official English title All Of Us Are Dead. The director is Lee Jae Kyu – who was behind the success of The King 2 Hearts, Intimate Strangers, The Fatal Encounter and The Influence. All Of Us Are Dead has been available for streaming on Netflix starting from January 28.
2. A Business Proposal (February 2022)
Adapted from the popular webtoon The Office Blind Date, A Business Proposal follows Shin Ha Ri (Kim Se Jeong) – a single woman working at a big company who has secret feelings for her guy friend, even when she knows that he is already seeing another girl.
Feeling upset, Ha Ri meets up with her friend Jin Young Seo – the daughter of a wealthy family in Korea. Young Seo then asks Ha Ri to take her place on a blind date. Ha Ri accepts this offer. The twist is, her date turns out to be Kang Tae Mu (Ahn Hyo Seop) – the CEO of the company where Ha Ri works.
Kang Tae Mu is the CEO of the company founded by his grandfather. One day, his grandfather announces that he has arranged a blind date for him. Annoyed by his grandfather’s arrangement, Tae Mu decides to marry the next woman he meets, so he won’t be disturbed anymore.
That woman is Shin Ha Ri who pretends to be Jin Young Seo. The next day, Shin Ha Ri receives a phone call from Kang Tae Mu, asking her to marry him.
A boss-employee romance has been a successful trope in several K-dramas such as What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, so A Business Proposal promises to draw the same amount of attention and become a hit. The drama will be released later this month.
3. Tomorrow (2022)
Adapted from the fantasy webtoon of the same name, the drama “Tomorrow” tells the story about Choi Joon Woong (Rowoon). While being under the influence of alcohol, he almost made an extreme choice by going to a bridge. However, he noticed and tried to save someone who came to commit suicide before him. He fought to save him but they ended up falling together in the water.
The Special Crises Management Team came in late and by mistake put him in a coma of 3 years. He became a half-human and a half-spirit (his spirit left his human living body). He starts a job that is not possible in the living world by joining the Special Crises Management Team as the youngest employee.
Here, he meets Gu Ryeon (Kim Hee Sun), the leader of the team. Joon Woong’s job at the team is to take special care of people at high risk of suicide and help them regain their joy of living.
With compelling and meaningful content, Tomorrow will be a must-watch in 2022. The filming process has begun at the end of 2021 and the drama will air in 2022 on MBC.
4. Island (First half of 2022)
Yoon In Wan and Yang Gyeong Il’s manhwa and webtoon Island will soon be adapted into a TV blockbuster by OCN. This series is about the monsters on Jeju Island, who have been searching for a chance to escape from the human world for a long time and are targeting a heiress who has a visit to Jeju Island.
With the starring of Kim Nam Gil, Lee Da Hee, Cha Eun Woo (Astro) and Sung Joon, this is OCN’s most anticipated TV blockbuster this year.
5. Cherry Blossoms After Winter (February 2022)
BamWoo’s BL webtoon Cherry Blossoms After Winter has been announced to be adapted into a drama in 2021. This is a melodrama about two young people’s friendship and their yearning for true love.
The drama version will tell the story of two boys who grew up together. In fact, they are not brothers and just live together for some reason. The two began to develop feelings for each other when they were in the same class in high school. Ok JinWook (Super Five) will play Hae Bom and Kang Hui will play Tae Seong.
As the most anticipated boylove drama in 2022, “Cherry Blossoms After Winter” promises to cause a craze right after its release.
6. Delivery Knight (No official schedule yet)
Lee Yung Yun’s Webtoon Delivery Knight has been announced to be adapted into a Netflix TV blockbuster. Webtoon is set in a backward future where air pollution has become so dangerous that it is almost impossible to get outside. During that time, delivery men, honorably known as “Delivery Knights,” took on the responsibility of bringing people’s packages safely to their homes.
In the drama, Sa Wol is a young girl who wants to become a Delivery Knight since it is the only way for her to survive. When she encounters 5-8 by chance, she observes him fighting a bunch of violent robbers.. She discovered that the work entailed more than just package delivery. She realized right away that the most important thing she needed to do was strengthen herself. Kim Woo Bin and Esom have been cast for the lead roles of this drama while the broadcast date has yet to be officially announced.
Adapted from popular Korean comics, surely the above TV series promises to create great success for producers. So among them, which work are you looking forward to the most?
