K-dramas that went through various challenges before hitting big: Will Snowdrop overcome controversy?
Does Snowdrop have a chance to become a year-end hit on Korean TV this year?
Despite difficulties and controversies during the production process, the following Korean dramas still eventually achieved success and became well-received hits.
1. Jealousy Incarnate
Jealousy Incarnate saw intense competition between two major national networks KBS and SBS. After Jo Jung Suk and Gong Hyo Jin confirmed to join the main cast, KBS and SBS simultaneously announced that they would broadcast this drama. The situation even turned more serious because of the conflict between KBS and the leading actress – Gong Hyo Jin. However, the production agency of Jealousy Incarnate, SM C&C, announced that Gong Hyo Jin has never made any requests to KBS and KBS’s accusations have adversely affected her image. After the controversy subsided, Jealousy Incarnate was successfully broadcast by SBS with two-digit ratings.
2. Kill Me Heal Me
To be able to portray 7 personalities of character Cha Do Hyun in Kill Me Heal Me is not an easy job for any actor. Therefore, a month before the broadcast, the production crew still struggled to find a suitable actor who could take on the role. According to initial information, Hyun Bin was first considered, but he rejected. The offer was then passed on to Lee Seung Gi. In the end, Lee Seung Gi turned it down and it was Ji Sung who was cast in the role. Finally, thanks to the cast’s excellent acting and captivating plot, Kill Me Heal Me won a total of 13 awards. Ji Sung and Park Seo Joon also won Best Couple at MBC Drama Awards.
3. Descendants of the Sun
Behind the resounding success of the 2016 hit Descendants Of The Sun, few people know the difficulties in the making process. A series of male A-listers such as Gong Yoo, Won Bin, Kim Woo Bin, Lee Min Ho all rejected the offer to play the male lead Yoo Shi Jin because shooting for this drama took a long time and cast members were required to travel abroad. Fate arranged for Song Joong Ki to take on the role of Captain Yoo and make waves all across Asia. However, a month before filming ended, Song Joong Ki was seriously injured. Director Lee Eung Bok recounted that there were scenes that were filmed in very special conditions. At that time, Song Joong Ki could not even walk. Thanks to the admirable efforts and determination of the cast and crew, Descendants Of The Sun achieved amazing results with ratings up to 38.8%, becoming the biggest hit of Korean TV in 2016.
4. Snowdrop
When it was first introduced, JTBC’s Snowdrop quickly attracted much attention from the public thanks to its popular cast including Jung Hae In, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Kim Hye Joon, Yoo In Na,… However, due to the controversy over accusations of historical distortion, Snowdrop became the victim of a boycott by thousands of Koreans before its official broadcast. JTBC quickly spoke out against false accusations related to the drama and fixed a broadcast date for Snowdrop.
Nevertheless, it seems that the anger of the Korean public has not subsided. After the first episode aired last weekend, Snowdrop received mixed reactions. With the effort and investment of the drama’s crew and cast, many viewers hope Snowdrop will earn positive results in the future and overcome this rough start.
