Although Korean webtoons were not well known in the past few years, they are becoming increasingly popular due to Netflix adaptations such as Squid Game, All of Us Are Dead, Hellbound, The Uncanny Counter, and Sweet Home. While only a small percentage of Korean dramas get renewed for additional seasons, fans are always on the lookout for something fresh to watch, especially if it features fantasy elements or intrigue.
Island, an upcoming South Korean television series, is based on the webcomic of the same name written by Yoon In Wan and illustrated by Yang Kyung II, which ran from 2016 to 2018. Prime Video is adding this fantasy drama to its collection, making it the company’s first Korean drama Original.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The drama’s filming began in October 2021, and while it usually takes longer than usual to produce a K-drama, it will soon be accessible on the streaming platform. Meanwhile, here’s everything we know about the anticipated fantasy thriller Island.
Island: The Plot
The plot, according to the trailer, takes place on an island where four individuals, Cha Eun Woo’s Kang Chan Hyuk, Lee Da Hee’s Won Mi Ho, Sung Joon’s Goong Tan, and Kim Nam Gil’s Van, cross paths for various reasons and have diverse backgrounds. Chan Hyuk is a Catholic priest who performs exorcisms and rescues innocent souls from evil. In contrast, Mi-Ho is a spoilt affluent girl who is banished to Jeju Island by her father owing to her arrogance, which leads her to commit a grave mistake.
Van, on the other hand, was raised as a protector since he was a child and trained to be a weapon against wicked demons. Despite his lack of expressiveness, he feels regretful for not being able to defend all the innocent lives lost by possessed victims. The island is apparently infested with ghosts, which must be exterminated if they are to survive. Will they band together to defeat these evil monsters, or will their emotions get the best of them, and they fail?
Island: The Cast & Crew
Prime Video
The star-studded cast of the fantasy thriller drama has everyone excited. Fans of Cha Eun-woo’s roles will be pleased to hear that he will be playing a pivotal part in the film as exorcist Chan Hyuk, aiming to rid possessed spirits. The actor is a member of the popular idol group ASTRO and made his screen debut in 2018 as the lead character in the JTBC romantic comedy series My ID is Gangnam Beauty. Among his most well-known works are Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung, True Beauty, and Soul Plate.
In the series, Lee Da-hee plays the selfish and arrogant rich girl Won Mi Ho alongside Kim Nam-gil’s Van and Sung Joon’s Goong Tan. The actress is a talented singer and model who was a finalist in the 2002 Super Elite Model Contest. Viewers may recognize her from popular dramas and films such as The Legend, Search: WWW, The Beauty Inside, Road to Kingdom, and L.U.C.A: The Beginning.
Meanwhile, Kim Nam-gil is well known for his roles in The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale, Pandora, The Shameless, The Fiery Priest, and Sung Joon, who won Best Actor in a One-Act Special at the 2012 KBS Drama Awards, has acted in outstanding dramas and movies, including Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, The Grotesque Mansion, High Society, and Discovery of Romance.
Additionally, these are the supporting cast members aiding the main leads in the adventure: Go Doo-shim as Geum Baek Joo, Park Geun-hyung as Jon Ryeong, Jung Soo Bin as Lee Su Ryun, Oh Kwang Rok as Won Mi Ho’s bodyguard, and Yoo Yi-joon as Kyung Jun.
Island is created by YLab Flex, Studio Dragon, and Gilstory Entertainment. Prime Video will premiere the series in 240 countries outside of South Korea, while local streaming network TVING debuts it in the home country. Bae Jong, formerly known as Park Kwang Hyeon, directs the series. Bae Jong made his directorial debut with the 1999 drama Goodbye My Love, and after a six-year absence, he returned with Welcome to Dongmakgol. However, owing to unanticipated circumstances, he took a 12-year break this time and returned in 2017 with the film Fabricated City.
David Simonsen, the director of Prime Video in Southeast Asia, spoke with the Hollywood Reporter about the drama, stating:
Release Date
“Southeast Asian audiences love Korean content, and we can’t wait to bring Island and many more Korean series and films to our customers in the region and worldwide. Island will complement our growing selection of content tailored to the region, which consists of local series and movies, anime and Korean content, alongside our amazing global content on Prime Video. Stay tuned for more information on Island exclusively on Prime Video in the coming weeks.”
Interestingly, the original Island comic was released in 1997 by two highly acclaimed artists, Yoon and Yang. After 19 years, Island was published to Naver Webtoon, South Korea’s official webtoon platform, with minimal modifications. With a captivating premise, it ignited a new generation of fans, and now, with the live-action television series adaption, comic readers are in a frenzy. Hopefully, the live-action remains faithful to the original and offers solid content like the standard Netflix webtoon adaptations.
