This is the background to why it went beyond cost-effectiveness and came to be called ‘GOD cost-effectiveness’. A ‘well-made drama’ that makes you wait longer with each episode, it turns out that ‘they made this’with a production cost per episode that is highly competitive. The hit drama ‘Today, Jisong’ is produced by KBS N and is currently airing on KBS JOY channel.

The drama, which was produced with a scale of 12 episodes and first aired on the 5th, is also meeting viewers through the global OTT Netflix. Among the three episodes released, episodes 1 and 2, which correspond to the series build-up, have shown their ability to enter the ‘Top 10 Series’ for two consecutive times amidst the flood of year-end dramas such as Netflix originals.

As it has suddenly emerged as a dark horse in the home theater, ‘Today is Jisong’ is currently being reviewed for broadcast on KBS 2TV, a terrestrial broadcaster, in addition to the existing KBS JOY and OTT Netflix.

The drama is set in the virtual new town ‘Cheonpo’, and is based on the eventful survival story of the title role ‘Jisong’, who becomes a ‘single woman’ ... Another point where ‘Jisonghaengimyeon’ is attracting attention in the TV drama industry is the ‘innovation’ in the production method.

Despite casting a large number of actors with both talent and popularity, such as Jeon So-min, Gong Min-jung, Jang Hee-ryeong, Choi Daniel, and Kim Moo-joon, the drama is being produced with a ‘production cost in the mid-100 million won range per episode’. It is ‘common’ for the average production cost of a drama to exceed 1 billion won per episode, and considering that ‘Queen of Tears’ (tvN) cost close to 3.5 billion won, ‘Today, Jisong’ can truly be called ‘extremely cost-effective’.

Nevertheless, the reason it was able to receive the evaluation of ‘masterpiece’ was that it boldly introduced the so-called ‘web drama’ web drama production method in addition to solid storytelling, and made various cost-saving efforts such as streamlining the production schedule.

KBS N CEO Lee Kang-deok said in relation to this, “The cast and production crew, who are well aware that the slump in the drama market due to high costs is a huge blow not only to broadcasters but also to actors and other industry professionals, came together to create this work”It is a good drama and entertainment show. He emphasized, “Now is the time when creative efforts by broadcasters are essential so that programs can be produced at a reasonable cost like before and lead the spread of the Korean Wave.”

“Today, Jisong” has moved on to the fourth episode, where the full story unfolds, after the first three episodes. The fourth episode will air on the KBS JOY channel at 9 p.m. on the 26th.


Reporter Heo Min-nyeong mignon@donga.com