SLL JoongAng signs MOU with TV Asahi to jointly develop dramas, other content

Drama producer and distributor SLL JoongAng signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi to collaborate in the content business, the company said Monday.

Park Jun-seo, head of SLL JoongAng's production division, left, and TV Asahi 's Vice President Toru Takeda signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to collaborate on the development and production of content business. [SLL JOONGANG]

Drama producer and distributor SLL JoongAng signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi to collaborate in the content business, the company said Monday.

The two companies will jointly plan and develop drama series and other content to strengthen their global presence.

The Tokyo-based private broadcaster is behind producing and servicing iconic Japanese animation series such as Doraemon and Shin-chan.

SLL, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, and TV Asahi had previously worked together when the latter produced a remake of SLL’s original popular Korean drama series “Itaewon Class” (2020).

The remake, under the title “Roppongi Class” (2022), became Netflix Japan's most-watched series for weeks.

“I am confident that this MOU with SLL, a leading content production company in Korea, will be a great driving force for content production aimed at the global market,” said TV Asahi’s Vice President Toru Takeda in a statement.

“Through this partnership, I hope that both companies can bring out their capacities to the fullest and create intellectual property that people will love worldwide.”

Park Jun-seo, head of production at SLL, expects that integrating TV Asahi’s expertise in content distribution with SLL’s strengths in planning, production and distribution will support SLL’s growth into a global studio.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]