K-Drama With 23% on RT Is Getting a US Remake After 2 Months in Netflix's Top 10
The series became one of the most controversial releases on Netflix in 2023, but it didn't deserve the massive amount of criticism it received.
In mid-June 2023, Netflix released the new K-drama King the Land. The series immediately broke into the platform's top 10, where it stayed for more than two months.
King the Land delighted fans of stories about difficult relationships between assertive girls and arrogant chaebol heirs.
King the Land Was One of the Most Controversial Releases of 2023
At the same time, King the Land became the most controversial K-drama hit of the year. The paradox of this series is that viewers were strictly divided into two camps – some were completely thrilled with the Korean show, while others considered it a complete failure.
On Rotten Tomatoes, King the Land has a 71% rating from critics and a shockingly low 23% rating from viewers.
King the Land Is a Classic Rom-Com K-Drama That Doesn't Deserve Such Criticism
Such a low score from viewers seems a bit unfair – after all, King the Land is a classic Korean Cinderella rom-com like What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and Business Proposal, perfect for an easy watch after a hard day's work.
Yes, it is full of genre clichés, the jokes are sometimes too silly, and the emotions are overdone, but these are features of almost all K-dramas in this genre that give it a special charm.
Netflix Is Set to Make a US Adaptation of King the Land
While Netflix's biggest hits have not traditionally been romantic K-dramas, King the Land has garnered impressive ratings. The result is the announcement of an US adaptation of the series.
The remake, which is being developed by Crazy Rich Asians producer Janice Chua, promises to preserve the spirit of the original Korean series while adapting it for Western audiences.
The decision to create a US seems entirely justified, as Netflix has experience in adapting successful projects from and for different regions. For example, the Spanish crime thriller Money Heist was adapted for South Korean viewers and titled Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area.
What Is King the Land About?
Charismatic, handsome, ambitious, and intellectual – these are the best descriptions of Gu Won. He is the young heir to the chaebol family that owns the King Group conglomerate.
He has no problem doing business, but socializing is clearly not his strong point. Especially when it comes to girls. The reason for this is a childhood trauma related to Gu Won's mother.
Meanwhile, Cheon Sa-rang has landed her dream job – she is now an employee of the King Hotel. Sa-rang's career path is already thorny, and the heir who showed up at the hotel adds to her problems.
