Singapore’s Mediacorp joins K-drama specialists to develop microdrama slate

SBS romantic comedy Still 17

Mediacorp in Singapore and Studio S, the production arm of SBS in South Korea, have partnered with Korean comedian Lee Kyung Kyu’s shortform K-drama platform Soonshot to develop a slate of microdramas together.

The four-title Singapore-Korea slate kicks off with a shortform adaptation of SBS romantic comedy Still 17, due for release later this year, and sees Mediacorp expand its regional coproduction strategy into the fast-growing microdrama space.

The collaboration was formalised this week at Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) in Seoul by Virginia Lim, chief content and talent officer at Mediacorp; Hong Sung Chang, CEO of Studio S; and Lee, co-founder of Soonshot.

The partners said the collaboration brings together Mediacorp’s cross-cultural storytelling capabilities, Studio S’s expertise in Korean drama and Soonshot’s tech platform.

The three are seeking to deliver “premium Asian storytelling in innovative formats that meet rapidly evolving consumer habits, mobile-first viewing preferences and the growing demand for shortform entertainment for a new generation of viewers.”

All four productions will feature Singaporean and Korean actors, with casting currently underway. They will be available across Mediacorp’s platforms and Soonshot, with plans for international distribution beyond Singapore and Korea.

Lim said: “Microdrama is an exciting growth area and our focus is to approach the format with clear creative and strategic intent. As viewing behaviours continue to evolve, we see the potential to develop premium-quality microdramas that bring together strong storytelling, high production values and broad audience appeal.

“Working with partners allows us to exchange ideas and experiment with new approaches. This helps us build a stronger pipeline of short form IP, create new opportunities for talent and deliver compelling entertainment designed for today’s viewing habits.”