How a Korean webtoon became a global supernatural phenomenon
In short: What began as a graphic novel on Naver Webtoon transformed into a high-stakes television epic. Set against the backdrop of Jeju Island, this South Korean series follows a trio of warriors battling an apocalyptic evil, eventually reaching audiences in 240 different countries.
The television series Island, which aired between late 2022 and early 2023, is an adaptation of a graphic novel that was later released as a webtoon series on Naver Webtoon. The narrative is centered on Jeju Island, where three central characters engage in a struggle against a malevolent force intent on destroying the world. The story's origins lie in a graphic novel format, which later evolved into a digital webtoon series hosted on the Naver Webtoon platform.
The production of the series faced several notable milestones and challenges. Filming was originally slated to begin in October 2021. During the process, the cast faced physical hurdles; for instance, actress Lee Da-hee suffered a neck injury while filming on December 20, 2021. Meanwhile, the filming schedule for actor Cha Eun-woo concluded around May 24, 2022. The ensemble cast features prominent South Korean actors, including Kim Nam-gil, Sung Joon, and Park Seo-kyung, who portrays the character Won Mi-ho in her younger years.
The series saw a staggered release across different platforms. Part 1 premiered on the streaming service TVING and Amazon Prime Video on December 30, 2022, before moving to the tvN network in February 2023. Part 2 followed shortly after on February 24, 2023. Amazon Prime Video secured distribution rights for 240 nations beyond South Korea during October 2022, cementing the programme's global presence.
The series also gained prestige on the international festival circuit. The 2023 Cannes International Series Festival showcased the premiere episode within its Rendez-vous non-competition category on April 19, 2023, demonstrating worldwide fascination with South Korean genre narratives. The series' broadcast schedule on the tvN network featured episodes airing every Friday and Saturday at 22:10 KST.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Island (South Korean TV series)
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