Koreans have developed an admiration for and interest in Western culture through popular American films and television series, just like many overseas lovers of Korean food and culture, who developed their interest through Korean entertainment, particularly K-dramas. South Korean films and television series are well-liked and well-received, and they have influenced certain American media. We’ve seen Hollywood take foreign films and remake them for an American audience. Like Hollywood's recreation of Korean masterpieces, such as The Masked Singer and Good Doctor, South Korea has drawn inspiration from American films and series. Here are 10 Korean adaptations of popular Hollywood films and television series–
1. The Good Wife
Aired by CBS from 2009 to 2016, The Emmy-nominated series The Good Wife was a political-legal drama. After her attorney husband is caught up in a corruption scandal, Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) returns to her prior job as a litigator. As the show proceeds, the plot gets increasingly compelling.
The Good Wife was adapted into a 16-episode Korean series by CBS International and Studio Dragon. It's based on the same principle, except instead of Chicago, it looks at corruption and politics in Seoul. The program was a hit with the general public, receiving several awards and nominations, and it is the first American television show to be recreated in Korea.
2. Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Designated Survivor was a political thriller drama produced by David Gunnenheim that aired on ABC for two seasons, from its premiere in 2016 to its cancellation in 2018. Netflix took it up in 2019 and gave it a third and final season, as well as allowing subscribers to stream all three seasons.
Designated Survivor: 60 Days has a narrative similar to Kirkman's, with Environment Minister Park Mu-Jin (Ji Jin-Hee) taking over as acting President for 60 days and attempting to unearth the truth behind the attack that destroyed the Korean National Assembly.
3. 18 Again
The plot of 18 Again is just like that of Zac Efron's 2009 comedy movie 17 Again. In the original film, Mike transforms into his 17-year-old self soon after his wife files for divorce. He makes use of this chance to reunite with his wife and teenagers and mend their shattered connections.
Instead of Mike, in 18 Again, viewers follow Hong Dae Young, a 37-year-old father of two. With 16 episodes, the show was well-paced, allowing plenty of opportunities to delve deeper into the characters than the original film could due to its length.
4. Entourage
Entourage, an Emmy-winning American dramedy TV series that aired from 2004 to 2011, is partially based on Wahlberg's life and follows a fictitious A-list movie star Vincent Chase and his buddies as they transition from Queens to Hollywood. Entourage grew in popularity as a result of its dramatics, R-rated content, and comedic take on Hollywood.
In 2016, a 16-episode Korean adaptation aired. The basis of the show is the same, however, it is set in Seoul. In South Korea, the series had low ratings, with critics claiming that the show's western vibes and darker comedy were ahead of its time.
5. Leverage
Aired from 2008 to 2012, TNT’s Leverage is an American action crime drama series that follows a five-person heist team led by former insurance investigator Nathan Ford, consisting of a thief, a grifter, a hacker, and a retrieval specialist who use their skills to fight corporate and governmental injustices perpetrated against ordinary citizens.
TV Chosun’s Korean remake of Leverage follows the story of Lee Tae-Joon, who forms a team of thieves and con artists to avenge the death of his son and target the wealthy.
6. Criminal Minds
The critically- acclaimed Criminal Minds, an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired from 2005 to 2020 on CBS, follows a group of FBI criminal profilers as they work on various cases while also dealing with their personal struggles.
In 2017, the most popular U.S. crime and mystery TV series was adapted into a K-Drama by tvN for Korean audiences, starring Lee Joon-Gi, with a 20-episode run based primarily on the third season of the original.
7. Suits
Aired from 2011 to 2019 in the United States, "Suits" is famous for its gripping drama, relationships, and legal intrigue. KBS decided to adapt "Suits" in 2018 because of its popularity and potential in Korea.
Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a character in the original series, takes other people's LSATs for money. He subsequently stumbles into a job interview while attempting to avoid arrest. They hire Mike because they believe he is qualified and has a degree. Yeon-woo (Park Hyung-Sik) is the Korean counterpart of Mike, with a retentive memory but no legal degree.
8. Mission: Possibble
Following the premise of Bruce Geller's multimedia franchise, Mission: Impossible, Kim Hyung-Joo wrote and directed Mission: Possible, a 2021 South Korean action-comedy film, starring Lee Sun-bin and Kim Young-Kwang. It follows the exploits of secret agent Da-hee and ex-special agent, now-private detective Soo-Han.
9. A*P*E
A*P*E (King Kong's Great Counterattack in South Korea) is a 1976 monster film about a newsman (Rod Arrants), a starlet (Joanna DeVarona), and the US and Korean militaries chasing down a huge ape on the loose.
A*P*E was a hastily made film that was released around the same time as Dino De Laurentiis' 1976 version of King Kong to capitalize on its popularity.
10. Unborn But Forgotten
William Malone directed the horror film FeardotCom in 2002. The story revolves around a detective in New York City who is investigating a string of inexplicable killings linked to a strange website.
Im Chang-Jae directed the South Korean film Unborn But Forgotten in 2002. The film has been compared to both The Ring and FeardotCom because of its storyline. Han Su-jin, a TV producer, investigates a series of mysterious deaths involving pregnant women who visited a website. Han accesses the webpage out of curiosity; subsequently, she begins to have strange hallucinations, implying that her death is impending. Han recruits Choi, a detective, to assist her in solving the mystery.
