The popular drama 'My Perfect Secretary' (SBS) and the production company Eo Contents Group, which is actively involved in the drama and film industry, published the anthology novel '5 Heartbeats' on Jan. 31, intensifying its crossover business in video and publishing.

The novel '5 Heartbeats' is an anthology planned with inspiration drawn from imagination about the future and current dilemmas, unfolding various stories of different people across various time and space under the common theme of 'heartfelt stories'. Authors Jeon Jung-yeon, Choi Gwi-joo, Lee Seo-hyun, Choi Yo-ji, and Choi Young-won contributed to present five unique stories.

'Peach that cannot be eaten' (author Jeon Jung-yeon) portrays the subtle conflicts in human relationships and the necessity for communication through a mysterious incident that occurs in an ordinary neighborhood fruit shop, showcasing the growth and reconciliation of individuals who, despite becoming adults, are still immature. 'Egg-fed Chicken' (author Choi Gwi-joo) highlights the dark and complex side of human nature in an ironic situation where a child feeds eggs to a chicken, posing questions about survival and hope. 'Running through winter' (author Lee Seo-hyun) explores the possibility of solidarity and love through the perspectives of individuals who do not abandon others in a world that renders people's existence transparent and stagnant.

Additionally, 'Safe Breakup Consultant Lee Saetbyeol' (author Choi Yo-ji) presents a unique perspective on relationships and love in modern society through a female protagonist with the distinctive job of a safe breakup consultant, using an entertaining and unique viewpoint to unpack true growth. 'The Garden of the End' (author Choi Young-won) depicts the post-apocalyptic human drama where Chan-i, the grandson in a grandparent-grandchild family, discovers a unique antibody holder and faces a crossroads amid the arrival of a highly contagious fungal disease with the worst mortality rate in history.

Through various genres including human romance, brutal thriller, dystopia, romantic comedy, and apocalypse, the novel '5 Heartbeats' stimulates readers' imagination with a diverse portrayal of life, from the warmth of ordinary daily life to the aspects of human nature revealed in extreme situations, presented through an original worldview and story.

'5 Heartbeats' is gaining attention as a story IP that can expand into various IPs such as movies, dramas, webtoons, and animations. The work 'Safe Breakup Consultant Lee Saetbyeol' by author Choi Yo-ji, which has already secured a contract for a feature-length novel, is currently in discussions for a video adaptation, raising expectations for the results of the media crossover business through TV series or film production. 'Safe Breakup Consultant Lee Saetbyeol' tells the story of CEO Lee Saetbyeol, who helps clients safely end their relationships and grow in a time when breaking up is becoming increasingly difficult, offering a new perspective on the subject of breakups and creatively unraveling the process of parting.

Eo Contents Group CEO Oh Eun-young said, 'I hope you experience five stories that resonate with your heart, at times calmly, at times wondrously, crossing the boundaries of deep moments of everyday life and imagination,' and noted, 'In the future, aiming for entry into domestic and international IP markets and European publication, starting with e-books, we will do our best to ensure that the five stories can expand and develop into other media beyond novels.'

Meanwhile, Eo Contents Group has produced popular dramas such as 'Night Has Fallen', which ranked first on Netflix Korea in December 2023, and 'My Perfect Secretary', which recorded 12% viewership ratings after its premiere on Jan. 3 and concluded successfully. Additionally, it has produced dramas like 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl' (tvN, set for June 2025), 'Tankum' (Netflix, set for July 2025), and films like 'Jobless Apartment' (scheduled for theater release on Feb. 26, 2025), 'Next', 'Focus', and 'Subway', among others. The company is currently working on various projects, including dramas 'Flower of Death', 'Back XX', 'When Light Shatters', and the movie 'Well'. Moreover, it is leading the possibility of cross-platform expansion by converting the drama IP to webtoon IP with 'The Tale of the Dots' (launching on KakaoPage in June 2024).

[OSEN = reporter Jang Woo-young]