A K-lawyer who defends ghosts captivated Asia with a fresh variation on fantasy courtroom drama.
Phantom Lawyer swept major Asian charts, once again proving the strength of K-content.
According to the weekly chart for the first week of April (March 30–April 5) released by OTT platform Viu, SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Phantom Lawyer' (Phantom Lawyer) ranked No. 1 in Thailand, No. 2 in Indonesia and Hong Kong, No. 3 in Singapore, and No. 4 in the Philippines and Malaysia, placing it among the top ranks across Asia.
The work, which is running a box-office streak domestically with ratings approaching 10%, completely captivated overseas viewers with its original worldview that combines law and the occult. In particular, Yoo Yeon-seok, who plays the lead role Shin I-rang, convincingly portrayed the shocking setting of seeing ghosts and even being possessed with a deeply seasoned performance that drew praise from global fans, and the polar opposite cooperation with elite lawyer Han Na-hyun, played by Esom, serves as a key driving force that raises the drama's tension.
This achievement is significant in that it is the result of a 'hybrid genre' that goes beyond romantic comedy, the mainstay genre of existing K-dramas, by combining courtroom drama with occult elements. Analysts say the freshness of blending Korea's distinctive shamanistic color into a modern courtroom drama and the universal realization of justice that relieves the grudges of the wronged provided strong catharsis to Asian viewers.
Meanwhile, Viu, operated by Hong Kong's PCCW, is an Asia-leading OTT platform that showcases Korean content to global markets such as Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It currently presents a variety of Korean content, including 'Climax', 'Phantom Lawyer' and the variety show 'After School Teacher Teri'.
[Photo] Viu
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