The American Netflix series ‘XO Kitty,’ filmed in Seoul, achieved 72.08 million view hours within just four days of its release. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul is gaining prominence as a creation stage for ‘K-content,’ with an increasing number of movies and TV shows choosing the city as their backdrop.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday that the number of feature-length and short films, as well as TV dramas seeking support for filming in the city stood at 632 last year.
Out of these, the city government provided support for the shooting of 268 productions, based on evaluations of storyline feasibility and promotional impact.
This support is a part of the city government’s ‘Seoul Location Shooting Support Program,’ through which the city government has been backing domestic and international films that use Seoul as a setting. This effort aims to expand the city’s visibility in films and enhance its impact on urban marketing.
The support is offered in three forms, including shooting support, such as aerial filming and road control; promotional and marketing support, including previews, international events, and participation in conferences; and location incentive support for foreign films.
The American Netflix series ‘XO Kitty,’ filmed in Seoul, achieved 72.08 million view hours within just four days of its release, earning a place in the top ten rankings in 90 countries.
In this series, Korean actors took center stage alongside their international counterparts, with the stories unfolding against a backdrop of the city’s renowned landmarks, including Myeongdong, Namsan Seoul Tower and the Bukchon Hanok Village.
According to the city government, the number of projects it supports has been on an upward trend, rising from 106 in 2020 to 218 in 2021. For this year, it received requests from 379 films in the first half, of which 185 successfully completed shootings.
Last year, it attracted a total of 11 foreign films and TV dramas, including productions from major streaming companies like Netflix and Amazon. In the first half of this year alone, it attracted a total of 18 foreign films and TV dramas.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
