The drama 'W' starring actors Lee Jong-seok and Han Hyo-joo is aimed at American small screens. It is scheduled to be remade through CBS, a representative local terrestrial broadcaster, and is expected to be counted as another example that proves the power of Korean dramas.

According to the recent U.S. entertainment media Deadline, MBC signed a contract with CBS Studio for the rights to remake the drama 'W' in 2016. CBS previously promoted local remakes of some Korean dramas, such as 'Good Doctor' in 2014 and 'Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho' in 2016.

'W' is a drama depicting the romance and events that occur when a doctor accidentally gets sucked into a webtoon titled 'W' and meets the main character of the cartoon. The drama, starring Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo, recorded the highest viewership rating of 13.8% (Nielsen Korea) at the time of its airing, collecting topics.

The American remake of 'W' seems to have benefited from the novel material and story of the original drama, such as winning the Special Jury Prize at the Houston International Film Festival in 2017 along with such popularity. In particular, Smart Dog Media, a local production company that showed the American version of MBC's 'King of Mask Singer' and Mnet's 'I Can See Your Voice' series, decided to make a remake drama, attracting another attention. Smart Dog Media has been recognized for its achievements by attracting the attention of local viewers with content utilizing the format of Korean broadcast programs.

So much anticipation for the local remake of 'W'. This is especially true in that Korean dramas that actively utilize changes in the environment, such as the expansion of the OTT (Online Video Streaming Service) market, are attracting global attention with their planning power and universal story. Broadcasters see the American remake of 'W' as showing the power of Korean dramas on the same line.

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BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

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