From 'Vincenzo', 'Crash Landing On You' to 'Kingdom', these Korean dramas cost a fortune to produce
It's no secret that producing a Korean drama costs a lot. That's why Netflix is investing US$500 million on original Korean content alone. The lavish production designs, A-list cast, detailed set designs, special effects, filming locations and fashionable outfits are needed to create a top-tier drama.
With more and more people jumping on the K-drama mania, we can expect more Korean dramas to also spend more on production costs to deliver the best production possible. Here, we break down some of the popular Korean dramas with the highest production costs whether it's fantasy, historical or romance.
1. Arthdal Chronicles
Arthdal Chronicles is the first historical fantasy Korean drama so it's expected that production cost is high. The show premiered when Game of Thrones was still a hit, another show that's known for its expensive production from special effects, costumes to set designs. The Korean drama stars A-list actors from Song Joong-ki, Kim Ji-won to Jang Dong-gun and was divided into three parts which increased the cost of production.
Filming was also partly done in Brunei while a set was built specifically for the drama in Osan, Gyeonggi Province. It's estimated that each episode of Arthdal Chronicles cost about 3 billion Korean won.
Estimated cost: 54 billion Korean won (PHP2.3 billion~)
See also: Song Joong-ki's Most Fashionable Looks On And Off-Screen