The popularity of 'Weak Hero Class 2' is on fire.
The Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' is captivating viewers worldwide and receiving a hot response. Along with this, the original Naver Webtoon 'Weak Hero' is also garnering renewed attention, resulting in a sharp increase in sales and inquiries about a sequel.
According to the Netflix Tudum TOP 10 website on 4th, the Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' recorded 6,100,000 viewing hours (the viewing time divided by the total running time of the work) just 3 days after its release, ranking first in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) institution.
Immediately after its release, it topped the 'Korea's TOP 10 series' and proved its global popularity by making it into the TOP 10 charts of 63 countries worldwide, including Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, France, Morocco, Greece, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and New Caledonia. The previous installment 'Weak Hero Class 1' also ranked 8th in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) institution, achieving the remarkable feat of ranking in the TOP 10 for 5 consecutive weeks.
Meanwhile, attention is focused on the original Naver Webtoon 'Weak Hero' as explosive reactions continue. Launched in May 2018 on Naver Webtoon and completed in November 2023, this work is considered a well-made school action piece that maintained a top position throughout its serialization. It has been exported to a total of 9 countries, including North America, with various secondary projects being actively developed, including printed publications, mobile game adaptations, and emoticon productions. Especially, during its first airing on Wavve in 2022, it captured a channel share of 45%, recognizing both its artistic value and commercial success.
Unlike the drama, which attempts a new narrative through some adaptations, the original presents a unique charm through the growth narrative of a seemingly ordinary and fragile boy named 'Yeon Si-eun', who becomes a top predator in a school filled with troublemakers. Consequently, there has been a surge in readers binge-watching the original after watching the drama, triggering a 'binge-reading craze' as they start from the beginning of the already completed webtoon.
In particular, following the release of drama seasons 1 and 2, the original webtoon recorded a revenue increase of about 20 times compared to the monthly average after its completion, and inquiries regarding the original sequel are rapidly increasing. This is being recognized as an ideal IP virtuous cycle case where a well-made webtoon IP achieves success through video adaptation, leading to renewed interest in the original.
Meanwhile, 'Weak Hero CLASS 1 and CLASS 2' can be watched on Netflix, while the original webtoon 'Weak Hero' is available on Naver Webtoon and Naver Series.
[Photo] Weak Hero CLASS 2 poster (Netflix) / Weak Hero webtoon poster (Jaedam Media)
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