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Netflix co-CEO expresses excitement for return of popular Korean series this year

By Lee Yoon-seo

Published : Feb. 16, 2024 - 15:53

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Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos speaks during a press conference held at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, June 22. (Newsis) Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos speaks during a press conference held at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, June 22. (Newsis)

Ted Sarandos, the co-chief executive officer of Netflix, said on Friday he is excited about the return of several popular Netflix originals this year.

"We're very excited about the return of 'Physical: 100' and 'Sweet Home,' and of course, 'Squid Game' this year," Sarandos said during a brief meeting with reporters at Netflix headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Friday.

Sarandos is on a two-day visit to the country, which marks his second visit since June 2023.

He added that he is especially excited to be visiting the set of "Squid Game Season 2" during this visit and experience first-hand the setting and the storyline director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who also directed the first season, will be presenting in the new season.

During his visit, Sarandos is reportedly scheduled to tour the production site of Netflix's Korean original series and visit the Korean office of Scanline VFX, a global visual effects and animation company acquired by Netflix in 2021.

It has not been disclosed yet whether Sarandos would meet with Korean government officials or content creators during the visit.

In June 2023, Sarandos met with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to discuss methods to invigorate the online streaming service market, as well as cooperation strategies for the Korea and US media and content industries.

He also met with auteur Park Chan-wook and film major students in Korea, exchanging ideas about the digital content market's future.

In April 2023, Sarandos stated that Netflix would invest $2.5 billion in Korean content over the next four years while meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol when Yoon was in Washington for a US state visit.

“Over the next four years, we will invest $2.5 billion in Korea. That’s roughly twice as much as we’ve invested since we first launched our service here in 2016. And it includes funding for training programs for the next generation of creators in front of and behind the camera," said Sarandos, during the press conference held for his visit to Korea at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on June 22, 2023.

“It’s been an amazing partnership between the Korean creative community and Netflix. But I believe we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. It’s why Netflix is investing for the long term,” he said.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos speaks during a media event held in Seoul, Friday. (Lee Yoon-seo/The Korea Herald) Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos speaks during a media event held in Seoul, Friday. (Lee Yoon-seo/The Korea Herald)