Turner Acquires Southeast Asia Rights to SAIMDANG

Turner International Asia Pacific has acquired full syndication and broadcast rights for the highly-awaited Korean drama series, Saimdang, across all platforms in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

The big-budget series from production house Group 8, casts actress Lee Young-ae, who returns to the small screen after more than a decade after her memorable lead role in the 2003 period drama Jewel in the Palace. The MBC drama is still heralded as one of the studio's biggest success stories - achieving the highest viewer ratings in Korean TV history and has been exported to almost 100 countries.

"This deal demonstrates Turner's continued commitment to investing in the very best Asian content out there, said Ricky Ow, President of Turner Asia Pacific. "Lee Young-ae is one of the most recognizable characters in Korean drama and there's no doubting that Saimdang will be a huge hit in 2016."

The agreement includes all distribution rights including for Pay-TV, Free to Air and SVOD, and allows for broadcast as quickly as 10 minutes after the series' initial Korean telecast. Saimdang is currently a working title for the 30x60' series.

"Saimdang is already generating considerable attention right across Asia," added B.J. Song, the president of Group 8. "Lee Young-ae is a huge star, not just in Korea, but around the region and we know that her fans will be anxious to see her return. We're very happy to be working with Turner on this project and anticipate the interest to increase even more in the coming months."

The series is under production now and expected to air in early- to mid-2016. It will focus on Shin Saimdang, the famous artist, writer and poet, and is a modern interpretation of her life. It tells the story of not only her legendary creativity and artistry but her tragic love life.

Lee Young-ae takes on two roles - a university lecturer of Korean art in the present day and 16th century Shin Saimdang herself. In the series, the lecturer discovers the diary of this major historical figure and she unravels the secret of a mysterious portrait.