Vertical Drama Lineup: Korean Stories Anchor 2027 Slate

Three companies put their 2027 short-drama schedule on display in Singapore on Wednesday.

COL Group, V47 Entertainment and Virtue Asia said the slate leans on Korean source material, with adaptations developed alongside CJ Group. The lineup includes "Idol Once Again," a fantasy about a former idol who travels back in time for another run at fame. "Genius Doctor Lee Mu-jin" draws on a webtoon about a street fighter raised by the ghost of a skilled physician, while "The Exclusive Secretary" adapts a web novel about a corporate heir and the secretary living with him as they clash over succession.

COL Group and V47 are developing "The Vanishing Act," a mystery about a magician who disappears on air during an international talent contest final, along with "Fortune Chasers," a scripted reality competition with thriller elements, and "1% Better," a sports and fitness reality format pitting unlikely rivals against each other. The slate also carries forward three existing COL microdramas: "Oops, I Married My Bestie's Brother!", "My Sweetheart's a Gangster" and "From Janitor to Mrs. Billionaire." The companies did not specify how those titles will be extended through distribution, adaptation or commercial tie-ups.

Here is how the companies describe their reach. FlareFlow, which COL Group owns, reports more than 52 million registered users and close to 7,000 short-drama titles available in over 200 countries and regions. FlareFlow ranked first among rights holders in TikTok's short-drama revenue-share rankings for the first quarter of 2026.

The companies also laid out Story Engine, an operating model connecting development, production, financing and global distribution. It combines V47's development and production work, Virtue Asia's cultural strategy and brand integration, and COL Group's genre knowledge and international distribution. Under the model, brands can act as development partners, executive producers or financiers, potentially holding a stake in resulting IP.

Timothy Oh, chief marketing officer of FlareFlow and general manager of COL Group International, said there is "a real opportunity for brands to go beyond traditional advertising and become part of the entertainment audiences actively choose to watch." V47 was formed by Virtue Asia and Goldfinch International, the international expansion vehicle of U.K.-based Goldfinch Group, which targets MENA, Asia and Africa. V47 Entertainment chair David Webster said bringing brands into development and financing can give original ideas the backing to reach audiences, adding that "the story must always come first." Virtue Asia CEO Lesley John said brands can no longer get noticed by interrupting culture and must earn a place within it, with creative integration that "feels native to the story."