How South Korean Drama 'Descendants Of The Sun' Used Early Filming To Become An International Sensation

The practice of "early filming," or shooting sequences ahead of the rigorous production schedule all South Korean television shows are forced to follow, is highly uncommon in the genre.

However, that might be about to change following the blockbuster success of the television show "Descendants Of The Sun," a program that reportedly relied heavy on early filming to achieve its ambitious scale. Wednesday's episode of "Descendants Of The Sun" received nearly a third of viewers in its 10 p.m. slot according to Nielsen Korea. It has also racked up more than 120 million views on the Chinese online video platform IQiyi.

"There were early filmed dramas before us, but they were largely made before they secured a broadcasting time and were weak on casting, lacking star actors and actresses," the show's producer Bae Kyung Soo told the Korea Times on Sunday.

South Korean culture critic Bang Yeon Ju worries that Chinese investors, like those from IQiyi who reportedly paid the Korean Broadcasting System, (the network that produces "Descendants Of The Sun") more than $250,000 per episode for the streaming rights, will lose interest and leave the entire South Korean film, TV and music business in shambles.

"The Chinese money that flew to the local real estate market in the past has headed to the drama and entertainment industry," Bang said.

"Early filming is great in that it improves working conditions for actors and actresses as well as quality of the drama. But, the money could dissipate in two or three years."

She also worried about the influence of Chinese tastes hijacking the distinct nature of Hallyu culture.

"If producers make dramas, being too conscious of Chinese viewers catering to their tastes, we could lose the uniqueness of our content," she said.