Monster Union
South Korean production company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monster Union (Korean: 몬스터 유니온) is a South Korean production and distribution company founded on June 9, 2016.[1] It is a subsidiary of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).[3]
- Entertainment
- Media production
- Korean television drama
- Korean television show
 Monster Union logo as of 2021 | |
| Industry |
|
|---|---|
| Founded | June 9, 2016 |
Key people | Kim Hyung-joon (President)[1] |
| Products |
|
| Services |
|
| Owner | [2] |
| Parent | Korean Broadcasting System |
| Website | monsterunion |
History
The company, which focuses on producing entertainment and dramas, was launched in August 2016. Its first president and chief executive officer was Park Seong-hye, whose appointment brought a fresh perspective to the team as she had experience as a top star manager and had produced popular dramas.[4][5][6]
Ahead of the company's August launch, Park shared her vision for the company in an interview for the KBS newsletter. She explained that the name Monster Union symbolized a collaboration among talented producers and highlighted the company's role as a bridge between KBS and external partners. The office for Monster Union was being established in the KBS Media building in Sangam-dong, and discussions for investment and co-production with external production companies were in progress. The company was gearing up to release its first project under the name Monster Union in the upcoming year.[7]
Monster Union brought on board renowned directors from KBS to lead its drama and entertainment departments. Former KBS drama director Moon Bo-hyun was appointed as the head of the drama department, while Seo Soo-min took charge of the entertainment department. The drama department included directors with experience in popular dramas like Bread, Love and Dreams, Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho, Seoyoung, My Daughter, Brain, and Descendants of the Sun.[4] Yoo Ho-jin, who had previously directed KBS's 2 Days & 1 Night Season 3, joined as an entertainment director.[8]
The establishment of Monster Union by KBS sparked controversy among outsourced production companies, leading to a statement of condemnation from three industry associations. In response, Park clarified that Monster Union aimed to coexist with outsourced production companies by leveraging KBS's expertise and experience. She emphasized a spirit of cooperation and outlined the company's goal of creating globally recognized content and expanding its cultural content intellectual property (IP) business. Park also mentioned plans to distribute content through various platforms, including the web and apps, in addition to KBS's main channel.[7]
In 2017, Monster Union produced its first drama, Queen for Seven Days.[9]
Production works
Television series
| Year | Title | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Queen for Seven Days | KBS2 | Co-produced with Oh! Brothers Production | [10] |
| Hit the Top | Co-produced with Chorokbaem Media | [11] | ||
| Meloholic | OCN | [12] | ||
| 2018 | Suits | KBS2 | Co-produced with EnterMedia Pictures and NBCUniversal Global Distribution | [13] |
| Are You Human? | [14] | |||
| Matrimonial Chaos | Co-produced with The I Entertainment | [15] | ||
| 2019 | My Fellow Citizens! | Co-produced with Won Contents | [16] | |
| I Hate Going to Work | [17] | |||
| Angel's Last Mission: Love | Co-produced with Victory Contents | [18] | ||
| The Tale of Nokdu | Co-produced with Production H | [19] | ||
| 2020 | Born Again | Co-produced with UFO Production | [20] | |
| Soul Mechanic | Co-produced with Imagine Asia | [21] | ||
| Flower of Evil | tvN | Co-produced with Studio Dragon | ||
| Homemade Love Story | KBS2 | Co-produced with Production H | [22] | |
| Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol | [23] | |||
| 2021 | Sell Your Haunted House | Co-produced with May Queen Pictures | [24] | |
| Dali & Cocky Prince | Co-produced with Copus Korea Co. Ltd. | [25] | ||
| The King's Affection | Co-produced with Story Hunter | [26] | ||
| Moonshine | Co-produced with People Story Company | [27] | ||
| The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won | KBS1 | [28] | ||
| Uncle | TV Chosun | Co-produced with Higround | [29] | |
| 2022 | Bravo, My Life | KBS1 | [30] | |
| Dear. M | KBS2 | Originally planned for February 2021 broadcast, it has since been postponed Co-produced with Playlist Studio |
[31] | |
| Café Minamdang | Co-produced with People Story Company and AD406[32] | [33] | ||
| The Love in Your Eyes | KBS1 | [34] | ||
| 2023 | Apple of My Eye | [35] | ||
| Heartbeat | KBS2 | Co-produced with WeMad | [36] | |
| Korea–Khitan War | Co-produced with Vive Studios | [37] | ||
| Unpredictable Family | KBS1 | Co-produced with Ascendio | [38] | |
| High Cookie | U+ Mobile TV | Co-produced with Arc Media and Studio X+U | [39] | |
| 2024 | Love Song for Illusion | KBS2 | Co-produced with Fantagio | [40] |
| The Two Sisters | [41] | |||
| Nothing Uncovered | Co-produced with Production H | [42] | ||
| Suji & Uri | KBS1 | Co-produced with Samhwa Networks | [43] | |
| Family Matters | Coupang Play | Co-produced with KeyEast, Ordinary Gem, and Borderless Film | [44] | |
| 2024–2025 | My Merry Marriage | KBS1 | Co-produced with DK E&M | [45] |
| Iron Family | KBS2 | Co-produced with KeyEast | [46] | |
| 2025 | Good Luck! | KBS1 | Co-produced with Box Media | [47] |
| Pump Up the Healthy Love | KBS2 | Co-produced with CJ ENM STUDIOS, Bon Factory, Key East | [48] | |
| Spring of Youth | SBS TV | Co-produced with Studio S, FNC Story | [49] | |
| Our Unwritten Seoul | tvN | Co-produced with Higround | [50] | |
| The First Night with the Duke | KBS2 | Co-produced with Studio N | [51] | |
| Our Golden Days | Co-produced with Studio Coming Soon, and Studio Bom | [52] | ||
| Twelve | Contents, Big Punch Pictures, Nova Film, The Contents On, and Studio X+U | [53] | ||
| Dear X | TVING | Co-produced with Siwoo Company | [54] | |
| Marie and Her Three Daddies | KBS1 | LI Entertainment | [55] | |
| Last Summer | KBS2 | Slingshot Studio | [56] | |
| 2026 | Pearl in Red | DK E&M | [57] | |
| Our Happy Days | KBS1 | Sayon Media | [58] | |
| Munmu | KBS2 | KeyEast | [59] | |
| I'm Against My Romance | MBC TV | [60] |