Disney Plus is quickly emerging as a new power player in the K-Content landscape, and the platform's latest claim to global fame is the science-fiction thriller "Blood Free", starring Han HyoJoo and Ju JiHoon.

Han HyoJoo, who is steadily becoming the face of Disney Plus, having previously appeared in the mega-hit blockbuster of a K-Drama - "Moving", plays the stoic and ambitious CEO of "Blood Free" Yun JaYu in the drama of the same name. "Blood Free" is a company dedicated to eliminating animal cruelty and protecting the environment through game-changing inventions such as cultured meat, cultured seafood, and even cultured grains and food crops! Thanks to the company's unprecedented development, "Blood Free" has gone global. However, the ethical implications that come with such strides are making life just a tad more difficult for Yun JaYu.

Spoiler Alert!

From death threats to hired killers, violent protests, a massive hack that costs her billions in Bitcoin, and a prodding suspicion that someone's betraying her organization from the inside, Yun JaYu is constantly on edge. In steps her knight in a suave grey coat - Ju JiHoon as Woo ChaeWoon.

Woo ChaeWoon is a soldier-turned-bodyguard hired to protect Yun JaYu after he very conveniently turns up at the right times in the right places. Just as unreadable as JaYu, ChaeWoon is a man with a dark past, the wounds from which still continue to haunt him. Secrets abound in the relationship that they form, teetering on the line between allies and enemies, trust and suspicion, light and dark.

Shadowy figures surround the two as the story progresses, including the Prime Minister of the nation, Sun WooJae (played by Lee HeeJun), a very close friend On San (Lee MuSaeng), a genius scientist Kim SinGu (Kim SangHo), and more.

 

What Makes "Blood Free" So Unique?

In addition to the brilliant cast and their outstanding acting, one of the biggest strengths of "Blood Free" is the uncanny atmosphere it builds up, where chaos starts to unravel slowly yet steadily, threatening to swallow everything in its wake. It is virtually impossible to judge good and evil or even be able to tell them apart. Our protagonists are so intricately layered and complex that imposing our own moral standards upon them becomes an exercise in futility. So, to enjoy this show, the first thing you need to do is abandon your inherent nature to pick a side and let the story carry you to its conclusion.

Another attractive quality of the drama is that it naturally encourages discourse. If there's anything K-Drama fans love more than K-Dramas, it is making theories and predictions about said K-Dramas. "Blood Free" is the type of drama that is all show and no tell. There's very little exposition, but there are hints peppered throughout the episodes that tell you all you need to know. Naturally, this births fan theories and engaging with such theories is arguably one of the best parts about the K-Drama fandom.

Eagle-eyed fans are already noticing details like how Yun JaYu could have had a twin sister who suffered from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and how JaYu could be working on organ culture behind the guise of her cultured meat business. Human experiments have already been alluded to, so such a revelation would not really be a stretch.

Discussing the K-Drama in this manner while we wait for author extraordinaire Lee SooYeon (known for works like "Stranger", "Life", and "Grid") to captivate us with her writing is an experience you do not want to miss.

 

How Is "Blood Free" Performing?

All things considered, "Blood Free" seems to have the makings of a fantastic thriller with impressive rewatch value. The subject matter is novel, the first of its kind in Korea, the cast is star-studded, and the cinematography, especially during the action scenes, is unmatched. It is riveting, full of spectacle, but also imbued with deep meaning and detailed nuances. The drama has gathered a niche audience who enjoy the genre and are watching the show as it airs, but we're expecting even more viewers to tune in once the series can be binge-watched.

This is because the very novelty of the subject matter may be what is holding some viewers back from investing their time into the show right away. As it is a sensitive issue, we suspect that not all viewers may be comfortable, especially with the graphic scenes depicted in the very first episode. However, if one can get past the initial shock, it's smooth sailing from then on as new mysteries unfold. A lot of the latter part of the show seems to be quite unrelated to the core concept of cultured meat and instead delves into more of a whodunnit thriller surrounding Yun JaYu's connection to the terror attack, her past, as well as the culprit behind the attack on Blood Free.

At the time of writing, "Blood Free" has entered Disney Plus' top 10 most-watched shows chart in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, according to FlixPatrol.

We also carried out our own data analysis, pulling posts from all across the web over the last 30 days to determine how "Blood Free" has been performing worldwide.

According to our analysis, mentions of "Blood Free" and the use of the hashtag #BloodFree have gone up +18455%, social media reach has gone up +307961%, interactions increased by +483026%, and positive sentiment towards the drama increased by +23200%.

To put things into perspective with numbers, the estimated social media reach of "Blood Free" at the moment is 7,513,618, while the non-social media reach is 9,956,584. The hashtag #BloodFree is currently a trending hashtag across social media, followed by related hashtags like #HanHyoJoo, #JuJiHoon, #BloodFreeKdrama, #한효주, #지배종, #주지훈, and #DominantSpecies.

While the K-Drama is considerably popular, it certainly has room to expand further and capture virality, and factors like social media edits and word of mouth are going to play a major role in attracting more attention to the drama.

 

"Blood Free" Netizen Sentiment Analysis

We also conducted a sentiment analysis, analyzing hundreds of posts from across the internet to understand how viewers are reacting to the show. We noticed that a majority of the viewers of "Blood Free" were more attracted to the chemistry between the lead actors Han HyoJoo and Ju JiHoon than any other aspect of the drama. As the drama is not mainly a romance drama, this chemistry seems to be hitting different for viewers of the show.

The idea of cultured meat also brought forth some discussion, especially as the drama explores the moral dilemma surrounding cultured meat and grains, which can have a devastating effect on primary industries.

There is, however, some negative reaction to the show, which seems to be based on the slow pacing of the narrative.

In conclusion, we found that 96.9% of netizens have a positive sentiment towards the show, and 3.1% have a negative sentiment. These numbers were recorded on April 17, 2024, when episodes 3 and 4 were released.

Episodes 5 and 6 of "Blood Free" release today, April 24. It will be interesting to see how the numbers change after this week's episodes.

"Blood Free" is now streaming on Disney Plus. Are you watching?

The 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, known as one of the most prestigious award shows in the Korean entertainment industry, has announced this year's nominations and netizens are not too happy.

The Baeksang Arts Awards are highly anticipated every year, as they recognize excellence in Korean film, television, and theatre. Not just artists but fans also look forward to this night, hoping for acknowledgment for their favorite works and actors. While it is not possible for everyone's favorite artist to receive a nod or take home an award, this year, the nominations have been causing quite the controversy all over the world.

Korean netizens and global fans are unanimously discontent with the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations, especially in the TV category. So, this article and analysis focus exclusively on the controversy surrounding the TV nominations.

 

60th Baeksang Arts Awards Nominations - Sentiment Analysis

We pulled and analyzed posts from all over the internet, such as on X, Instagram, and NATE PANN, to understand this controversy and highlight fans' opinions, concerns, and protestations. What we noticed was that fans from all over the world, regardless of whether they are Korean or international, shared similar opinions on the nominations this time, particularly in regards to actors who were snubbed.

Before we get into our findings, let's take a brief look at the nominations that are causing the most contention with the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards. 

Categories under "TV" that are taking the most heat are "Best Actor" and "Best Actress".

In the "Best Actor (TV)" category, the nominations are Kim SooHyun for "Queen Of Tears", NamKoong Min for "My Dearest", Ryu SeungRyong for "Moving", Yoo YeonSeok for "A Bloody Lucky Day", and Yim SiWan for "Boyhood".

In the "Best Actress (TV)" category, we have Ra MiRan for "The Good Bad Mother", Ahn EunJin for "My Dearest", Uhm JungHwa for "Doctor Cha", Lee HaNee for "Knight Flower", and Lim JiYeon for "Lies Hidden In My Garden".

Rather than directly expressing disapproval of the nominated actors, fans are more upset with the actors and actresses who deserved nominations but were not named. You can check out our sentiment analysis chart below for more clarity.

As depicted in the chart, an overwhelming majority of netizens, constituting 78.7%, voiced dissatisfaction with the nominations. Conversely, only a marginal 5.8% displayed enthusiasm, while 15.5% remained neutral, neither impressed nor disappointed.

 

Criticism Of Selection Criteria

Netizens who showed a negative response raised questions about and criticism of the selection process, including doubts on whether the process was fair after all. The criteria used for nominations were brought into discussion alongside factors like viewership ratings and OTT ranking.

For those who might not know, the Baeksang Arts Awards nominees were chosen from K-Dramas that aired between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. A K-Drama will have to have aired at least one-third of its episodes by March 31 to qualify for a nomination. That is why the ongoing K-Drama "Queen Of Tears" was considered for the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.

However, many fans were not too fond of the fact that a K-Drama that hasn't even finished airing was chosen for a category, whereas actors from several popular and beloved K-Dramas were not.

As many netizens disagreed with the standards of the Baeksang Arts Awards by which nominees are decided, they renounced the credibility of the same.

 

Actors Who Deserved Nominations, According To Global Fans

Six names stood out among the numerous posts we analyzed - Kim JiWon, Kim TaeRi, Ji ChangWook, Lee DongWook, Park BoYoung, and Shin HaeSun.

Among them, Kim JiWon is the actress fans are advocating for the most, even more so because Kim SooHyun has been nominated for the "Best Actor" category, but Kim JiWon did not get a "Best Actress" nomination. Fans are quite upset and disconcerted about the reasoning behind such a decision when Kim JiWon, who is playing the title role of one of the most successful K-Dramas right now, has not been nominated.

Comparisons between the ratings of "Queen Of Tears" versus those of "Lies Hidden In My Garden", intended to highlight Kim JiWon's snub, were also drawn, although the argument was quickly shut down when other comments emphasized that the Baeksang Arts Awards does not present awards based on ratings as last year, Kim JiWon's own drama "My Liberation Notes" was nominated for "Best Drama" despite its considerably lower ratings. Both Son SukKu and Kim JiWon were also nominated for "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" respectively.

Another upsetting snub this year, according to fans, was that of Kim TaeRi, who delivered a spellbinding performance in "Revenant". Netizens are mentioning that if Kim TaeRi had been nominated, she would undoubtedly have taken the award home. However, it's a pity that her performance was overlooked.

Similarly, Park BoYoung was brought up in discussion, with many pointing out that Park BoYoung has consistently been snubbed by the Baeksang Arts Awards despite her excellent performances, such as in "Daily Dose Of Sunshine".

Shin HaeSun was also mentioned by several fans, who asserted that the actress' performance in "Welcome To Samdal-ri" was deserving of a nomination.

In response, some netizens who are neutral about the nominees mentioned that while it is true that there are other deserving candidates, the actresses who have been nominated are also incredible, and none of them can be replaced.

In the "Best Actor" category, netizens expressed the most frustration over Ji ChangWook and Lee DongWook being snubbed. Ji ChangWook, who impressed with his brilliant acting skills and range in the Disney+ K-Drama "The Worst Of Evil" and Lee DongWook, who made viewers fall in love with him all over again in "A Shop For Killers", also on Disney+, definitely deserved nominations, according to netizens. International netizens were most vocal about this exclusion.

Once again, there were opinions that these actors were outstanding in their respective roles but the current nominees simply cannot be replaced.

What do you think about the Baeksang Arts Awards nominations this year? Tell us on X!

The 60th Baeksang Arts Awards will be held on May 7, 2024 (Tue) at 5:00 PM KST in COEX Hall D, Seoul.

2024 is proving to be an amazing year for K-Dramas and we love to see it. With the screen comebacks of top stars, rising actors making their mark on the industry, and the increasing versatility of genres, 2024 will undoubtedly give renewed impetus to Hallyu. As we step into April 2024, a number of exciting K-Dramas await.

From thrillers and fantasy to historical and crime, there's something for everyone this month. So, we compiled some of the most highly anticipated April 2024 K-Dramas in a watchlist for you!

Here are 5 April 2024 K-Dramas that you absolutely do not want to miss!

Note: This watchlist is not a ranking. It includes select K-Dramas airing on Korean national television as well as Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ original series.

 

Top 5 April 2024 K-Dramas

1. "Parasyte: The Grey"

When & Where: April 5, Netflix

Cast: Jeon SoNee, Koo KyoHwan, Lee JungHyun, Kwon HaeHyo

Summary: Based on the popular manga "Parasyte" by Hitoshi Iwaaki, "Parasyte: The Grey" will tell the story of how humans fight back against strange parasitic creatures trying to feed off of human hosts and steal their consciousness. While these worms try to expand their power and take over the control of society, can co-existence be possible?

Reasons To Watch: If you're a fan of the anime "Parasyte: The Maxim" or the manga "Parasyte", you have to tune into the April 2024 K-Drama "Parasyte: The Grey". The fact that the show is created by Yeon SangHo, and stars outstanding actors like Koo KyoHwan, Jeon SoNee and Lee JungHyun is reason enough to be hyped and we cannot wait to see what they have in store for us.

 

2. "Lovely Runner"

When & Where: April 8, Viki

Cast: Kim HyeYoon, Byeon WooSeok

Summary: "Lovely Runner" follows the story of Ryu SunJae (Byeon WooSeok), a popular star who passes away unexpectedly. However, a twist of fate gives him a second chance at life when his devoted fan, Im Sol (Kim HyeYoon), travels back in time to prevent the tragedy.

Reasons To Watch: "Lovely Runner" is arguably the most highly awaited romance drama among April 2024 K-Dramas. Kim HyeYoon and Byeon WooSeok are an absolute dream pair, and their heart-fluttering chemistry (especially the height difference) is giving us all the butterflies already! We cannot wait for this show to start airing.

 

3. "Blood Free"

When & Where: April 10, Disney Plus

Cast: Han HyoJoo, Ju JiHoon, Lee HeeJun, Lee MuSaeng

Summary: BF (Blood Free) is a company dominating the genetically engineered cultured meat market but when CEO Yoon JaYoo's (Han HyoJoo) vision starts being questioned, she realizes that her life is on the line. JaYoo meets the mysterious Woo ChaeWoon (Ju JiHoon), who starts working as her bodyguard.

Reasons To Watch: Much like other Disney Plus originals recently, "Blood Free" is a star-studded K-Drama with a novel premise. Viewers' expectations are sky high for this April 2024 K-Drama, and why wouldn't they be when some of the best actors have come together for this project? Besides, Disney Plus has established a reputation for its high-quality originals and we're hoping that this one is going to be no exception.

 

4. "Chief Detective 1958"

When & Where: April 19, Disney Plus

Cast: Lee JeHoon, Seo EunSoo, Lee DongHwi, Choi WooSung, Yoon HyunSoo

Summary: The story of a passionate young detective, Park YoungHan (Lee JeHoon), who cannot stand injustice. He teams up with his colleagues at Jongnam Police Station in Seoul to fight crime in an age where technology wasn't as advanced as it is today.

Reasons To Watch: Lee JeHoon fighting crime again? Sign us up! This April 2024 K-Drama is one of the most highly anticipated K-Dramas of the year, and for good reason! With a retro setting, this K-Drama is going to evoke nostalgia for an age many of us have never experienced and make us fall in love with it. Besides, the cast - which combines experienced stars and rising young actors, is sure to draw your attention.

 

5. "Missing Crown Prince"

When & Where: April 13, Viki

Cast: EXO's SuHo, Hong YeJi, Kim MinKyu

Summary: The crown prince of the nation has been kidnapped by a woman fated to be the princess! As they flee, a gentle romance blooms between the two.

Reasons To Watch: SuHo of EXO captivated global K-Drama audiences with his performance in "Behind Your Touch," heightening anticipation for his upcoming lead role in "Missing Crown Prince." Joining him is super rookie Hong YeJi, celebrated for her role in "Love Song For Illusion," garnering a devoted following, and rising star Kim MinKyu, making fans curious about the characters' relationships. You don't want to miss this one!