Webtoon series 'Money Game' is adapted into U.S. web show

A screen capture of a scene from the webtoon inspired entertainment show "Money Game" [JUBILEE YOUTUBE CHANNEL]

Popular thriller webtoon series "Money Game" (2018-20) has been adapted into an online entertainment show in the United States.

The first episode of the show with the same title was uploaded on YouTube channel Jubilee, which has some 7 million subscribers.

It is the first time that a Korean webtoon's intellectual property (IP) has been adapted into global video content with an overseas production team and cast members, according to Naver Webtoon on Tuesday.

The web show "Money Game" is comprised of five episodes and features eight participants who have agreed to live in a facility with separated cells for 10 days. They will share $300,000 during the period and they can take home whatever they don't spend at the end.

The set is located in Los Angeles.

Episodes are slated to drop every Monday.

The series is directed by Mark Arbitrario who directed "Asia's Next Top Model 4" (2016) in Singapore and edited Emmy award-winning American television series such as "The Voice" (2014-16) and "Survivor" (2007).

Naver Webtoon participated in the production process including the show's planning stage.

"I never imagined that my work would be born as a reality entertainment overseas," said Bae Jin-soo, author of the webtoon "Money Game." "I feel that the status of webtoon IP has risen in recent years, not only in Korea but also abroad."

The original webtoon "Money Game" centers around eight participants who compete for 100 days for a total of 44.8 billion won ($37 million) in prize money.

The original webtoon series began in 2018 and since then has garnered the attention of entertainment show producers thanks to its unique setting and realistic psychological descriptions.

In Korea, "Money Game" and its sequel “Pie Game” (2020-21) by Bae are set to be adapted into an eight-episode series.

The series will star IU, whose real name is Lee Ji-eun, Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Jeong-min, Park Hae-joon and Bae Seong-woo.

The name of the series and where it will air have not been disclosed.

The show is expected to start filming within the first half of 2022.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]