Taiwanese Live-Action Adaptation of Itaewon Class Webtoon Premieres on HBO Max on July 31
A new live-action adaptation of the beloved Itaewon Class webtoon is coming to HBO Max at the end of this month. The Taiwanese-produced series will be available on the platform on July 31. The actor playing the lead character Luyong Zhou struggles to uncover the truth behind his father's suspicious death while simultaneously trying to keep his family's restaurant afloat.
The original Itaewon Class is a South Korean webtoon written and illustrated by Gwangjin. Published between 2016 and 2017, the series quickly gained a large fan base. Adapted into a Korean drama of the same name in 2020, the production became a global phenomenon with Park Seo-joon in the lead role. The series focused on a restaurant owner's journey of revenge and success.
The Taiwanese adaptation brings the story into a local context. Instead of the Itaewon district from the original, the series takes place in a region of Taiwan, exploring the same themes despite cultural differences: the pursuit of justice, family bonds, and the determination to chase a dream. It is stated that the project was prepared by one of Taiwan's leading production companies.
This adaptation once again demonstrates the global impact of the webtoon world. The reinterpretation of a story like Itaewon Class in different cultures proves how flexible and universal webtoons are as an interactive medium. Fans are eagerly waiting to see how the new cast and the atmosphere of Taiwan will bring a fresh breath to the original story. With the release of the series, interest in the webtoon is also expected to rise again.
