As 'Weak Hero Class 2' records global success, the original Naver webtoon 'Weak Hero' is also gaining attention.
According to the Netflix Tudum TOP 10 website on April 30, the Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' recorded 6,100,000 views (the number of views divided by the total runtime of the work) just three days after its release, ranking first in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) category.
Following its release, 'Weak Hero Class 2' secured the top spot in 'South Korea's TOP 10 series' and made its way into the TOP 10 charts of 63 countries worldwide, including Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, France, Morocco, Greece, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and New Caledonia, proving its global popularity. The previous installment, 'Weak Hero Class 1', also ranked 8th in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) category, maintaining a spot in the TOP 10 for five consecutive weeks.
As the work gains traction, interest in the original Naver webtoon 'Weak Hero' is also heating up.
First serialized in May 2018 on Naver Webtoon and concluded in November 2023, this work is regarded as a well-made school action series that consistently maintained a high ranking throughout its serialization period. It has been exported to a total of nine countries, including North America, and various secondary projects such as published volumes, mobile game adaptations, and emoticon production are actively underway.
Notably, when it was first released on Wavve in 2022, it captured a channel share of 45%, earning recognition for both its artistic quality and commercial success.
While the drama attempted a new narrative through some adaptations, the original presents a differentiated charm through the growth story of 'Yeon Si-eun', an endlessly ordinary and seemingly weak boy who becomes a top predator in a school full of troublemakers. As a result, there is a growing trend of readers binge-watching the original after watching the drama, with a 'binge-reading craze' spreading as people start reading the already completed webtoon from the beginning.
After the release of drama seasons 1 and 2, the original webtoon reportedly recorded a sales increase of over 20 times compared to the monthly average after its conclusion. Inquiries about a sequel to the original are also ongoing.
It is being highlighted as an ideal case of a well-made webtoon IP achieving success through adaptation, leading to renewed interest in the original.
