table of content table of content
It was inevitable: faced with the massive popularity of Korean series, TF1+ finally took the plunge. From November 20the TF1 group's streaming platform will be offering several full-length versions of cult K-dramas free of charge. An initiative that confirms the lasting impact of the Korean wave on the French audiovisual landscape. Following on from M6+, which added Lovely Runner and I am a running mate to its catalog last July, TF1+ is also riding the K-drama trend, adding the following dramas to its catalog on November 20: High Class, The Inheritors, Pinocchio and Doctor John will open the ball, before the arrival of other titles in the coming months.
An assertive strategy: appealing to a passionate and growing audience
In recent years, K-dramas have conquered the world (don't get us wrong, we're all hooked!). Their strength: intense plots, raw emotions and a production style that's often more polished than that of Western productions. By offering them free of charge, TF1+ is sending out a clear signal: yes, Korean dramas are now a must for any platform wishing to reach a young, connected and demanding audience.
For TF1+, it's a new stage in diversification. Long focused on French drama and family comedies, the platform is broadening its horizons and opening up to international demand that has become impossible to ignore.
Four iconic series to mark launch
High Class: luxury, lies and pretense
In this elegantly mysterious series, Song Yeo-Wool (Yeo Jong-jo) sees her life shattered after being falsely accused of her husband's murder. She plunges into a world where appearances rule and every smile hides a threat.
Pinocchio: when truth becomes a quest for survival
With Lee Jong-suk and Park Shin-hye, Choi Dal-po, who became a journalist after the death of his unjustly accused father. At his side is an engaging heroine, Choi In-ha, suffering from "Pinocchio syndrome" and unable to lie without hiccupping, an unlikely duo that navigates between investigation, romance and family drama.
Doctor John: a tense medical thriller
This time, we head for the corridors of a prison. Gang Si-yeong (Lee Se-young), a brilliant doctor, comes across Cha Yo-han (Ji Sung), an inmate with a background as an anesthetist. Their exchanges, sometimes tense, sometimes disturbing, take the viewer into rarely discussed themes: chronic pain, medical ethics, resilience.
The Inheritors: the classic that launched an entire generation
A cult among cults, this drama depicts the impossible love between Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho), charismatic heir, and Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye), daughter of the governess. Romance, rivalries, social differences... an addictive cocktail that has marked a whole generation of fans.
A step closer to kdramas for French audiences
Until now, access to K-dramas has been mainly through specialized platforms (Viki...) or through platforms such as Netflix, Disney+... TF1+ wants to give free access to some of these works.
For many French cinema-goers, especially those who have never taken the plunge before, this is the ideal opportunity to discover this genre that has become a must-see, without any financial barriers. For fans, it's also a chance to revisit classics in the best possible conditions, while taking advantage of a selection that's set to expand rapidly.
Our opinion
While the opening of TF1+ and M6+ is good news for France, as it means that kdramas are increasingly gaining a foothold there, we regret that these dramas are not available in VOSTFR (Korean language with French subtitles), so that viewers can better discover these series and immerse themselves in Korean culture, as dubbing detracts from the charm of the story. On the other hand, we hope that this will encourage even more people to immerse themselves in the highly addictive world of Korean series.
Will you be watching these dramas on TF1+?
