“Chetamja,” a joint-IP production project between Dexter Pictures and The Grimm Entertainment now available on Naver Webtoon… Live action series coming next
New webtoon “Chetamja” is a fresh take on a spy organization from the Joseon Dynasty called “Chetamin.” Reports say that the IP will eventually become a live-action series – a period TV series – and this could give OSMU content more ground to expand going forward.
Dexter Studios (206560), a company that specializes in VFX and content production, announced on September 5 that “Chetamja,” a joint IP production project being promoted by its subsidiaries Dexter Pictures and The Grimm Entertainment, will be serialized as a webtoon. Previously, in November 2022, Dexter Pictures signed an MOU putting it in charge of the video adaptation of “Chetamja” whereas The Grimm Entertainment would be in charge of the adaptation into a webtoon series.
According to Dexter Pictures, “Chetamin,” which served as the motif of “Chetamja,” used to be a special mission intelligence unit that was active during the reign of King Sejong in the early Joseon Dynasty. The unit helped the nation by keeping the marauding Jurchen tribe in check and spying on them. In fact, the “Annals of King Sejong” contains several anecdotes of the “Chetamin” engaged in combat and chases with the Jurchen tribe, giving us a glimpse into what they used to do.
Kim Dong-hyeon, CEO of Dexter Pictures, said, “In order to differentiate ourselves from the usual video production method based on an original webtoon series or IP, we worked closely with The Grimm Entertainment to plan for the webtoon and live-action series from the development stage. This not only accelerated the development, but also gave us a chance to produce content that better suited each platform.” Kim explained, “We’re confident that the interesting storyline of ‘Chetamja’ will satisfy countless readers and viewers alike as we deploy our ‘transmedia’ strategy spanning different platforms.”
Meanwhile, the webtoon series “Chetamja,” inspired by true events, tells the story of “Gwiyeong,” the main protagonist who lost his family to the Jurchen tribe at a young age, becoming a spy. The series is set in the Joseon Dynasty where the Jurchen people frequently crossed the border to raid, plunder, and kidnap Korean people.
Historical figures, including King Sejong, General Choi Yun-deok, and General Yi Sun-mong, as well as historical organizations also appear in the series, which adds a sense of realism, whereas the newly created fictional characters add interest and intrigue to the robust storyline. The strategy is to capture readers’ and viewers’ attention with realistic renderings and a breathtaking plot.
Webtoonist Byung Jang, who is in charge of the webtoon series, said, “The subject matter of an intelligence unit during the Joseon Dynasty itself seemed fresh, and I did a lot of research to make sure the historical background and characters were based on facts.” He added, “My hope is to give readers and viewers a great webtoon experience based on a great storyline.”
An official from The Grimm Entertainment said, “Working with Dexter Pictures for the ‘Chetamja’ project made the whole content production process stress-free thanks to some great communication and mutual trust.” The official continued, “We want to continue doing our best to create positive synergy in developing new content between our two companies.”
