COL Group, V47 and Virtue Asia Reveal 2027 Microdrama Slate Led by Korean Adaptations

FlareFlow parent COL Group, V47 Entertainment and Virtue Asia unveiled their 2027 vertical drama slate in Singapore on Wednesday, with adaptations of Korean webtoons and web novels leading the lineup alongside several new originals.

The slate was shown at Inside Microdramas, an event organizers described as an upfront without precedent. The Korean titles were developed with CJ Group.

Among them is "Idol Once Again," a fantasy about a washed-up idol who travels back in time to get another chance at fame. "Genius Doctor Lee Mu-jin" is based on a popular webtoon about a street fighter trained by the ghost of a brilliant physician. "The Exclusive Secretary," adapted from a web novel, follows a corporate heir and the secretary who lives with him as they grow closer during a dangerous fight over the family succession.

The originals are being developed by COL Group and V47. "The Vanishing Act" is a mystery about a magician who vanishes on air during the final of an international talent contest. "Fortune Chasers" blends a scripted reality competition with thriller elements, while "1% Better" is a reality format set in sports and fitness that pits unlikely rivals against one another.

The lineup also carries forward three of COL's strongest existing microdramas: "Oops, I Married My Bestie's Brother!," "My Sweetheart's a Gangster" and "From Janitor to Mrs. Billionaire." The companies plan to extend them as IP through wider distribution, adaptation and commercial tie-ups, but did not say what form those follow-ups will take.

FlareFlow has passed 52 million registered users and offers close to 7,000 short-drama titles to viewers in more than 200 countries and regions. It ranked first among all rights holders in TikTok's short-drama revenue-share rankings for the first quarter of 2026.

The companies also introduced Story Engine, an operating model linking development, production, financing and global distribution. It combines V47's development and production arm, Virtue Asia's expertise in cultural strategy and brand integration, and COL Group's genre knowledge and international distribution. Brands can move beyond product placement and sponsorship to serve as development partners, executive producers or financiers, potentially holding a stake in the resulting IP.

Timothy Oh, chief marketing officer of FlareFlow and general manager of COL Group International, said there is "a real opportunity for brands to go beyond traditional advertising and become part of the entertainment audiences actively choose to watch."

V47 was formed by Virtue Asia and Goldfinch International, the international expansion vehicle of U.K.-based Goldfinch Group, which targets MENA, Asia and Africa. V47 Entertainment chair David Webster said bringing brands into development and financing can give ambitious original ideas the backing to reach audiences and build franchises over time, adding that "the story must always come first."

Virtue Asia, a strategic and creative agency whose clients include Disney, Google, Spotify, Toyota, Diageo and Shiseido, also weighed in. CEO Lesley John said brands can no longer get noticed by interrupting culture and must earn a place within it, and that the goal is creative integration that "feels native to the story."