Here’s how much he’s getting paid for the original.
43 minutes ago
The original author behind Wanna One member-turned-actor Park Jihoon’s recent K-Drama adaptation is seeing a major payday.
Recently, author J Robin (also known as Oh Jong Pil) shared an update on social media about the surge in earnings following the release of TVING’s original series The Legend of Kitchen Soldier. The K-Drama is based on J Robin’s original web novel of the same name.
According to the author, the royalty settlement for the original novel alone reached around ₩88.0 million KRW (about $57,600 USD). “After the drama ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ aired, I heard this month’s novel royalty settlement amount and doubted it,” J Robin shared.
The novel alone was around ₩88.0 million KRW (about $57,600 USD), and the webtoon settlement, which has not yet been finalized, will likely be even larger.
— J Robin
The author then reflected on the unexpected success, calling himself “a very lucky writer.” Looking back, J Robin explained that several factors worked in his favor. First, the buzz surrounding Park Jihoon’s hit K-Movie, The King’s Warden, naturally carried over to The Legend of Kitchen Soldier. The timing also worked out well, as illegal webtoon sites were reportedly being heavily cracked down on around the same period, leading more readers to official platforms.
J Robin also said the differences between the drama and the original work helped drive curiosity. And thanks to the renewed popularity of the work, J Robin’s lecture fee has also reportedly increased by more than five times.
Because the drama and the original work went in different directions in the adaptation, many readers turned to the original out of curiosity about what was different.
— J Robin
In a follow-up post, the author explained why he decided to reveal the settlement amount. According to J Robin, he wanted to clear up the misconception that original creators do not earn much even when their works are adapted into dramas.
He went on to break down how web novel and webtoon creators can earn income, explaining that revenue may come from novel royalties, advertising revenue, webtoon royalties, lecture fees, and video adaptation rights.
Some may think the video adaptation rights fee is not very large compared to the drama’s success, but having the drama air alone greatly increases other income streams. I don’t think it is a structure where the author loses out at all. Thanks to the airing of ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier,’ I am spending happier days than ever.
— J Robin
The Legend of Kitchen Soldier is a military food comedy about a military cook who puts down a gun and picks up a kitchen knife, trading a cartridge belt for an apron as he follows quest windows that help him become a legend. The K-Drama version gained even more attention for starring Park Jihoon, who became known as a “ten-million actor” through the hit film The King’s Warden. The Legend of Kitchen Soldier wrapped up on June 16 to favorable reviews.
Read more:
How Wanna One Members Really Feel About Park Jihoon’s Massive Post-Group Success