New Drama Starring Choi Siwon Adapted from Taiwanese Manga; M.S. Hopes More Local Works Gain Recognition

(CNA reporter Wang Po-erh, Taipei, June 24) Super Junior member Choi Siwon will be residing in Taiwan long-term to co-star with actress Esther Liu in the drama series "If We Had Never Met." The series is adapted from the work of Taiwanese manga artist M.S. (M蜥), who hopes that more excellent Taiwanese manga will be seen in the future.

The manga "If We Had Never Met" depicts a protagonist who, in pursuit of a perfect romance with the male lead, repeatedly "reincarnates" through a dark shrine in a thrilling tale of obsessive love. It was serialized on the online manga platform LINE WEBTOON from 2019 to 2021 and was also serialized on the Korean platform NAVER SERIES. WebComics International Pictures acquired the film and television adaptation rights in 2023 and began preparations for the adaptation.

M.S. told CNA today that seeing the characters and story from her pen reinterpreted by a visual team from a different perspective is an incredible and precious experience. She particularly looks forward to seeing the protagonist, Xiao Li, navigate relationships with different characters, creating a suspenseful atmosphere of mutual probing and hidden secrets. She also anticipates that the Taiwanese dark shrine culture featured in the work will be presented with a mysterious and unique aura through the visual medium.

When the manga was serialized in Korea, the Taiwanese dark shrine culture attracted significant reader attention, leaving a deep impression on M.S. She believes that while Taiwanese and Korean religious beliefs and folk legends have their unique characteristics, they also share similarities, such as the necessity of paying a corresponding price to achieve strong desires. This setting, both unfamiliar and common, sparked considerable curiosity among readers. Love and emotional obsession are also universal experiences that transcend culture and language.

The inspiration for "If We Had Never Met" originated from M.S.'s first love experience. After her relationship failed, she constantly thought about various "what ifs" that could have made the romance better. Coupled with her fondness for suspense stories, she gathered these thoughts and conceived the story. After serialization, her first love even left a comment congratulating her, saying, "This story is drawn very well."

M.S. stated that even readers from different countries could quickly understand the pain characters experienced due to infatuation, obsession, and loss. Many Korean readers at the time resonated with the emotional depiction and character psychology in the work, making her deeply realize that as long as the emotions are authentic enough, stories have the potential to transcend cultural differences and touch readers everywhere.

M.S. said that this television adaptation is not only a significant milestone in her personal creative career but also allows her to see the potential for Taiwanese original manga to move into more diverse media and even cross into the international market. In the past, she had always envied how many Japanese and Korean manga works were adapted into dramas or films, reaching global audiences through television platforms. She hopes that Taiwanese original works will have more such opportunities.

M.S. mentioned that this collaboration between the original IP and the film and television team is an important step in promoting excellent Taiwanese stories to a broader market. She also expressed special gratitude to the readers who have supported her work all along, as well as the editorial department and WebComics International Pictures for their emphasis on the work, which has provided the opportunity for adaptation into a drama.

M.S. believes that the transformation of manga into drama is not just an extension of the work's format but can also become an important channel for Taiwanese original IPs to reach different audiences and enter the international market. She also looks forward to a more complete industry support and cooperation environment in the future, allowing more excellent Taiwanese manga works to be seen. be seen. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150624

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