A+E Networks Korea debuts its first Korean scripted drama – Backstreet Rookie – worldwide this coming Friday (19 June). 

The 16-episode series, based on a popular 2016/7 webtoon, will air on free-TV network SBS in Korea in the well-established Friday/Saturday prime-time 10pm drama slot. 

The show will also be available in Japan in a simultaneous rights deal with long-time partner U-Next, as well as on iQiyi’s global streaming platform, which also has simultaneous rights (excluding mainland China and Japan).

A+E Network Korea’s domestic channel, Lifetime Korea, will air the series after SBS. 

Directed by Myoungwoo Lee (The Fiery Priest) and produced by Taewon Entertainment, Backstreet Rookie stars Changwook Ji as 30-something store owner, Dae-hyun Choi, and Yoojung Kim (Half Holiday) as college co-ed Saetbyul, who Dae-hyun hires, against his better judgement, as a part-time employee.

A+E Network has global rights to the show as part of its early investment last year. 

Backstreet Rookie follows a slate of A+E Networks’ unscripted and digital originals for Korea over the past two and a half years, including Man vs Child and Pyjama Friends.