Netflix to boost original series, films in and from Asia

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Netflix plans to expand its Asian offerings to subscribers around the world by tapping more creators in the region, including "Snowpiercer" director Bong Joon-ho, its chief said Thursday.

CEO Reed Hastings said the U.S. streaming service company is looking at many projects throughout Asia, including original series by Asian creators, following its investment in the South Korean filmmaker's new movie "Okja."

In the same month, Indonesian state telecommunications company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia blocked the internet video service because it lacked a permit to operate in the Southeast Asian country.

"China is part of a very important business model for K-drama, sometimes realizing even more revenues for the K-drama in China than realizing in Korea today," Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, said, referring Korean drama series.

The Korean drama series about a romance between a surgeon and an army officer in a war-torn country was a blockbuster hit this spring in China, where it was launched simultaneously with South Korea.

Netflix officials believe that it is doing a much better job than Hollywood where the racial diversity issues, from casting white actors for Asian roles and the lack of diversity at the Oscars, have generated scandals.