Drama Stage (Korean: 드라마 스테이지; RR: Deurama Seuteiji) is a South Korean weekly television program that features ten one-act dramas, which is similar to KBS2's Drama Special. The short plays were created by writers selected from the O'PEN Drama Storyteller Exhibition.[a] O'PEN writers were recruited through an open call between January and March 2017. A total of 3,700 aspiring writers applied for the competition with scripts for dramas or films during the contest period of about two months. Dozen of various drama and film industry officials judged the scripts in two to three rounds. The jury finally selected 35 new writers, including 20 new drama writers and 15 new movie writers.[2] Held by CJ E&M, these were adapted as one-act dramas produced by the former's subsidiary Studio Dragon in partnership with other companies. It aired on tvN every Saturday at midnight.[3][4]
On April 15 2022, it was announced by tvN that with season 5 the name of Drama Stage would be changed to 'O'PENing'. The 'Drama Stage', aired only one-act plays, but 'O'PENing' would broadcast two series and eight one-act episodes.[5]
^ O'PEN is CJ E&M's collaboration with its drama production subsidiaries Studio Dragon and CJ Cultural Foundation to provide an open creative space and opportunity for those who dream of becoming a pen (a writer): television and film scriptwriters. This is a creative development and debut support project that supports the entire process from script planning and development, video production, organization and business matching. CJ E&M boosts investment ₩13 billion (season 1) (approx. US$18 million) to grow drama and movie writers.[1]
^금, 빛나 (April 18, 2017). "[현장] "우리의 목표는 신인작가 발굴"…오펜, 기회의 벽을 낮추다" [On-site; "Our goal is to discover new artists"… O'PEN lowers the wall of opportunity]. www.sedaily.com (in Korean). Sedaily. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
^Park Ah-reum (April 15, 2022). "'드라마 스테이지→오프닝' 새 출발 "류현경→한선화 출격"[공식]" ['Drama Stage → Opening' New Start "Ryu Hyun-kyung → Han Seon-hwa Sortie" [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
