Global Success of 'Trauma Center' Boosts Interest in Lead Actor and His Agency

The Netflix series '중증외상센터' (Trauma Center) is making waves globally, drawing significant attention to its lead actor, Ju Ji-hoon, and his agency, Blitzway. As a major shareholder in Blitzway, Ju Ji-hoon's success in the series directly impacts the value of his shares.

On February 1, the Korea Exchange reported that Blitzway's stock surged by 25% early in the trading session, reaching 2,000 KRW. Although it closed at 1,612 KRW, marking a modest increase of 0.75% from the previous day, trading volume skyrocketed, indicating strong investor interest.

Blitzway is home to top stars like Ju Ji-hoon, Chun Woo-hee, Jung Ryeo-won, Go Doo-shim, and Park Ha-sun. The global success of 'Trauma Center' has led to a surge in buying activity for the agency's stocks.

This isn't the first time Ju Ji-hoon's projects have influenced Blitzway's stock performance; the drama '사랑은 외나무다리에서' (Love is a One-Way Bridge) also saw a significant stock increase last year, thanks to its production by Blitzway's subsidiary, Blitzway Production.

According to the OTT ranking analysis site FlixPatrol, 'Trauma Center' climbed to second place in the global TV show category as of January 29, surpassing '오징어 게임' (Squid Game). It debuted at number one on Netflix Korea and maintained that position for six consecutive days. The series has topped charts in 19 countries, including Bangladesh, Chile, Mexico, Singapore, and Taiwan, showcasing its explosive popularity.

The show's buzz is undeniable. In the fourth week of January, Good Data Corporation's TV-OTT drama popularity survey ranked 'Trauma Center' third, with Ju Ji-hoon and co-star Choo Young-woo placing seventh and eighth, respectively.

The original web novel's author, Lee Nak-jun, has also expressed excitement for future seasons, stating, "The work was created with seasons 2 and 3 in mind, and I have already received parts of the season 2 script."

Ju Ji-hoon holds a 5.73% stake in Blitzway, which, as of the end of the third quarter of 2023, is valued at approximately 4.6 billion KRW based on the company's market capitalization of around 80.4 billion KRW. After investing about 400 million KRW when establishing H&D Entertainment in 2020, he gained significant profits through the merger with Blitzway, which has now exceeded 5 billion KRW.

As the success of 'Trauma Center' continues, the potential for further increases in Blitzway's stock price remains high, drawing attention to how far this global phenomenon will go.