‘Single’s Inferno’s Park Min-Kyu Set for Microdrama ‘One Year Love’

EXCLUSIVE: Park Min-Kyu, star of Netflix reality show Single’s Inferno, is making his acting debut in FlareFlow microdrama One Year Love.

He will appear opposite Nicole Lee (Amoeba) and Regina Tan in the Singapore-filmed series, which debuts on the COL International-owned vertical video app on April 9. TSL Group is the producer.

The series is billed as a “high-stakes romance built on a simple lie,” in which A Korean expat enters a marriage of convenience with a Singaporean workaholic, and just as the arrangement begins to feel real, the return of his former partner threatens to unravel everything.

“I believe the growth potential for microdramas is limitless,” Park told Deadline. “People are already used to short videos on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube Shorts, and microdramas are exactly what can meet that demand. As a result, I think the market will expand significantly.”

The microdrama industry, already worth billions in China and the U.S., has been expanding significantly around the world, with countries across Asia looking to reduce the dependancy on shows from those markets and become key players in the next generation of apps, content and acting talent.

One Year Love is notable as a mix of regional talent and storytelling geared towards the international market. FlareFlow and its Singapore-based parent, COL, have been at the forefront of cross-border vertical video production. Bryan Choo, CEO at Singapore’s TSL, is fully financing the series.

For Park, the production marked a sharp contrast to his previous experience in unscripted TV, in which he competed in Season 3 of Netflix’s South Korean dating show Single’s Inferno. “When it comes to something like Netflix, we filmed almost 24 hours a day over about nine days straight,” he said. “In contrast, with the microdrama, the schedule allowed me to manage my energy better, which I appreciated.”

The shoot represented South Korean star Park’s first acting role, first overseas production, and first time performing in English.

“I had a lot to learn, but I gave it my all,” he said. “Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience, and I was happy because my colleagues supported me a lot.”

He added that the Singapore shoot could open the door to more international work. “I’d love to have more filming experiences abroad, not just in Korea.”

FlareFlow has emerged as one of the main players in vertical video. The app has 33 million registered users and is available in more than 200 countries. It has released around 5,200 series to date, with its top-performing title, Oops I Married My Bestie’s Brother, surpassing 193 million views and generating over $15M in in-app revenue. China-listed COL has also been striking international distribution agreements, as the microdrama market continues to mature and seek more revneue streams.

“Global demand for microdrama is growing, but the next wave will be driven by strong regional voices,” said Timothy Oh, General Manager of COL Group International. “Our focus is on backing local storytelling and giving creators the confidence to compete on a global stage. One Year Love is a clear example of that, a Singapore-led story built for international audiences.”