The rights to the original Korean comic behind the hit Netflix series "Hellbound" have been sold to 11 countries. (Munhakdongne)

By Yoon Hee Young 

The rights to the original Korean comic behind the hit Netflix series "Hellbound" have been sold to 11 countries.

The comic's publisher Munhakdongne Publishing Group on Nov. 24 said the rights were sold to the U.S., Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Taiwan, Hungary, Thailand, Brazil and Russia.

Dark Horse Comics, a leading U.S. producer of graphic novels responsible for the original works "Hellboy" and "Sin City" and the licensed publisher of "Star Wars" and "Avatar," is in charge of publication of "Hellbound" in English-speaking regions.

In Japan, Futabasha, publisher of the megahit cartoon "Crayon Shin-chan," bought the rights to "Hellbound" and recently published the Japanese edition.

A Munhakdongne source said, "'Hellbound,' which has reached 'genius level' according to director Bong Joon-ho, was selected by Netflix before the series even concluded. It's gained extraordinary attention early on from publishers worldwide."

"After fierce competition, each country's leading publisher paid a high contract fee for the publishing rights."

The original comic is a collaboration between the series' director Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok, a cartoonist most famous for "Gimlet." "Hellbound" is about people condemned to hell by angels of death who appear unexpectedly.

The Netflix drama based on the comic is a worldwide hit. Directed and written by Yeon, the series has a cast featuring top actors Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo and Park Jung-min.

hyyoon@korea.kr