NBCUniversal’s “Saturday Night Live” adaptation for Korean streaming platform Coupang Play returns with its “one and only mission: comedy at its finest”, says Seoul-based production company CP Entertainment. With no one and nothing off-limits and absolutely no filter, this satirical comedy drives attention to the hottest issues every week. ContentAsia’s Jury agreed, giving the show Gold for Best Comedy Programme Made in Asia in 2023 (SNL Season 3), 2024 (SNL Season 4) and 2025 (SNL Seasons 5 & 6). We talked to Coupang Play’s head of content business, Charlie Moon, about the long-running show. 

How has the streaming environment changed your editorial judgement from season one on tvN cable to the latest seasons? When we were on a cable channel, we were broadcasting to a broad, unspecified mass audience, meaning we had to constantly navigate a wide spectrum of viewer reactions. Transitioning to Coupang Play, however, allowed us to cater specifically to subscribers and a loyal fandom who truly understand and appreciate the unique color of “SNL Korea”. This shift has enabled us to take much bolder creative risks.
In terms of production, while we maintained the live-show format as our core framework, switching to a pre-recorded system allowed us to invest significantly more time in post-production, fine-tuning the editing and polishing the cast’s acting nuances. This process has dramatically elevated both the entertainment value and the overall quality of the show. Moreover, the online streaming environment offers substantially more freedom in terms of satire and censorship, which has empowered us to deliver much sharper social and political commentary.

“Korea Times” said after season 5 that SNL was one of the property’s most successful seasons. Was there anything you were nervous about before the show aired? During our first season on Coupang Play, public reaction was initially divided when crew member Joo Hyun-young first introduced her ‘Intern Reporter’ character. However, as a production team, we were determined to highlight the inherent comedy that stems from generational clashes. We put a lot of effort into building a strong narrative arc for her character’s growth, which eventually led to real-life interviews with prominent politicians, turning the character into a massive crowd favorite.
Receiving continuous viewer feedback over the seasons has also evolved our perspective on comedy. In the past, there was a tendency to push boundaries with the mindset of “this is acceptable as long as it’s funny”. Today, our approach is focused on constantly researching and studying the exact “itch” the public wants scratched, and seamlessly melting those insights into our satire.

What’s the most common question hosts ask you before they agree to participate? The question I hear most is, “How far do I need to go?” SNL Korea requires hosts to completely strip away their pre-existing public image and step wildly out of their comfort zone, which naturally comes with a lot of pressure. To ease this, we give them immense creative freedom – as long as the core meaning of the scene is conveyed, they don’t have to stick strictly to the script and are encouraged to deliver lines their own way.

Adapted from the original version of this article, published on ContentAsia’s dedicated Awards platform on 15 June 2026. Access ContentAsia Awards Focus here