NBCUniversal’s “Saturday Night Live” adaptation for Korean streamer Coupang Play returns year after year with “one and only mission: comedy at its finest”, says production company CP Entertainment. With no one and nothing off-limits and no filter, this satirical comedy drives attention to the hottest issues every week. ContentAsia Awards’ Juries over the years have agreed, giving the show Gold for Best Comedy Programme Made in Asia in 2023, 2024 and 2025. We talked to Coupang Play’s head of content business, Charlie Moon, about the long-running adaptation.

How has the streaming environment changed editorial judgement from season one on tvN cable? 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 allowed us to cater specifically to subscribers and a loyal fandom who truly understand and appreciate the unique colour 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.

You talk about the impact of viewer feedback... 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 melding those insights into our satire.

What’s the most common question hosts ask you before they agree to participate? The question I hear most frequently from potential hosts 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.

Season 6 seemed to test boundaries in a new way. What did you learn, and if you were to give yourself any advice about controversial moments, what would you say? We now make a conscious effort not to present a one-sided narrative; instead, we aim to showcase multiple perspectives. By revealing that everyone ultimately has their own underlying reasons and circumstances, I believe our show is shifting toward a direction that carries a more meaningful message. At the end of the day, an editorial eye that seeks to understand human nature is what generates deeper, more resonant laughter and creates comedy with true longevity.

What temptation is there to “repeat” what worked? Of course, there is always a strong temptation to repeat a comedic formula once it has proven successful. However, the moment comedy becomes repetitive, it ages incredibly fast. The reason “SNL Korea” has managed to sustain long-term love, not just from older demographics but also from younger generations including Gen Z viewers, is that we actively strive to create new cultural waves rather than simply riding existing ones. As a result, our starting point has shifted: instead of asking, “How can we utilise this week’s host?”, we first ask, “What societal story should we talk about this week?” and then place the host into that specific context. Making that structural pivot is what keeps the show breathing and dynamic.

What would you say is the one structural or editorial decision you made on SNL Korea that you would tell producers looking at comedy formats to take very seriously? The most critical factor for a show’s longevity is the ability to constantly view and express things through a youthful lens. After transitioning to Coupang Play, we strategically cut our episode count in half – limiting each season to around 10 episodes – so that we could hyper-focus on quality and execution. Editorially, we gave significant creative authority to younger producers and writers, while our experienced veterans stepped back to support them, allowing unique and fresh perspectives to take centre stage. A show avoids growing stale only when youthful sensibility and seasoned expertise move forward hand-in-hand. Ultimately, comedy can only survive long-term when it goes beyond simple laughter and serves as a bridge for understanding differing perspectives. That is exactly what “SNL Korea” aims to achieve by giving a voice to diverse stories and viewpoints.

▶ Published in ContentAsia's August 2026 Magazine