The Smile Clinic is becoming a standalone sitcom on Coupang Play, with a December 3 premiere confirmed in the streamer’s November 2 announcement. New instalments will arrive on Thursdays in South Korea.
The series grows out of the recurring sketch featured in SNL Korea’s eighth season. It follows the staff of a refurbished Gangnam dermatology clinic, using the tensions between coordinators, nurses and the director as the basis for its workplace comedy.
Deadline reports that the order comprises ten half-hour episodes. Lee Su-ji, Kim Won-hun, Gong Min-jeung, Kim Kyu-won and Ji Ye-eun return, while CP Entertainment produces the series.
The broadcaster has also released a short teaser featuring Kyu-won responding to requests for a sitcom adaptation. Coupang’s announcement names Ahn Hye-jin as director and Yoo Min-jin as writer.
Deadline describes the project as the first such spin-off from an international version of Saturday Night Live. That distinction concerns a sketch becoming its own series, rather than the existence of international SNL editions. The confirmed launch platform is Coupang Play; the announcement does not establish a worldwide streaming release.
Profile photograph: Ji Ye-eun by Republic of Korea, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Image used as supplied.
