Entertainment Programs Making Way for HallyuBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter ``Hallyu,'' the Korean wave, has been mainly driven by dramas. However, with worries that the local drama industry has met its limit in bringing creative and interesting content, many are looking elsewhere for the next big hit. Experts and producers alike say they need more variety, and the new gateway to hallyu is entertainment programs. Whereas dramas are still considered golden exports, entertainment programs are also getting a push, mainly due to the economic recession and the need for new and creative content. According to the Korea Broadcasting Institute, exports increased only by 10.8 percent in 2008, a big fall from the average growth of 37.8 percent in the previous eight years. The report analyzed that the increase was basically due to DVD and video demands from Koreans living overseas, format sales and drama exports among cable and independent production companies. Whether networks and producers like it or not, the numbers are falling, and this means that they must have something else up their sleeve before the last straw.Mar 3, 2009
Cool Korean Products at MoMA Store in NYBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Fingerprint silver cufflinks, eco-friendly bags made from old Korean banners, bird and cloud salt and pepper shakers, and ice cream-shaped earrings and are just some of the quirky and cool Korean-designed products attracting attention at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) SoHo design store in New York City. Around 75 lifestyle products created by Korean designers are currently being sold not just in New York but also MoMA online shops in the United States, Japan and Korea, as part of the ``Destination: Seoul'' collection. The MoMA's on-going ``Destination: Design'' product collection showcases emerging designers and design trends from different countries twice a year. Previous collections featured Japanese, Finnish and German design, but this spring, it is Korea's turn to be in the spotlight. MoMA retail executives said Korean designed products seemed like an ideal choice for the product collection for spring, especially since ``color and nature are important in Korean culture and you can see that expressed in many of the products.Mar 3, 2009
`Drum Brings Tale of Lost KingdomBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korea has already seen numerous historical television dramas of prosperous kingdoms and memorable heroes and heroines, and SBS is bringing another, but with a slightly different background. The new 50-episode series ``The Drum'' (working title) is based on the folk tale ``Prince Ho-dong and the Princess of Nakrang,'' which touches the story of the failed Nakrang Kingdom (1 B.C. - A.D. 32) for the first time in 45 years. According to the tale, there was a famous drum called the ``jamyeonggo,'' literally ``the drum that beats by itself,'' that would beat itself whenever enemies would invade its kingdom. The drama, however, gives a new twist in that the drum is in fact a person, the hidden sister of the Nakrang Kingdom's princess. ``It's a historical drama, but something that we are not familiar with. (Nakrang) is different from the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668). Instead of focusing on the historical facts and the verified translations of our past, we filled the drama with our imagination, as no one really knows what happened,'' Lee Mar 3, 2009
KoreaToday Unexpected Responses Surprise MeBy Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter Seo Na-rae, the creator of ``Narm's Life,'' had a bitter experience while serializing her Webtoon on Naver. One day, she heard a funny story from her mother and ran one episode based on what she heard. She expected some giggles and appraisals from viewers, but what she got was rather different from her expectations. ``I learned from Internet users that what my mom and I heard was a famous anecdote from a radio program. It became the talk of the town a long time ago,'' she said in an interview with The Korea Times. She recalled receiving some criticism via posted comments that she had just rehashed a famous story. Seo, who posted the series for more than two years, said unexpectedness is considered a charm of Webtoons. ``I thought I could forecast readers' response: This would be funny or people would laugh here. But totally unexpected factors often produce good responses,'' she added. In one episode, she changed the hairdo of Narm, the persona of the artist herself, to make it look more feminine. Many viewers enjoyed tFeb 25, 2009
KoreaToday Teacher Shin Sketches Real School LifeBy Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter Clark Kent is a mild-mannered reporter for a newspaper company, but when he hears scream for help, he changes into powerful ``superman.'' Shin Eui-cheol in black-rimmed glasses is an ordinary arts teacher in a middle school in Gyeonggi Province during the day but after school, he turns into a popular Webtoon creator who draws on his experiences with boisterous kids. He serializes ``Schoolholic'' every Tuesday on Naver and his source of inspiration is, of course, school life. ``Some of my students tell me they have fun with my comics but some pranksters say it's boring. Some ask me to have them appear in an episode,'' he said in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times. He picked this kind of direct, immediate response to his series off-line, and numerous comments on-line as the charm of Webtoons. Scrolling down a Web page, he said, also makes on-line comics more attractive. Take an example of his 48th episode in which Shin's students call him to tell his first love story. He introduces the blackmail-style comment he saFeb 25, 2009
KoreaToday Webtoon Makes Readers GiggleBy Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter Bae Soo-jin, a 31-year-old office worker in Seoul, hunches in front of the computer every Monday and Thursday when her favorite serial comic ``The Moss,'' or ``Ikki'' in Korean, is published on the Internet. She flips through Web pages to check for updates but sometimes feels disappointed when a new episode is posted later than expected. ``I cannot wait to see the update and I think I am even enjoying this moment of waiting,'' she confesses. Bae is not the only one who is eagerly looking forward to seeing comics, called Webtoons here, drawn and colored by a graphics tablet and a pen-like drawing apparatus, not pencils and crayons. Thousands of Webtoons fanatics even post a range of comments on why a new episode has yet to pop up, which scene they like the most or what mistakes or errors are shown. Of course, they do not forget to give pep talks to the artists who must be stressed out to meet a once- or twice-a-week deadline. Webtoons are getting popular here ― based on colorful characters and themes ― and are getting recorFeb 25, 2009
BBC Worldwide Hopes to Get Closer by LocalizingBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Numerous programs, both local and global, greet viewers everyday, but few may know that the programs are chosen with consideration and, most importantly, by understanding the particular television market. According to Monty Ghai, the director of distribution and development for BBC Worldwide in East Asia, localization is one of the key factors in strategies for bringing informative and entertainment programs from BBC to Korean households. ``For every country we are working on, we are localizing our (shows). They are very much programs (chosen) for that particular market place and by looking at our ratings, they are doing extremely well,'' Ghai said during an interview with The Korea Times at the BBC Worldwide Hong Kong branch. ``We won't get there without localizing, and so in Asia we are looking at each market place differently,'' he added. Most Asian markets are different in terms of economy, culture and especially preferences in television programs, and so the BBC is foremost working on understanding local markets, and perhaps furtFeb 24, 2009
Stars Look to Revive Hallyu in JapanBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Some may say that hallyu, or the Korean wave, is over, but according to some celebrities' plans, the wave is just waiting for the perfect time to hit harder. Singers and actors alike are moving their radars to Japan, with new albums, fan meetings and new dramas, a perfect way to reinvigorate the star power of local celebrities. Singers Shin Seung-hun and R&B group SG Wannabe will release new albums in Japan this March. Shin, who proved his ballad power in Japan with his first album four years ago, returned to the local ballad scene last year, releasing a local album for the first time in two years. Recently announcing a concert tour in cities like Osaka and Tokyo starting in April, the 40-year-old singer's second album will be released March 25 and bring fans his new acoustic sounds. SG Wannabe, consisting of Kim Jin-ho, Kim Yong-jun and Lee Suk-hun, will release its fifth album, ``Rainbow,'' in Japan March 11. Making its Japanese debut last year, the group recorded a total of 12 songs, all in Japanese. SG Wannabe will also hold its firsFeb 24, 2009
Top Gear Presents Car EntertainmentBy Han Sang-hee Korea Times Correspondent HONG KONG ― BBC's hit program ``Top Gear'' launched the final leg of its live show tour in Hong Kong, showing that with the right content and cool cars, anything can be made into thrilling entertainment. Hosted by two star hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and Hong Kong's favorite racing driver, Marchy Lee, the Top Gear Live venue, the 3000-seat Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, was packed with fans waiting for more than the British television program. And presumably, they went home happy and entertained. ``Welcome to Top Gear Live,'' started Clarkson, appearing in a paisley shirt and jeans, walking out from a Lamborghini, along with Hammond in a Porsche and Lee in a Maserati. Famous for his witty and cutting remarks, Clarkson managed to bring his humor right from the program and onto the large stage, along with fellow host Hammond. ``He's even smaller than you!,'' Clarkson said as Lee walked toward Hammond, drawing laughter from the audience. Lee was a bit overshadowed by the two hosts, but carried ouFeb 22, 2009
Male Singers Returning to K-Pop SceneBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The K-pop scene is currently dominated by female stars like Son Dam-bi, Baek Ji-young and girl groups Kara and Girls' Generation, but male singers are gearing up for a fruitful year ahead. Duo Fly to the Sky released its new album, ``Decennium,'' and will start appearing on music programs and shows together for the first time after two years of solo acts. The group celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and members Brian and Hwan-hee have prepared a special anniversary album. Their number ``Go Away You'' made headlines for being created with the help of R&B group Brown Eyed Soul member Jung Yup and Grammy Award-winning composer Gary Hasse. The group released the songFeb 17, 2009