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A crew shooting a TV drama abroad
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Korean writers and Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese casts: the future of Asian TV?
South Korean TV production companies have successfully entered into markets in China and Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam and Thailand, through the influence of the "hallyu," or the wave of popularity surrounding Korean culture. Domestic TV production firms used to sell the "finished product" to other nations after filming in South Korea, but now the companies are traveling to other countries to shoot TV dramas and other shows catered especially to viewers in that nation. Independent production company DHB Media entered the Thai market with its entertainment show "Muya Muya,'' shot in Thailand. The show has been airing through the Thai state-run BB-TV since March, and as of October, it recorded the highest viewer rating among programs being shown in the same time slot. Muya Muya is written by Korean writers, producers and other staff, with Thai actors. In addition, Kim Do-hyeong, head of DHB Media, said that he has discussed making a 20-part drama with BB-TV in Thailand.Hopens, an independent production company founded by Yun Sang-seop, a former producer for Korean TV station SBS, established the TVM company with a Vietnamese investor in August. Hopens is going to expand the company's infrastructure, with plans to build a television studio. TVM plans to shoot a Vietnamese version of the popular Korean TV drama, "Love and Ambition," using Vietnamese actors and actresses. There are Korean production studios in China, as well. E&B Stars made a drama there called "July Morning'' and starring Korean star Cha In-pyo. The drama aired last year through China's regional broadcasters Shanghai TV and Beijing TV. E&B received Korean government cultural subsides to promote itself in October, as the firm features a "specialized production system and environment." It plans to remake "Paldogangsan'' (Eight Provinces), which enjoyed high popularity in Korea in the 1970s, with shooting to begin in December. It is estimated that since last year, a total of 10 Korean studios have explored foreign markets in order to produce TV programs in Thailand, Vietnam, and China. These companies have turned their eyes abroad because competition has become fiercer in South Korea, with the domestic TV production market being reorganized around major studios. Regarding this, Lee Tae-hyeong, head of E&B Stars, said that the production structure created by the broadcasters and the high pay required for actors and actresses have driven producers out of the nation. More and more production companies are expected to join other Asian markets, riding the worldwide wave of popularity of Korean pop songs and dramas. E&B Stars is going to make a drama in Vietnam next year, as well as its planned show in China. Kim Tae-won, a high-ranking official of Olive Nine, the nation's leading production studio, said that many independent studios would be shooting TV programs in foreign nations such as Vietnam and China next year. "Major companies have also promoted on-location and joint productions" in other countries, added Kim. Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
