[Asia Economy Reporter Seol Seulgina] Content Wave, the operator of the online video service (OTT) Wave, recommended four works to enjoy during the Lunar New Year holiday: the popular drama 'Penthouse Season 1', 'Love Scene Number#', the variety show 'About Time', and the performance series 'To Beethoven' by pianist Lim Donghyuk.
◆Domestic Drama ‘Penthouse Season 1’
The drama Penthouse, which depicts the war taking place in the number one area for housing prices and education, will release its second season immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday ends. Wave recommended binge-watching Penthouse during this holiday period not only for those who have not yet seen it but also for those eagerly awaiting Season 2.
Penthouse is the comeback work of writer Kim Soon-ok, who made a strong impression with previous works such as 'Temptation of Wife', 'Come! Jang Bo-ri', 'Sister Is Alive', and 'The Last Empress', and it attracted intense interest even before its release. The outstanding performances of actors such as Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Um Ki-joon, Shin Eun-kyung, and Bong Tae-gyu, whose names alone raise expectations, contributed to its success in both ratings and popularity.
The fierce conflicts among various characters striving to reach the top driven by endless desires made the story more engaging as the episodes progressed. Penthouse, which launched a huge hit, also set a record for the highest viewing time in the second half of 2020 on the Wave chart, demonstrating its remarkable success.
Penthouse ended Season 1 with a shocking twist revealing that Joo Dan-tae (Um Ki-joon) was the culprit who killed Shim Soo-ryun (Lee Ji-ah), heightening interest in Season 2. The teaser and script reading for Season 2 have been released, continuing the excitement. How about targeting this holiday as an opportunity for a binge-watch?
◆Original Omnibus Drama ‘Love Scene Number#’
Wave also included the original omnibus drama Love Scene Number# as a recommended work for the Lunar New Year holiday. It is perfect for those who find long dramas burdensome but want to quickly finish one episode during this holiday.
Love Scene Number# is an 8-episode omnibus melodrama realistically portraying episodes that anyone from their 20s to 40s might have pondered at least once. The story unfolds around female protagonists at life’s turning points at ages 23, 29, 35, and 42. It is praised for stimulating curiosity with new stories told through multiple independent short stories centered on one theme, leaving no room for boredom.
Kim Bo-ra, who rose to stardom through various acting roles such as ‘SF8’ and ‘Sky Castle’, plays Do-ah, a 23-year-old psychology student, portraying ‘polyamory’ (multiple-partner relationships) that fulfills the conditions of a ‘perfect romance’ with three men of different charms. Actress Shim Eun-woo, who established herself as a distinctive actress last year through ‘The World of the Married’, plays Ha-ram, a 29-year-old elementary school teacher who runs away on her wedding day, caught in internal conflict in ‘Marriage Blue’.
Actress Ryu Hwa-young passionately portrays Ban-ya, a 35-year-old who experiences confusion as a false love started for success turns into true love. Actress Park Jin-hee, loved for her solid acting skills and diverse filmography, deeply expresses the inner turmoil of Cheong-gyeong, a furniture designer living a satisfying life but whose daily life collapses in an instant due to sudden health issues and her husband’s mental affair. Additionally, the seasoned actress Kim Young-ah adds a flavorful touch playing the novelist Ji-sung, who appears across four episodes.
◆Korea’s First Time Auction Variety Show ‘About Time’
If you are looking for a warm variety show to brighten up the lively atmosphere of a living room where grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and young nephews gather and chat, Wave’s original About Time is perfect.
Five top guests from various fields crossing gender, age, and occupation?idol Yunho Yunho, League of Legends World Championship legend Faker, skating queen Lee Sang-hwa, star lecturer Kim Mi-kyung, and the long-time host of National Singing Contest Song Hae?met with Wave.
About Time is Korea’s first variety show that auctions time, led by national MC Kang Ho-dong, comedian Lee Soo-geun, and singer Shin Dong. After recruiting many bidders with special stories and connections, the guests’ time is auctioned live on site. The final winning bidder gets the opportunity to spend a total of 100 minutes with the guest. All winning bids are fully donated to places chosen by the special guests, and the final winner spends a special meeting time with the guest in a ‘Time Room’ arranged according to the amount of time won.
Composed of 10 episodes, ‘About Time’ became a hot topic with each episode airing, moving viewers to tears with the special guests and the bidders’ diverse stories. Moreover, the heartfelt stories revealed right after the broadcast have been praised for creating ‘positive influence’ across various sectors.
◆Pianist Lim Donghyuk Recital 'To Beethoven' Performance Series
If you worry about going out to enjoy cultural activities, and have already watched all the backlog of dramas and movies making it hard to find fun at home, how about bringing cultural life into your living room to comfort your weary daily life from the COVID-19 blues this Lunar New Year?
Wave released the pianist Lim Donghyuk recital 'To Beethoven', held last November as a live performance commemorating Beethoven’s 250th birthday. 'To Beethoven' is the second performance series of ‘On:Classic’, co-produced by Wave, SK Telecom, and the performance planning company Credia. Using 5GX multi-view technology, viewers can enjoy rich sound from various perspectives such as the performer’s facial expressions, finger movements, the concert hall panorama, and the choir section view.
This performance attracted classical music fans’ expectations by including Beethoven’s 14th Sonata ‘Moonlight’, one of the most beloved sonatas, the highlight of Beethoven’s middle period sonatas, the 23rd ‘Appassionata’, and the lyrically beautiful late Sonata No. 30.
Also featured are Schumann’s ‘Kinderszenen op.15’, Tchaikovsky’s ‘October’ from ‘The Seasons’ performed as an encore, and Scriabin’s Etude ‘Op.8 No.12’. Wave monthly subscribers can enjoy the performance without additional cost, and free users can watch multi-view clip videos in the Wave mobile 5GX menu.
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