OTT Tving Partners with Lee Hyori for 'Seoul Check-in'
Pilot Success Leads to Regular Programming
"Commuting to Shared Office Near Hongdae"
"Feeling the Changes in the Content Market"
"Preparing Global Content Around Autumn"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "Since leaving MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation), I have never once regretted it. I am confident that I have learned and grown more in the past six months than in the 20 years I spent in terrestrial broadcasting."
Kim Tae-ho PD, who crossed the boundaries of terrestrial broadcasting to dive headfirst into the rapidly changing content market and diversifying platforms like a moth to a flame, said this during a virtual press conference on the 6th.
Kim PD joined MBC in January 2001 and directed variety programs such as 'Infinite Challenge' and 'Hangout with Yoo' for 20 years. He announced his resignation last September and officially left the company on January 17.
Six months have passed since he declared his intention to resign and stepped away from his work. During that time, the variety show 'Seoul Check-in,' which was introduced as a pilot on the online video streaming service (OTT) TVING, received enthusiastic responses and was scheduled as a regular program.
Kim PD greeted, "I am currently preparing quietly in a small shared office near Hongdae Entrance."
"One change since working at an OTT after resigning is that I can wake up on Sunday mornings without receiving rating texts. I used to get texts at 7 a.m. every Sunday. I’m not ignoring the program’s performance and evaluation, but we had to air a show every week. There were contents I confidently presented, but sometimes the lack of preparation showed in the content. Now, I’m satisfied that I don’t have to deal with that anymore."
Feeling the changes in the platform environment, Kim PD said, "At terrestrial broadcasters, we presented content to the general public, but now we create content targeting specific audiences based on clear target data. It’s become sharper, you could say. The proportion of stories I want to tell and the autonomy in genres have increased."
"Terrestrial, online, and OTT content all take up the precious time of viewers. The essence is the same, but I think OTT is more comfortable in that creators can make various types of content they want."
He also shared candid stories. Kim PD cited changes in the content market as the reason for his decision to resign. He said, "Although I loved MBC, I chose to part ways because I felt the changes in viewers and the market."
"There were temptations from outside from time to time, but those temptations weren’t sweet back then. Last year, I realized the content market was changing drastically, and I thought I would regret it later if I didn’t experience that change fully, so I made my choice."
He also expressed a strong sense of responsibility as a director in the changing market. Kim Tae-ho PD said, "I am one of the PDs who have been loved and benefited from the programs. I feel sorry that younger directors with more talent and hard work don’t get opportunities. I am thinking about how I can help."
"While I will remain faithful to my role as a director, I am spending a lot of time thinking about what I can do for the juniors. I will work hard to create an era where creators on OTT platforms can clearly show their colors and play impressively," he said.
Regarding the atmosphere where various contents are being created amid the global hot interest in K-content such as movies and dramas, Kim PD emphasized, "How about removing the prefix 'K' from K-content, K-culture, and so on?" He said, "It feels like a term that belittles our content."
He added, "There are many incredible storytellers in our country. Watching our works win awards at American award ceremonies has become a cultural norm. With music and drama genres achieving great success in the global market, I feel proud as a variety show director that the non-scripted genre of variety shows is now the right time to attract global viewers."
"Recently, I have been constantly discussing with fellow PDs about 'what will be globally accepted.' I am happy that the market change itself becomes a driving force for the growth of variety content."
Now it’s K-variety’s turn. Kim Tae-ho PD revealed that he is considering content targeting the global market around autumn. He pointed out, "The difficulty of variety shows compared to other genres is that they require an understanding of culture."
"The analysis that variety shows that can be dubbed are widely watched overseas was impressive. If we create content strategically while increasing accessibility, wouldn’t good results come out? I think we are at the stage of learning what content will be globally accepted through the data accumulated by presenting variety content in the OTT market so far."
TVING original 'Seoul Check-in' depicts the time singer Lee Hyori, who has lived in Jeju for nine years, spends after finishing her schedule in Seoul. Following the pilot on January 29, the regular series will be released on the 8th. Kim PD laughed, saying, "Rather than us choosing Lee Hyori, Lee Hyori chose us."
Kim Tae-ho PD said, "Lee Hyori herself is content," adding, "She is interesting even in moments when she doesn’t speak. I think that’s Lee Hyori’s power."
He said, "Whenever Lee Hyori comes up to Seoul for personal schedules, I accompany her. Seoul was the hottest place, but eight years have passed since she moved to Jeju. We are trying to capture the gap between Seoul and Lee Hyori in a reality format without interference."
"I want to give empathy that I am not alone and that I am not the only one feeling lonely. People living in Seoul and those visiting Seoul share common feelings. I hope 'Seoul Check-in' will gain empathy and be a small comfort."
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