From May 18 to May 20, “2022 K-Format Showcase at LA Screening” and “Business Counseling” were held to enter the U.S. market for Korean broadcasting formats.

Currently, director Bong Joon-ho’s various works have recently been increasingly interested in Korean cultural contents from around the world due to Parasite and actress Yoon Yeo-jung’s Minari In the past, however, there were no various ways to approach it.

There were only ways to watch simple making videos or introductory videos on YouTube.

People were interested, but there were problems such as poor accessibility. American dramas were very accessible to people from various countries because there were many famous and various companies that started in the United States. Therefore, there were cases where people who were not interested were also exposed in various ways. However, interest in Korean cultural contents is increasing. One of them is a drama called pachinko which is served in the United States. OTT company made it and distributed it. Although it was made in the U.S., most of the actors are Korean, and Yoon Yeo-jung is also in the drama.

People have been covered by China and Japan as a country in Asia, attracting attention with content in countries where people were not familiar with.

All the more important is the actions and policies at this time. That’s why the Korea Creative Content Agency prepared this showcase.

This is not the first time this year. This year, offline events will be held three years after the pandemic.

There are already many successful contents after the Korea Creative Content Agency introduced them to the U.S. or overseas markets in the past and remade them in each country, especially MBC’s “King of Mask Singer.” It has already been a huge success in the United States, and very famous pop stars, actors, and athletes have come out to show various pleasures to viewers.

Also, the entertainment show “I can see your voice” of Mnet broadcasting station was very popular in Korea introduced abroad as a springboard for it

It has achieved great results in sales remakes in 18 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Russia, Belgium, Spain, Canada and Thailand, especially in Europe. The remake of “I Can See Your Voice” in the UK recorded a maximum viewing share of 28.1%.

Korea Creative Content Agency effectively introduced Korean broadcasting contents through online and offline support, such as collaborating with the U.S. Business Center located in LA to conduct an “online showcase” in advance and operating an “offline counseling booth” during the event.

In addition, the five companies that participated in the event achieved $2.5 million worth of consultation results related to entering North America and Latin America through more than 100 business consultations.

At the event, SBS drama “Stairway to Heaven” received particular attention from South American buyers, who signed a Spanish version remake contract with NBC Universal’s Telemundo, one of the largest Spanish channels in the United States, and will be broadcast throughout the United States and distributed worldwide.

MBC’s “King of Mask Singer,” which has already proven the power of K-Format around the world, has still received keen attention at the event. MBC said that it is currently planning a Bolivian version of the broadcast, and that it is also planning a global version in which Craig Plestis, the producer of the American version of The Masked Singer, and performers from various countries gather together to compete.

Furthermore, the KBS drama “People,” which was introduced to the U.S. market through the 2019 “K-Format Screening in US,” signed a remake contract with 20th Century Studios under the title “The Company You Keep,” drawing keen attention from industry officials. The film is highly anticipated, with director Jon M. Chu of “Crazy Rich Asian” and producer Lindsay Goffman participating in the production, while Milo Ventimiglia, the main character of the popular drama “This Is Us,” cast as the male lead.

Currently, Korea Creative Content Agency is not just helping exports to dramas, but also introducing them to foreign countries for various entertainment shows.

Korea Creative Content Agency One, who hosted this year’s event, said, “We were able to feel the great interest in Korean broadcasting formats again by hosting the LA screening event,” adding, “We hope that K-broadcasting formats will actively enter South America beyond the U.S. market, and follow-up support will be closely continued through the U.S. business center.”

SOPHIA KIM

Asia Journal 

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Lee Young, hereinafter referred to as “MSS”) announced that a Korean SME-College Alliance, with the cooperation of MSS, has joined the Hannover Messe 2022 in Germany for four days from May 30 to June 2 as a manufacturing-specialized virtual factory (hereinafter referred to as “the Metaverse Factory”).

The Hannover Messe is the world’s largest industrial fair and was first hosted in 1947. Around 6,500 businesses from 75 nations participated in this year’s event, which is hosted under the theme of “the Industrial Transformation.”

The Hannover Messe 2022, which was hosted offline in three years due to the pandemic, was held with great success, with a lot of people joining to get ideas about the latest digital technologies and trends.

The alliance was composed of Korean SMEs, such as digiforet, ABH, KEMP, and Hanyang University, centered on the KAIST Manufacturing AI Big Data Center.

The SMEs of the Alliance were the ones who participated in the MSS’s AI Consulting and Demonstration Project to develop an AI solution as providers and adopters of technologies. In this project, they have provided support for demonstration funds, datasets, and computing resources, which are the foundation for applying metaverse technology.

Based on this, the corporates and universities of the alliance could successfully build an intelligent metaverse system.

In the virtual environment of “the Manufacturing AI Metaverse Factory,” you can operate various functions connected to a real factory.

A large group of people joined “the Metaverse Factory” at the exhibition hall of the Hannover Messe, and they were able to tour a virtual plating factory by wearing augmented reality equipment.

They could personally run the plating process in the metaverse environment, which is connected with the real factory in South Korea, and try to optimize the operation of the plating bath based on the analysis of the manufacturing AI.

The AR, VR, and XR equipment and the metaverse solution could provide access to “the Metaverse Factory,” crossing any physical limitation.

The demonstration confirms the possibility of optimizing the operability of a factory and improving the quality of products by applying the virtual (metaverse) simulation tool in the manufacturing sector.

If you haven’t traveled to any of the beautiful, lush islands of Hawaii by now, you might want to consider booking a flight at your earliest convenience. Many people believe Hawaii to be a destination hot spot, and there’s no secret as to why that is. With a year-round climate that rarely budges below 70 degrees, more and more travelers truly believe Hawaii makes for the perfect getaway from their typical city life.

So what is there to do in Hawaii? Everyone has heard of the bountiful beaches and forestry on all of the different islands, but besides lounging on the beach and hiking, there are still plenty of activities for visitors to partake in. However, one of the most notable parts of Hawaiian culture is the delicious cuisine. Despite its distance from the mainland, Hawaii still offers food from many different cultures and delectable local meals that are special to the islands. Hawaiian residents highly recommend dishes such as poke, loco moco, pork hash, and saimin for many newcomers.

As for unique sight-seeing, the adventurous folks may find themselves wanting to explore the many caves and volcanoes that reside on the different islands. The Big Island has many volcanoes that are considered close to the natural wonders this world has to offer. Many native Hawaiians celebrate these volcanoes as they are tied to creation of new landscapes on the island. Visitors are recommended to explore the Crater Rim Drive in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; there, they can come across many scenic lookout points and go hiking.

While you’re in the Big Island, consider stopping by Mauna Kea Observatory at night to marvel at the Milky Way. Because many of the islands of Hawaii aren’t as densely populated as many major cities, natives and tourists alike have the luxury of seeing the night sky with much more clarity.

Waterfalls are also abundant across the different islands of Hawaii, but Wailua Falls in Kauai takes the cake for one of the most breathtaking sights of the entire state. Travelers can enjoy a hike to the twin falls and possibly see a rainbow once they reach the cascades.

The major activity to put on your list is ATV riding through Jurassic Valley Kualoa Ranch in Oahu. Thrillseekers may enjoy off-roading through the filming locations of big blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games. It truly is a great way to see what Hawaii has to offer in terms of greenery and seaside views.

With COVID cases across the globe seeing a positive downward trend, most of us have that itch to travel again.  Whether you want a vacation filled with rest and relaxation or in search of a good adventure, Hawaii is the place for all.

South Korea has recently started to loosen restrictions as a whole within its own borders, allowing its once-bustling nightlife to return back to normalcy and putting an end to business curfews. With this, many Korean residents feel more secure going abroad again and international travel has seen a surge beginning early April. One of the destinations on top of everyone’s list has been none other than Hawaii.

Asiana Airlines, a major South Korean international airline, resumed its routes to Hawaii starting April 3rd. According to KHON2, one of the first flights from Incheon to Hawaii made available since the start of the pandemic had an 80% occupancy rate. COVID-19 put a halt to many family vacations and honeymoons, and with the country beginning to return to normalcy, couples and families alike did not hesitate to start booking trips. In fact, as soon as South Korea lifted restrictions of self-isolating after returning from international travels, reservation rates tripled.

It is believed that many prospective travelers want to make up for lost time as they were unable to travel during the pandemic due to strict restraints put in place. With neighboring countries such as Japan and China still implementing stern travel laws, one of the more convenient options for Korean residents was to travel to Hawaii.

A representative from Hawaii Tourism Korea reported, ​​“We are seeing a rapid growth in the number of bookings for Hawai‘i . . . Following this change, Hawai‘i Tourism Korea will be carrying out active PR/Marketing activities this year putting Mālama Hawai‘i Campaign in the center to educate travelers on sustainable ways to experience Hawai‘i on a deeper level.”

The islands of Hawaii have always been top of mind when it comes to destination vacations for many South Koreans. With the climate of Korea being quite chilly for half the year, many residents prefer to flock to places where the weather remains relatively mild all year round. Save for the rain, Hawaii has always been known to have exceptional weather, with the average temperature rarely dropping below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Besides the weather, the atmosphere of Hawaii is also a major selling point. Many travelers have described the people of Hawaii as inviting and hospitable. Plus there are many different activities for all types of tourists to indulge in – shopping centers, unique restaurants, beaches, and scenic hikes, just to name a few.

While Hawaii has opened its doors to many eager travelers, it is also important to keep in mind that the islands are still home to its locals who only want their place of residence to be well-maintained by visitors. Organizations like Hawaii Tourism Korea have helped educate South Korean travelers about the island life as well as ensuring that they explore Hawaii safely.

JULIE KIM

Asia Journal 

Tongyeong, a coastal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, will set about its inaugural international art exhibition in March. As the first edition of the triennale – an Italian word that means ‘once every three years’ – the interdisciplinary art festival which will fetch artisans from various fields such as traditional crafts, literature, art, music, and performances. “Welcome to Tongyeong, an artistic and traditional city with historic artists including Yun Isang as a composer, Park Gyeongree as a novelist, and Chunsoo Kim as a poet.”, Kang Seokju, the mayor of Tongyeong, invited.

Under the overarching theme, “Tongyeong: islands, winds”, the Tongyeong Triennale 2022 will take place from March 18 to May 8 in the whole area of Tongyeong. The city whose three sides are surrounded by the sea consists of 570 islands. The entire city will be utilized as an exhibition and performance venue by connecting the inland and island. According to Kim Ji In, Director-General of Tongyeong Triennale Secretariat, the event is intended to bridge the traditional culture of Tongyeong, represented by the 12 gongbang (craftsmen’s workshops), with the contemporary arts. “By doing so, we hope to discover new historic and artistic value and interpretations through fresh perspectives,” the director explained.

It is also quite noteworthy in the perspective of urban regeneration because the exhibition will also make reuse of waste buildings, such as abandoned shipyards and cultivation facilities, instead of constructing new spaces for the exhibition.  “Since 2018, Tongyeong is reforming the city itself under the urban restoration project. The city shrinked due to the limited infrastructure expansion and a declining shipbuilding industry. I hope the restoration will be a milestone for the city,” Mayor Kang explained.

Tongyeong city itself is a cultural and artistic museum and the islands are where different arts and cultures are put together. With islands of arts from various genres, the city will be filled with the island of arts and become an art platform. As a city where tradition and modernity, nature and civilization coxist, the fresh wind of art will stay on a message of “Balance.” Tongyeong wants to share with the world and artistic value of the city is the spirit of this harmony. Mayor Kang said, “We will do our best to be reborn as a world-class cultural and artistic city by actively utilizing Tongyeong’s infinite potential and capabilities through the hosting of the Tongyeong Triennale 2022.” He also expressed his expectations saying that the art festival will be the springboard to culture and the arts industry of the city.

The main exhibition of the triennale, “Take Your Time”, displaying the works of 37 artists from 13 countries, is an invitation to experience and transcend our perception and observation of time. This art show is a journey through a collection of artworks, installations, and experiences, from handicrafts and paintings from the 19th century to neuro design and virtual reality arts. The exhibition concept was headed by Daniel Kapelian. Daniel, a main curator of the triennale, has captured the artistic spirit of Korea and built a personal way to develop it as an attractive influence asset to reach global markets and audiences. The exhibition intends to gear human attention towards the inside, to offer people a time for contemplation, recollection, and reconnection with life’s essential state of awareness. Audiences will face the vase nature and the entangled trilogy of past, present and future time, and will gain time to focus on their inner selves rather than the outer selves.

Korean traditional cultures can be enjoyed during the 52-day event – including Ottchil (lacquer varnish), Namhaean Byeolsingut (ritual for village tutelary spirit), and Tongyeong Ogwangdae (performance of five clowns). The special exhibition, “Hands to Art; Inspired by 12 Studios’ will also bring in works of 17 Korean craft artists. The exhibition is focused on the production process of 12 craft studios in Tongyeong including the overall historical assets from the Joseon Dynasty to the present. Two additional special exhibitions – ‘Jeon Hyucklim Special Exhibition’ and ‘Kim Seongsoo’s 70 Years of Ottchil History’ – and the regional exhibition linking three islands including Hansando, Saryangdo, and Yeonhwado island will take place. “A series of island-based exhibition spaces will also be operated to complete our vision of an event that spans the mainland and islands,” explained the director Kim. Jeon Hyucklim is a painter who marked a milestone in the history of Korean contemporary art, and  Kim Seongsoo is a pioneer of modern Korean Ottchil painting. Regional art projects such as performance and street arts with the combination of modernity and traditionality will amp up the mood at the festivities.

Through the Tongyeong Triennale 2022, the city is expected to promote and spread the value of traditional Korean arts to the world and foster and revitalize its cultural and artistic resources.

For more information on the Tongyeong Triennale 2022, visit the website. (https://tongyeongtriennale.org/en/) 

Kayla Hong

Asia Journal