A poster for “I Reside Alone” / Courtesy of MBC
South Korea’s leisure trade is going through rising uncertainty as a string of high-profile selection present personalities step away from applications on account of controversies, placing main broadcast networks on alert. The departures of acquainted figures who as soon as assured a optimistic response have despatched shockwaves by the trade, significantly at MBC and tvN, the place exhibits relied closely on a small variety of stars.
Established figures equivalent to Jo Se-ho, Park Na-rae, Key and Lee Yi-kyung have introduced withdrawals or paused their actions following controversies. With three forged members leaving “Superb Saturday” on the identical time, issues have even been raised about this system’s long-term survival.
Business observers say the scenario exposes structural points inside the selection present ecosystem. Alternatives have more and more concentrated round a restricted group of confirmed stars, making it troublesome for brand spanking new faces to interrupt by. As the identical entertainers seem throughout a number of applications, threat has additionally change into concentrated, with one controversy affecting a number of exhibits without delay.
Massive-scale selection exhibits typically contain manufacturing budgets operating into billions of received, making stability a prime precedence. Hiring entertainers with established reputation is seen as one of the simplest ways to attenuate dangers. Sarcastically, that pursuit of security has helped create the present predicament: The extra a program relies on a single star, the broader the impression when that determine turns into embroiled in controversy.
Voices inside the trade are cautiously calling for brand spanking new expertise. For rookie entertainers or performers who’ve labored on the margins, the disruption might current a uncommon alternative to step into the highlight.
Some see this as a second for shifting the main target away from particular person star energy towards stronger codecs and ideas. Expectations are rising that the trade might transfer towards reinforcing program competitiveness reasonably than counting on particular forged members. Nonetheless, success is much from assured, as viewers are sometimes reluctant to surrender acquainted faces.
An nameless selection present producer stated in a telephone interview with the Hankook Ilbo that it has change into more and more troublesome for newcomers to determine themselves because the trade has struggled lately. “Previously, producers and broadcasters had the braveness to take possibilities on rookies,” the producer stated. “Now, even giving alternatives is troublesome. Strategically, everyone seems to be chasing stability, so they like working with people who find themselves already confirmed. The ambiance has change into one the place solely acquainted names are used to keep away from failure.”
The producer added that at this time’s prime entertainers all grew their reputation steadily in levels, however that path has largely disappeared. “Other than a number of stars who get away in a single day, it’s laborious to search out even rising stars now,” the producer stated. “There’s no soil for newcomers to develop. Established stars aren’t able to make room for juniors, both. When broadcasters are struggling like they’re now, they need to be making bolder decisions, however that’s not the temper. Viewers are interested by new faces, but the times when somebody might rise from obscurity really feel lengthy gone.”
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.
