Oct. 14th (Mon) - New drama genres branch out from SNS, podcasts (Koreatimes)

[Katie Kim]

New drama genres branch out from SNS, podcasts

New drama genres branch out from SNS, podcasts

A popular radio podcast “Ratoon” provides dramatized audio performances based on hit web cartoons.  / Courtesy of Ratoon

 
 

“After-school Bokbulbok,” a popular drama-toon, stars Kim
So-eun and members of Surprise, a male actors’ group.

By Chung Ah-young 

Tech-savvy Koreans are quick to adapt to the fast-changing media milieu and fond of playing with words, creating new terminologies that describe this social and cultural phenomenon.  

As people gain greater access to digital devices, experimental forms of broadcasting content are being created and finding young audiences.

Recently, reflecting entertainment platform shifts, new drama formats dubbed as social networking service (SNS) dramas, “drama-toons” or “radio cartoons” are gaining popularity among young people who constantly play with their digital devices.

SNS dramas refer to short mini-dramas, which run for around 10 to 15 minutes per episode and are aired through Internet casts or mobile services. Meanwhile drama-toons, a portmanteau made from drama and web cartoon, contain more fun and entertaining elements making viewers feel as if they are reading a web cartoon. Unlike conventional dramas, drama-toons focus more on cartoon-like visuals rather than plots or storylines.

A radio cartoon is a dramatized audio performance in which voice actors perform cartoons, similar to radio dramas. Reading the cartoons this way is a new kind of concept tailored for a growing number of comic fans here amid the soaring popularity of web cartoons thanks to advances in digital gadgets and Internet distribution. Podcasts have helped radio cartoons prosper with easy access to portable digital devices.  

A scene from “Because We Are Not Breaking Up Yet,” an SNS drama, starring Han Jae-suk, Lee Wan and Kahi from K-pop girl group After School.

SNS dramas and drama-toons are contributing to the entertainment scene in some ways because they offer opportunities to rookies to get an audience which is hard to achieve on popular shows.

“Because Not Breaking Up Yet,” an SNS drama, whose first episode was aired on July 22, generated buzz because it stars actors Han Jae-suk, Lee Wan and Kahi from K-pop girl group After School. However, after the drama was actually aired through SNS, Kim Min-kyung, a new face among the main actresses, is gaining more attention than others as a rising star.

K-pop girl group Dal Shabet’s Woohee has been cast in a new SNS drama remake of popular webtoon “Infinite Power” along with Seulong from 2AM. This drama will be online from next month.

“After School Bokbulbok,” a drama-toon, produced by Fantagio Pictures and Group Eight, renowned for hit productions such as “Boys Over Flowers” and “Goong,” was initially planned to nurture aspiring new actors. A press event was held on Aug. 27 prior to the launching of the drama on Sept. 2 through Nate Hoppin, T Store and Btv.

Except for Kim So-eun, a lead female role, all actors are from Surprise in the drama. Surprise is a male actors’ group similar to K-pop boy or girl groups.  

At the press event, Yoo Il from Surprise said that it can be defined as a group of newbie actors. “As many K-pop band members begin their music career but end up acting, we are going in an opposite way, starting with acting and later turning to music.”

Fantagio whose artists include movie stars such as Ha Jung-woo, Ju Jin-mo and Yeom Jeong-ah selected the group members through the company’s “Actor′s League,” a program for discovering aspiring, talented actors.

After taking part in the training program for about two years, they have made their debuts on “After School Bokbulbok.”

“After School Bokbulbok” is a high school story revolving around Kim, portrayed as a timid girl who gets into a school club. Each episode contains “missions” that have to be carried out.

“This is the first time I’m acting in a drama and character in this kind of genre, and it’s a lot of fun. I think it’ll be an extremely unconventional drama,” she said.

EBS, the state-run educational television and radio network, launched “Soseol Madang Pan _ Radio Cartoon,” a radio program featuring web comics from Monday to Saturday on Sept. 26. The host is DJ and dentist Kim Hyung-gyu. The host not only reads the cartoons but also invites fans, cartoonists, authors and actors to share views on various subjects.

A popular radio podcast “Ratoon” provides hit web cartoon recordings such as “Murderer,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “Carnival” through the audio performances of professional voice actors. Ratoon is available through a mobile application. 

U.S. newspaper criticizes Korean work culture

The death rate of Korean workers is twice as high as that of American workers, U.S. newspaper The Atlanta Journal reports.

The front-page article says Korean employees are expected to work on weekends without extra pay, no matter which country they are working in.

Koreans work more than 2,000 hours a month, the report says.

The paper says the situation is because of Korea’s performance-oriented culture and lack of communication between workers and bosses.

“American companies emphasize family over work and people over money, so they have a hard time understanding Korean work culture,” the paper quotes a Korean company employee in Atlanta as saying.

“No matter how many times we try to tell our superiors in Korea that we are working to American values, it is hard to convince them because of their performance-oriented mindset.”

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* vocabulary

<10/14 - monday>

1. savvy : (비격식) (실용적인) 지식, 상식, 요령

2. milieu : (사회적) 환경

3. terminology : 전문용어

4. dub : 별명을 붙이다

5. portmanteau : 혼성어

6. aspire : 열망하다, 포부를 가지다

<10/15 - tuesday>

1. hash tag: (인터넷) 해시태그, 소셜네트워크서비스(SNS : social network service)인 트위터에서 '#특정단어' 형식으로, 특정 단어에 대한 글이라는 것을 표현하는 기능  

2. extraversion : = extroversion : 외향성

3. conscientious : 양심적인, 성실한

4. conscientiousness: 양심, 성실성

5. neuroticism : 신경증적 성질, 신경질 

6. defector : 탈주자, 망명자

7. reside : (특정한 곳에) 살다, 거주하다, 주재하다

8. Infidelity : (배우자나 애인에 대한) 배신, 부정

9. rationale : 이론적 해석, 근본적 이유, 근거

10. carbohydrate : 탄수화물

<10/17 - thursday>

1. depressant : (신체 기능) 저하제, 진정 효과가 있는, 의기소침하게 하는

2. mired : 수렁(궁지)에 빠진

3. substantiate : 입증하다

4. overshadow : 빛을 잃게 하다, 그늘지게 하다

5. detract : (가치, 명예가) 떨어지다, 나쁘게 말하다 (~ from)

6. be bound to v : 반드시 ~ 하다

7. aftereffect : 여파, 후유증, 자취, 흔적

[khan-shin]

hello^^!! It's been so long time to be here. Last week, actually internet connection in my studio was broken because of the typhoon. then today, the internet connection has fully recovered. and during last weekend, I made a contract to buy my own apartment. Problem is that I don't have enough money^^;;. so I've been struggling to make it. now I'm kind of out of mind. So, I think I'd better to have a short break time in this monthㅠㅠ. next month, I promise, I will be back. Plz, wait for me untill then^^. and I hope you have great fun in study. take care all of you^^ I'll try to keep in touch

[Katie Kim]

Congratulations on buying your own place~~ & I believe you will soon make it and get back on your feet! Take care meanwhile and we will be waiting for you ~^^

[khan-shin]

Thanx^^ you cheer me up