Lee Seon-hee (이선희)

Quality programs create their own niche

Source | 2007/04/14 | Permalink |

"The success of these new dramas is dependent on how well they incorporate Korean elements into their plots", said Lee Eun-gyoo, the main producer for "H.I.T"
He went on to say that the new Korean dramas do not lack quality compared to their American counterparts. "Although in some cases, the American dramas [mentioned above] have richer, more complex plots, in reality if 'Sex and the City' or 'CSI' were to air on Korean network television, they would pull a rating of less than 10 percent", he said. "Korean viewers want to see 'Koreanized' dramas".
Lee went on to say that "for these new dramas to succeed, the professions [of these new characters] need to also be clearly illustrated". Viewers have higher standards than in the past, so characters and their careers need to be realistic, he said. He admits this results from sufficient funding and extra effort on the part of networks.
For example, compared to the 20 or so actors needed per episode in a regular melodrama, "H.I.T" require...| More

Erhu

Source | 2006/03/22 | Permalink |

A song used in a cosmetics ad featuring actor Kwon Sang-woo has gained popularity recently. Many people have asked, "What musical instruments were used in the ad?" on internet sites. The song, which has an Asian melody, was played by Chinese erhu player Cao Xuejing and is called, "Put Your Hands Up".

There is a Korean musical instrument called the haegeum, which is a Korean-style fiddle with silk strings. Its Chinese counterpart is the erhu, a metal-stringed fiddle. The erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument, has always been likened to the haegeum because they are both string instruments and make similar sounds.

These days, it is easy to hear the sound of the erhu played not only in Korean pop songs, commercials and TV dramas, but also in Japanese pop music and even by musicians from other countries.

A familiar sound-

Among songs on the album of "Seodongyo", ("Seo Dong")a SBS soap opera, "Aesang" ("Sorrow") and "Kkotbit" ("Color of the Flower") sung by soprano Geum Seon-ae ...| More