Stars moving to general service channels, celebrity casting success

Founded ahead of the year's end, general service channels have been announcing star-studded casts one after another. Recruiting stars is the first stage of attracting attention to newly founded channels, which is a prerequisite for success. Because of this, expending resources to establish star-recruitment power is a natural move.

First target: star broadcast TV producer

General service channels' first targets were broadcast television entertainment producers. Given the enormous amount of know-how required to create a drama, this meant battling with broadcasters over a short period of time and securing the production talent that would give them the best chance for a successful launch.

For quite a while new general service channels have been a pain for the nation's three main broadcasting companies. MBC's Yeo Mun-hyeok, Lim Jeong-ah, and Seong Chi-gyeong, as well as KBS's Lee Myeong-han, Kim Seok-yoon, Kim Shi-kyu, and Jo Seung-wook transferred to broadcast TV. There was also hearsay that "Infinite Challenge" producer Kim Tae-ho had received an offer to move to a general service station. People in the business have said, "Quite a few producers have received offer to move to general service channels".

Establish powerful dramas

General service channels, laying out an enormous amount of capital, have cast star writers and top actors in order to debut with powerful dramas. Before the year's end, the plans of top general service channels center on founding new dramas and announcing their story outlines, showing a variety of projects.

It has been reported that Kim Su-hyun began writing a featured drama for Chonsun Ilbo's CSTV. CSTV has secured Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Jeong-eun for the drama, called "Hanbando - Drama", about world powers fighting over Korea's natural resources.

jTBC's "Padam Padam... The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats", mutually created by writer Noh Hee-kyeong and producer Kim Kyoo-tae, has already started shooting, and a few production stills have been published, causing a stir. "Padam Padam... The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats" has a star-studded cast featuring Jeong Woo-seong, Han Ji-min, Kim Beom and more.

Chae Si-ra will also make a comeback on the television screen after 2 years away, starring as the female lead in jTBC's upcoming "Queen Insoo". Also, Song Il-gook and Park Jin-hee have signed up for jTBC's new featured drama "Fermented Family". A new work by director Park Chan-hong and writer Kim Jee-woo, who both started a craze with the popular dramas "Revenge" and "Devil", expectations are rising for "Fermented Family". Additionally, Kim Hee-ae has decided to join jTBC's "A Wife's Credentials", planned for February next year, and Park Yong-woo has also signed up.

Dong-A Ilbo's "Channel A" is preparing "Park Chung-hee, The Man" (working title), shedding light on the former president's life story, and "Timeslip Doctor Jin", based on a Japanese comic. It will also air the featured dramas "Color of Woman" and "Heaven's Garden". "Heaven's Garden" has cast Choi Bool-am, Yoo Ho-jeong, Kim Sae-ron and others.

Stars rush to all-purpose channels

The sitcom line-up is also impressive. Sin Dong-yup and actress Kim Soo-mi will appear as a couple on MBN's "Vampire Idol". With this, "Vampire Idol" is a strong candidate to cast more idol-status stars. Kim Hye-jin will face her first sitcom acting challenge in jTBC's "I Live in Cheongdam-dong".

Sin Dong-yup, Lee Soo-geun, Lee Yeong-ja, Kim Sung-ju and others lead Channel A's entertainment program. Lee Soo-geun is preparing his own "Transfer to Lee Soo-geun" and Sin Dong-yup's story-oriented fantasty magic show "Storytelling Magic Show" is in development. Lee Yeong-ja's military search program "Army Singing Contest" is also scheduled to appear.

jTBC is also working on a morning talk show hosted by Park Kyeong-rim, "The Laughter and Applause of Park Kyeong-rim and Jang Seong-gyu" (working title), a ranking show called "Bang Bang Show! Your Best", and "Story Hunter", a talent development show.