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| ▲This photo, captured image from YoTube video of Thailand's Netflix, showing Korean Dramaz. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo, captured image from Thailand's Netflix, showing Korean Dramaz. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) -- Thailand which is considered to be one of the original base of expansion of South Korean culture is faced with second waves of hallyu: shortened for Korean wave.
While South Korean drama “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and more are being loved throughout the world, long waited hallyu stars visit to Thailand is happening once again after the restriction caused by mass spread of COVID-19..
◇ South Korean dramas including “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and more dominated the Netflix chart.
According to the Netflix “Top 10 series” chart of Thailand on Friday, 7 of the dramas are South Korean dramas.
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has topped the chart, “Alchemy of Souls” and “Business Proposal” are ranked third and fourth on the list. “Café Minamdang”, “Police University” “Sell Your Haunted House” and “Dali and Cocky Prince” raked from seventh to tenth on the list. Moreover, South Korean spin off of “Money Heist” and “Remarriage and desires” drew a lot of attentions.
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” which topped Netflix charts in 20 different countries continued on with the South Korean drama wave by topping Thailand’s Netflix chart as well.
“’Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ is a probably the best series from 2022 the series including, love, laugh, joy, sadness, romance and more.” adding “This series tops every other drama released so far. I think actress Park Eun-bin was born for her role in ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo” comments from fans ins Thailand continued on.
Thailand media now covers not only K-pop super stars BTS, Blackpink and others but they also cover South Korean dramas as well.
Thailand actress Nittha Khuhapremkit who is known for not only her acting career but also for owning an entertainment agency said “By simply seeing how many South Korean dramas are populated on top of the Netflix chart gives an idea how popular South Korean contents are in Thailand.” adding “South Korean dramas are being loved continuously throughout the COVID 19 era.”
Thailand is known for being at the lead of Hallyu wave back in year 2000.
Ever since S.Korean drama “Jewel in the Palace” scored a mega hit in 2006, South Korean drama have been loved by people in Thailand.
As time progressed online video streaming services started to dominate the market, and due to COVID-19 people were trapped inside their houses with too much time therefore S.Korean drama became the next big thing.
◇ Hallyu stars are gathering up in Thailand, a second home of hallyu culture.
Thailand government finally relieved a regulation gating foreigners from entering the country in order to boost up the recovery process of their daily lives which was under strict regulation due to COVID -19. As a result numerous S.Korean actors and artists are visiting Thailand.
Throughout June and July of 2022 S.Korean actor Kim Min-Kyu, Lee Je-hoon, Kim Jun su, singer Park Ji-hoon from produce 101, Epik High, The Boyz, Cha Eun -woo and more visited Bangkok.
South Korean boy group Super Junior successfully finished their world tour “Super Show 9: road” from July 30 to July 31 in Bangkok. Bangkok is where they first performed abroad when they debuted, therefore Super Junior chose Bangkok which is a meaningful country for them to start off their world tour after COVID-19.
Moreover on July 31, “K-pop Masters Bangkok featuring K-pop boy group Treasure, GOT7’s BamBam and Jackson and more took place in Bangkok.
According to the news media in Thailand, on August 6 and August 7 Up10tion’s Kim Woo-seok and 2PM’s Jun.K will host a fan meeting. K-pop girl group (G) I-idle’s first ever world tour will kick off in Bangkok on August 20.
Moreover, former member of IKON, B.I and rookie k-pop boy group Epex are holding their own fan meetings on August 21 and AB6IX and Got7’s Yugyeom will throw their concerts on August 27 in Bangkok.
Korean stars will continue on with their visit through September and October as well. South Korean singer Cho Seung-youn also known professionally as WOODZ will throw his concert; former member of Wanna One, Kim Jae-hwan will host a fan concert, Hwang In Youp’s fan meeting, singer Baek Ye-rin’s concert, K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN’s World Tour and more will take place.
However in order to continue on with the success, some critics are pointing out the importance of long term success. Some of the critics are pointing out how much the price of the concert tickets increased in price by giving out the example of the ticket price of “K-pop Masters” which skyrocketed up to 8,900 THB which is 325 thousand won.
One of the Thailand’s media MGR Online, reviewed the situation by giving out a review stating “A lot of South Korean media personal are considering Thailand as their second home, and choose Thailand to be their first destination of world tour, therefore Thailand is becoming Hallyu fan’s heaven.” adding “However, criticism such as through social media concert tickets are being traded off at such a high price are slowly coming up.”
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Joonha Yoo.)
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