As new types of platforms have gained popularity, production teams in broadcasting stations have become more concerned. This is because they need to make a new change since people started to watch short-form content instead of watching TV. Under these circumstances, characters and programs that go beyond “the original” are drawing attention. These characters and programs shed new light on the charms of the original content through colorful platforms and show how much a single content can expand.
How Do You Play? Yoo Jae Suk has become the representative of “alternate characters” after making back-to-back hits with trot singer Yoo San Seul, sexy man Ra Sek who cooks ramen, and recently, SSAK3’s Yoo Dragon. In order to make alternate characters a success, each character needs to have a clear history/story, and in that regard, each and every alternate character of Yoo Jae Suk are firm. Last year, he even won the Rookie of the Year award at the MBC Entertainment Awards as Yoo San Seul.
Lee Hyori’s Linda G is a Korean-American who started at a small hair salon in a Korean town in Los Angeles and now has more than 200 chain stores across the US. Lee Hyori, who lives a simple life in Jeju Island, gives off an infinite amount of glamour and talent as a singer when she turns into Linda G. Rain, who started the “KANG” craze, is also a beneficiary of these alternate characters. Though he received unsatisfying results with his recent albums and movie, he started his new heydey as a member of SSAK3.
Programs that play the role of alternate characters are also popular. The leader of the spin-off entertainment show, Delicious Guys, has produced “Being Forced Athletic Fat from Today” that features Kim Min Kyung exercising pilates, weight training, and other sports, and easily exceeded 2 million views. Thanks to this popularity, the subscribers for Delicious Guys‘s official YouTube channel has surpassed 1 million. Now, they will launch “Dance Fat from Today” with Moon Se Yoon.
Girls’ Secret Party is a spin-off web entertainment of I Live Alone, which started with Hwasa’s word. Park Na Rae, Han Hye Jin, and Hwasa appeared as their rich alternate characters like Georgina, Samantha, and Maria, and the cumulative views of the video released on YouTube surpassed 10 million views. Thanks to the explosive responses, the program was organized as a more calm version that airs late at night.
In addition, producer Na Young Suk’s Lee’s Kitchen Alone, Three Meals in Iceland, and Three Meals For Four are also spin-off-like content.
