KBS to Can Mon/Tue Dramas Starting from this Fall?

I bet talks of “we’ll take the country back after 10 years of their rule” sounded like election-day showmanship to a lot of people a mere 6-7 months ago, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious it wasn’t just empty talk. After showing former KBS president Jeong Yeon-Ju the door and cordially asking him to check it on his way out (lest it would hit him right… there), the 2MB government is continuing with their scorched-earth approach to reforms in the broadcasting sector. One of the biggest and most controversial would be that of passing from a single entity dealing with network TV advertisement (the state-funded KOBACO, founded in 1981) to a complete privatization of the sector (read: turning TV into the Chaebol’s new toy), but that’s just talk for the trade journals. What’s more interesting is that, among the reorganization proposals for this Fall Season, the idea of replacing dramas with other more “educational” programs on Monday and Tuesday night could be passed. Reasons? They want to strengthen 공익성 (the sense of public interest) as a public broadcaster, and low rated miniseries losing money don’t help a bit. Since the “people” want it, we’re getting prop… fair and balanced current events shows instead.

This would mean that if the proposal is accepted, Noh Hee-Kyung’s upcoming 그들이 사는 세상 (Worlds Within), which is set to start on October 26, might end up becoming KBS’ last Mon/Tue miniseries, at least until the end of the current government’s term—they can’t move it to Wed/Thu, as 바람의 나라 (Kingdom of the Wind) will last until early next year. It’s a peculiar decision, particularly as KBS Media made a ton of money at the recent BCWW (BroadCast WorldWide), with a big jump in sales to Japan, even in the unusual form of Daily Dramas. KBS dramas in this timeslot have suffered in the ratings ever since 주몽 (Jumong)‘s dominance started in 2006, but this would be a pretty drastic decision. Yet, if you’ve been following Korean politics for a while, this might just end up being another astute way of “circumventing” the public’s attention with a big spectacle, so that they’ll end up ignoring a much bigger issue. That would be the upcoming termination of a current events show, 시사투나잇 (Sisa Tonight)—sisa means current evens—which wasn’t exactly the brown-nosing type when it comes to praising the new emperor’s clothes. By attracting controversy over the drama termination, including what’s likely to be strong protests from drama people (even those working for MBC, SBS or third-party production companies), they can go ahead and quietly cut dissenting voices in a much more “dangerous” field, and then cancel any plans of terminating dramas, “bowing down” to public fervor at the end. So now mad cows and trendy dramas have something in common.

Hey, as 孫子兵法 (The Art of War) teaches, 兵不厭詐. All wars are based upon deception.

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