2013 BIG 8 ⑦ Will Entertainment – Lee Bo-young, Ryu Su-young Rise and Shine

 

Which entertainment agencies made remarkable moves in the Korean entertainment scene this year? One of the biggest issues that dominated the management business was that persistent demand on Hallyu contents, especially on K-pop, allowed singer and actors to expand their boundaries to overseas market. In the contents producing industry, it has become a matter of common interest that abilities to create and produce more diversified contents as viewers and audiences have higher criteria. There were bigger examples of middle and small sized agencies to make strategic alliance or have merger and acquisitions for retaining stable profit system. In addition to those, private life of stars became more in danger thanks to the Internet, which make the “risk management ability” as the top priority of the management firm should have.

As a wrap-up and recap of this year 2013, TenAsia picked up eight entertainment agencies that impressed the industry and found out their performance, strength and weakness and searched their right direction to go (alphabetical order).

 

This Year’s Performance

Will Entertainment cemented itself as one of the Korea’s representative entertainment agencies after showing a steep rise for the past two years. Son Ji-hyun, Will Entertainment’s President and CFO (Chief Finance Officer) of Will’s parental firm Soribada, Korean online music distribution service, raised the agency’s awareness by appealing its strategic system, which allowed Will to scout more actors and well-support its artists. In 2013, Will Entertainment gained sales record twice bigger than last year’s.

Borrowing the enterprise system from Soribada, Will Entertainment is organized with subdivided business system from legal department, finance, management, PR and artist management. After solidifying its foundation as an entertainment agency, Will expanded its boundaries to the producing field by co-investing in movie “The Attorney,” the winner of year-end box office starring Song Kang-ho of “Snowpiercer” and Siwan of idol group ZE:A.

Will Entertainment’s artists also put up a good show this year. Will has a big number of stars who have played all over TV programs, from Lee Bo-young on SBS’s hit series “I Can Hear Your Voice” to Ryu Su-young on MBC’s real variety show “Real Man.” Next year, it is expected to see more of Will Entertainment stars’ vigorous activities, including E. Ji-ah on SBS’s “A Woman Married Three Times,” Kim Ok-vin of thriller movie “AM 11:00” and Kang So-ra who starred in SBS’s “Ugly Alert.”

 

 

This Year’s Star

Will Entertainment’s biggest star this year is definitely Ryu Su-young. Since appearing on his first TV variety show “Real Man” this April, he led the TV show’s syndrome throughout Korea and proved his potential as a TV personality as well as an actor. After earning the intimate image from the public, Ryu starred in KBS’s one-act drama “Drama Special – A Memory in My Shabby Wallet” (translated title), MBC’s “Two Weeks” and musical “Guys and Dolls.” His next project will be a movie, his first major one in 11 years.

Lee Bo-young, who joined Will Entertainment after starring in KBS’s smash hit “Seo-young, My Daughter,” also marked herself as a top actress through “I Can Hear You Voice” before her sweet marriage with actor Ji Sung. Yu In-young, chosen as famed cosmetic brand Elizabeth Arden’s first Korean model early this year, shot for the 2014’s next big star by appearing on MBC’s “Empress Ki, Battle of Flowers” and SBS’s “Love From Star.”

 

What’s Next?

Will Entertainment has established its base with actors E. Ji-ah, Ryu Su-young, Yu In-young, Lee Bo-young, Kang so-ra and Kim Ok-vin. In 2014, Will is planning to train new faces and also jump into the producing business of film and drama. Next year, the overseas marketing of Will is expected to be activated by Kang So-ra’s activities in China and Ryu Su-young’s Hallyu promotions in Japan as his KBS drama “Ojakgyo Brothers” received nice responses in the country.

Reporter. Kim Gwang-kuk realjuki@tenasia.co.kr
Translator. Cory Lee
Editor. Cory Lee

Courtesy of SBS, MBC

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