The controversial “Media Law” passed in 2009 allows private conglomerates and newspapers to own stakes of Korean broadcasting outlets. The fruit of the media reform can be seen in the launching of three cable networks – TV Chosun (CSTV), jTBC, and Channel A – at the end of this year by the three giant newspaper groups – Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and DongA Ilbo, respectively.

Liberals feared that allowing these conservative newspapers to operate a broadcasting network will spell death to diversity in news and media. Conservatives argued that it will result in more capital flowing into the media sector, and in fact, that the previous law which restricted cross-ownership of newspapers and television stations was a remnant of former president Chun Doo-hwan’s dictatorial policy. Well, politics aside, for us drama-lovers, it means there will be many more new dramas produced each year!

The launching of the new cable networks reminds me of what happened exactly 20 years ago when SBS was newly launched in December 1991. Started by wealthy private investors, the launching of SBS shook up the industry. SBS had the capital to invest in making blockbuster dramas, and it wasted none by recruiting big-time stars one after another to star in its dramas. MBC, who had earned the nickname “The Kingdom of Dramas,” was starting to look like it was not necessarily the “king” of that kingdom.

Likewise, many of these new cable networks are started by wealthy chaebol newspaper groups. They have the capital to invest and they’re eager to make an impression to survive what will surely be a tight competition. And in particular, jTBC is really standing out for recruiting star directors, writers, and actors to kick start its first year.

Let them compete and fight their ass off against each other. We’ll gladly reap the benefits!

CGV

TV Bang-ja Chronicles (CGV)
Projected broadcast period: Nov. 5, 2011-TBA (4 episodes)
PD: Bong Man Dae (Trap, Cinderella, Sweet Sex and Love)
Scriptwriter: Jeon Chul Hong (Crying Fist)
Cast: Lee Sun Ho (More Charming By the Day), Yeo Hyun Soo (Dangerous Women), Lee Eun Woo (Romantic Heaven), Min Ji Hyun (Mackerel Run), Yoon Ki Won (Secret Garden)
Synopsis: Reinterpretation of the well-known folk tale Chunhyangjeon.
Blue’s clues: A cable TV version of director Kim Dae Woo’s 2010 film by the same name, starring Kim Ju Hyuk, Ryu Seung Bum, and Jo Yeo Jung.

Due to the sexually explicit nature of the film, many are curious about how far the cable TV version will go. According to PD Bong Man Dae, “Only about 72% of what was filmed will air. The others will have to be shown by other means.” Considering the drama has a midnight time slot on a cable network, it hints at how explicit the actual filming had been. Bong further explains, “The actors were very passionate about acting and were enthusiastic to take their clothes off.” OMG, I guess their passion for acting is one way to explain their “enthusiasm.”

Channel A

Bachelor’s Vegetable Store (Channel A)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA
PD: Lee Joon Hyung (God’s Quiz)
Scriptwriter: Yoon Sung Hee (Shoot for the Stars, Beautiful Days)
Cast: Ji Chang Wook (Warrior Baek Dong-soo), Wang Ji Hye (Protect the Boss)
Synopsis: A drama about a group of hardworking young people as they achieve success in their careers and love. Based on the true story of CEO Lee Young Seok, who started out by running a small vegetable store in 1988.
Blue’s clues: Was also made into a musical in 2010. The production is currently casting for six other fresh young “bachelors.” Yay for more pretty boys!

Heaven’s Garden (Channel A)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA
PD: Lee Jong Han (Amnok River Flows, Yeon Gae Somun, Land, Splendid Days)
Scriptwriters: Park Jung Hwa (My Hidden Love, Adolescence, Mudong’s House) & Go Eun Nim (Playful Kiss, Hon, First Love)
Cast: Choi Bool Am (Smile You), Yoo Ho Jung (Sunny), Kim Sae Ron (Can You Hear My Heart?), Ahn Seo Hyun (Baby-Faced Beauty)
Synopsis: A heartwarming drama about the resentment, hurt, forgiveness, and love between family members (grandpa, his daughter, and the granddaughters) living in a remote mountainside village in Gangwon-do.
Blue’s clues: What a great cast!

CSTV

Speed (CSTV)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA
PD: Yang Yoon Ho (Grand Prix, Iris, Rainbow Eyes, Holiday, Fighter in the Wind, Libera Me)
Scriptwriter: ?
Cast: TBA
Synopsis: Car racing drama.
Blue’s clues: Due to the delay of the blockbuster drama Hanbando (a.k.a. Korean Peninsula), CSTV plans to air Speed first. Never mind that Speed has not cast its actors yet. (Yoo Ah In, Lee Jung Jae, and SNSD’s Sooyoung have all been offered a role, but none has confirmed at this time.) I’m also wary that I couldn’t find any info on who the writer is going to be. Instead, all promos seem to rely on how they have the Iris director on board. Oi.

Saving Madame Go Bong-shil (CSTV)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA (36 episodes)
PD: Yoon Sang Ho (Birdie Buddy, Tamra Island, Bichunmoo, Legend)
Scriptwriter: Park Eun Ryung (Thank You Life, Second Proposal, Women Next Door)
Cast: Kim Hae Sook (Life is Beautiful), Chun Ho Jin (Hooray for Love), Dokgo Young Jae (Royal Family), Kim Hye Ok (Scent of a Woman), Choi Il Hwa (Birdie Birdy), Lee Seung Min (Tamra Island), Luna (f(x) member), Kim Kyu Jong (SS501), Woo Hyun (Tree With Deep Roots), Park Joon Myun (New Gisaeng Story), Kim Young Ok (All My Love), Shin Choong Shik (President), Choi Han Bit (The Princess’s Man), Harisu (Return of Iljimae), Hong Suk Chun (Hooray for Love), Kim Young Joon (Bodyguard)
Synopsis: A weekend drama about how a widowed woman in her 50s at the brink of bankruptcy overcomes her difficulties and becomes a bestselling author.
Blue’s clues: The cast has three openly gay/transgendered actors. I wonder if this is a coincidence, or whether the drama will somehow touch upon the sexuality of the on-screen characters.

jTBC

Monday-Tuesday lineup:

Padam Padam… The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats (jTBC)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 5, 2011-TBA (20 episodes)
PD: Kim Kyu Tae (Iris, The World That They Live In, A Love to Kill)
Scriptwriter: Noh Hee Kyung (The World That They Live In, Several Questions That Make Us Happy, Goodbye Solo, More Beautiful Than a Flower, Solitude, Splendid Days, Foolish Love, Sad Temptation, Did We Really Love, Lie, The Reason I Live, The Most Beautiful Farewell in the World)
Cast: Jung Woo Sung (Athena: The Goddess of War), Han Ji Min (Cain and Abel), Kim Bum (The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry), Na Moon Hee (Believe in Love), Jang Hang Sun (Crime Squad), Yoon Joo Sang (Sign), Kim Hyung Bum (Twinkle Twinkle), Kim Min Kyung (Mom’s Dead Upset)
Synopsis: A man who lost the will to live after being unfairly accused and incarcerated for murder at a young age regains the will to live after experiencing a miraculous event and falls in love.
Blue’s clues: I’m confused about the genre of this drama. It was initially described as a “fantasy melodrama,” which is surprising coming from writer Noh Hee Kyung who is known for her extreme realism in her writing. But since the initial promotion, all subsequent media reports have dropped the term “fantasy.” Either way, it’s Noh Hee Kyung’s drama. Expect it to be broody and introspective.

Wednesday-Thursday lineup:

Fermentation Family (jTBC)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 7, 2011-TBA (24 episodes)
PD: Park Chan Hong (The Devil, Resurrection, On the Green Prairie, Stock Flower, Rising Sun Rising Moon)
Scriptwriter: Kim Ji Woo (The Devil, Resurrection, On the Green Prairie, Stock Flower, Rising Sun Rising Moon, School 2, School 1)
Cast: Song Il Gook (Crime Squad), Park Jin Hee (Giant), Kang Shin Il (Lie to Me), Jung Ae Ri (King Geunchogo), Choi Jae Sung (My Love By My Side)
Synopsis: A cheerful, heartwarming story centered around a family that runs a Korean restaurant and the quirky customers who gather there.
Blue’s clues: Newest drama from the acclaimed director-writer team of Park Chan Hong and Kim Ji Woo.

Weekend lineup:

Queen Dowager Insu (jTBC)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 3, 2011-TBA (50 episodes)
PD: Lee Tae Gon (Smile You, The Last Scandal of My Life, Tropical Nights in December, Lawyers, Jjak)
Scriptwriter: Jung Ha Yeon (Flames of Ambition, La Dolce Vita, Shin Don, Count of Myeongdong, Wife, Empress Myung Sung, King and Queen, When You Call Me, Sea of Ambition, Jo Gwangjo, Jang Noksu)
Cast: Chae Si Ra (The Iron Empress), Kim Mi Sook (City Hunter), Kim Young Ho (The Scarlet Letter), Jin Ji Hee (High Kick Through the Roof), Eunjung (Dream High), Kim Ga Yeon (Ja Myung Go), Baek Sung Hyun (White Christmas)
Synopsis:  A historical drama about the life of Queen Dowager Insu.
Blue’s clues: Chae Si Ra has played this same character years ago in another Jung Ha Yeon’s drama, King and Queen, and won a KBS Daesang for it. Needless to say, she rocked it then. It almost feels like cheating for her to play the same role again, but it should be good, especially to see her up against Kim Mi Sook.

Daily/Sitcom lineup:

I Live in Cheongdam-dong (jTBC)
Projected broadcast period: TBA
PD: Kim Seok Yoon (Detective K, Old Miss Diary, Go Mom Go)
Scriptwriter: Park Hye Young (Old Miss Diary)
Cast: Kim Hye Ja (Mom’s Dead Upset), Lee Bo Hee (Smile Donghae), Oh Ji Eun (King Gwanggaeto the Great), Seo Seung Hyun (My Love By My Side), Hyun Woo (Tree With Deep Roots), Lee Sang Yup (Miss Ripley)
Synopsis: Hye-ja and her daughter, Ji-eun, are a poor family living in the ritzy Cheongdam-dong neighborhood (in Gangnam). Through this sitcom about the mom and the daughter, and the renters living in their house, it seeks to remind us that happiness is where we are right now.
Blue’s clues: I absolutely loved Old Miss Diary (the television sitcom, not the movie). Whereas Korean sitcoms tend to rely on a lot of slapstick humor, Old Miss Diary was witty and it actually had a message to tell. Although Old Miss Diary had several writers working on it together, this sitcom will be penned by only one of them and directed by the same director. Needless to say, I’m really looking forward to this one.

When a Woman Applies the Makeup Twice (jTBC)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA (120 episodes)
PD: Han Jung Hee (Landscape In My Heart, Don’t Worry, Promise)
Scriptwriter: Ji Sang Hak (Sidestreet People, Wang Cho, Youth Cinema, Do You Know the Milky Way?)
Cast: Danny Ahn (Runaway: Plan B), Im Jung Eun (Joseon X-Files), Kim Chang Sook (A Thousand Kisses), Yeon Kyu Jin (Gloria)
Synopsis: Love story and the life of one woman who had been adopted.
Blue’s clues: Not familiar with the director, but wow, this is one old-school writer (most of his dramas listed were from pre-1995, and his resume dates back to dramas from the mid-1980s). Many people might not be familiar with him, but after refreshing my memory, I do recall that I did enjoy his dramas in the past. He mostly wrote big-budget “epic” dramas, so I’m not sure how his writing would appeal (if at all) in a present-day morning daily drama. But the production here shares that they will move away from the stereotype that morning daily dramas are all makjang.

MBN

Bolder By the Day (MBN)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA (50 episodes)
PD: Jo Jin Kyu (My Wife is a Gangster 3, My Wife is a Gangster)
Scriptwriters: Moon Sun Hee (Three Guys and Three Girls) & Choi Dae Woong (Golden Fishery)
Cast: Park Han Byul (My Black Mini Dress), Park Hae Mi (Smile Donghae), Lee Jae Yong (Tree With Deep Roots), Yoon Joo Hee (Ojakgyo Brothers)
Synopsis: A family sitcom surrounding a “military” family – a woman who was promoted to the colonel rank before her husband, her husband who ranks below her as a lieutenant colonel, and their second lieutenant daughter.
Blue’s clues: Variety show and old-school sitcom writers; movie director; Lee Jae Yong and Park Hae Mi should be a hoot playing a married couple together.

Vampire Idol (MBN)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA (120 episodes)
PD: Lee Geun Wook (New Nonstop)
Scriptwriters: Lee Sung Eun (Hyena, Sad Love Song, Lovers, Three Friends, Three Guys and Three Girls) & Ha Chul Seung (Soonpoong Clinic)
Cast: Shin Dong Yup (Hey Hey Hey), Kim Sumi (Hooray for Love), No Min Woo (Midas)
Synopsis: A sitcom about an idol group called Vampire Boys comprised of the ultimate “pretty boy” vampire prince from another planet.
Blue’s clues: Experienced old-school sitcom writers (who should never write another melodrama ever again); sitcom director; interesting cast; the most outrageous premise ever… but it just might work.

What’s Up (MBN)
Projected broadcast period: TBA (18 episodes)
PD: Song Ji Won
Scriptwriter: Song Ji Na (Story of a Man, Legend, Rosemary, The Great Ambition, KAIST, Snail, Sandglass, Eyes of Dawn, Seoul Sinawe, Senoya)
Cast: Im Joo Hwan (Tamra Island), Im Joo Eun (Hon), Big Bang’s Daesung (musical Cats), Jang Hee Jin (Myung Wol the Spy), Lee Soo Hyuk (White Christmas), Jeon Hye Jin (Smile You), and Oh Man Seok (Warrior Baek Dong-soo)
Synopsis: A youth musical drama about the dreams and the love stories of young college students attending the musical department of a university.
Blue’s clues: This will be director Song Ji Won’s directorial debut. She is real-life younger sister to writer Song Ji Na.

You Drive Me Crazy (MBN)
Projected broadcast period: Dec. 2011-TBA (120 episodes)
PD: Kim Hee Won
Scriptwriters: Hwang Yeo Reum, Kim Kyung Mi, Sun Seung Yeon
Cast: Lee Soo Kyung (Daemul), Yoo In Young (A Man Called God)
Synopsis: An “American-style sitcom,” touted the Korean Friends, about three young people of mixed gender living together and the shenanigans that ensue. It will also try to answer the eternal question on whether a man and a woman can just be platonic friends.
Blue’s clues: The director and the writers are described as young with fresh new ideas. Putting a negative spin, it means they’re inexperienced. Take your pick!

OCN

TEN (OCN)
Projected broadcast period: Nov. 18, 2011-TBA (10 episodes, every Friday once a week)
PD: Lee Seung Young (Chosun Police)
Scriptwriter: Nam Sang Wook & Lee Jae Gon (Chosun Police)
Cast: Joo Sang Wook (Thorn Birds), Jo Ahn (King Gwanggaeto the Great), Kim Sang Ho (City Hunter), Choi Woo Shik (Live in Style)
Synopsis: A crime investigation drama about a special crime investigation unit created to handle cases of violent crimes with less than a 10% chance of getting solved.
Blue’s clues: Brought to you by the same team who made Chosun Police, which is a good thing in my book. It is reported that four years was spent on preparing for the first two episodes alone.

tvN

Monday-Tuesday lineup:

Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (tvN)
Projected broadcast period: Oct. 31, 2001-TBA (16 episodes)
PD: Jung Jung Hwa (Sweet Lies)
Scriptwriter: Yoon Nan Joong
Cast: Jung Il Woo (49 Days), Lee Chung Ah (Pure Pumpkin Flower), Lee Ki Woo (Star’s Lover), Park Min Woo, Jo Yoon Woo
Synopsis: Romantic comedy drama about pretty “flower boys” and the women around them running a ramyun shop together.
Blue’s clues: Jung Jung Hwa doesn’t have much directing experiences, but he is credited with editing a few movies and making a movie trailer. Couldn’t find any info on the writer. However, a more experienced director Pyo Min Soo (You’ve Fallen for Me, Coffee House, The World that They Live In, Insoon is Pretty, Which Star Are You From, Full House, Solitude, Blue Mist, Foolish Love, Sad Temptation, Lie) is credited as the “Creative Producer,” which in a case like this probably means he’s a go-to person/mentor/advisor for the young crew.