Culinary drama whets appetite of Hungarian viewers
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After creating a sensation in Asian and Middle Eastern countries, one of Korea's most popular television dramas based on the universal theme of food and cooking, is now proving successful in its drive to make it in Europe.
Hungary's government-run station MTV recently began airing "Dae Jang Geum" or Jewel in the Palace in English, a TV series about a woman who becomes the chef and eventually physician for the royal family in 16th century Korea.
This is the first time the Korean historical drama, made in 2003, has been broadcast on European television.
The series has been airing five times a week from Mar 10. According to AGB, a TV audience measurement agency, the drama has garnered a viewership rate of between 30-37 percent per episode.
That translates into about 220,000-360,000 people in Hungary who watched the drama each time it aired.
This is a massive success considering that the media industry there regards a program with ratings figures of 15 percent successful.
Since the drama has proven successful despite being aired at 10 a.m., when not many people watch TV, MTV decided to rerun the program this September during prime time.
The station says it expects about two-to-three million people to watch the drama if it runs during peak evening viewing times. In a country with a population of slightly over 10 million, such figures are very encouraging for a Korean-made program.
The Korean Embassy in Budapest says that airing the series on a public television station has been very instrumental in introducing Korea's popular culture to Hungary
Viewers have left comments on local websites after each episode, saying they want to learn more about the lavish style of Korea's traditional royal dishes and culture, that they want to buy books or DVDs about the drama and so on.
The Embassy adds that they hope the success in Hungary shows the drama's potential to also be received well in other parts of Europe.
"Dae Jang Geum" has been sold to some 60 countries around the world including many Asian countries, as well as Tanzania's iTV, Ghana TV and Turkey's TRT.
By Han Aran
Korea.net Staff Writer
Hungary's government-run station MTV recently began airing "Dae Jang Geum" or Jewel in the Palace in English, a TV series about a woman who becomes the chef and eventually physician for the royal family in 16th century Korea.
This is the first time the Korean historical drama, made in 2003, has been broadcast on European television.
The series has been airing five times a week from Mar 10. According to AGB, a TV audience measurement agency, the drama has garnered a viewership rate of between 30-37 percent per episode.
That translates into about 220,000-360,000 people in Hungary who watched the drama each time it aired.
This is a massive success considering that the media industry there regards a program with ratings figures of 15 percent successful.
Since the drama has proven successful despite being aired at 10 a.m., when not many people watch TV, MTV decided to rerun the program this September during prime time.
The station says it expects about two-to-three million people to watch the drama if it runs during peak evening viewing times. In a country with a population of slightly over 10 million, such figures are very encouraging for a Korean-made program.
The Korean Embassy in Budapest says that airing the series on a public television station has been very instrumental in introducing Korea's popular culture to Hungary
Viewers have left comments on local websites after each episode, saying they want to learn more about the lavish style of Korea's traditional royal dishes and culture, that they want to buy books or DVDs about the drama and so on.
The Embassy adds that they hope the success in Hungary shows the drama's potential to also be received well in other parts of Europe.
"Dae Jang Geum" has been sold to some 60 countries around the world including many Asian countries, as well as Tanzania's iTV, Ghana TV and Turkey's TRT.
By Han Aran
Korea.net Staff Writer
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