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[HanCinema's Korea Joa] Interview with Yonhap News Agency

When I met with Yonhap News Agency's journalists Lee Eun-jung and Yoon Go-eun at the Terarosa Coffee, I came prepared with questions for them. What I didn't expect was to answer some of theirs. The two-way conversation turned into quite the charming interview where they gave some insight into their processes, and I got to tell them about what we do here at HanCinema.

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Reporter Lee Eun-jung is the head reporter the Korean music while Yoon Go-eun heads the Korean film and drama division. Questions were geared towards both women who are highly respected in their fields. The first question focused on the audience that the reporters consider when penning their pieces. Both women agreed that they only write for the Korean public, which makes sense as Korean journalists working in the Korean market. They rely on international news outlets to translate and relay the news they cover.

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While this approach works in Korea, the fact that their news gets translated all over the world for Korean culture enthusiasts is something to be considered. We as international consumers are a consumer-base that is ever growing for Korean entertainment. Programs like Korea Joa 2015 and organizations like KOFICE, who started the program, are proof of Korea's movement towards spreading its culture and entertainment worldwide. There is a very solid and loyal fanbase of Korean culture and entertainment outside of Korea that spend time, effort, and money. Fans like you, HanCinema readers, keep outlets like ours and the other Korea Joa 2015 members' outlets alive and thriving. When writing influential news that is widely disseminated and that conveys Korea's image to audiences abroad, it is perhaps wise to consider the global reach of the news.

The second question dealt with how the reporters approach difficult subjects, especially when criticism is involved. Both women replied that they deal with cold hard facts, whether they deal with positive or negative happenings. If they don't critique, the media cannot properly develop.

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Then the ladies asked me about my favorite shows: 2011's "Drama Special - White Christmas", 2005's "My Name is Kim Sam-soon", and 2015's "Healer". They laughed when I mentioned the first two dramas, older dramas. They are older, but for international viewers, Korean drama was much harder to come by at the time those shows were airing. We are consuming "older" material because we are only now getting our hands on it. Dramafever came onto the scene in 2009, and Viki in 2010. These two platforms allowed for Korean drama and film to have a broader reach. But even back in 2009 and 2010, they didn't host such a huge volume of content with quickly subbed English translations as they do today. Now when a drama comes out with a famous star like Siwon from Super Junior, fans who didn't have access to his older dramas now go back to watch them and his current drama is subbed within a day. I remember when it took a week or more! In any case, there is a constant thirst for airing shows coupled with older ones.

I also got to talk a little bit about HanCinema and how we provide a database for Korean actors, actresses, film, dramas, specials, and webtoons. We translate foreign news. We review dramas and films. We provide a well-rounded resource for new and old drama lovers. It made me proud to talk about it.

Thanks to Lee Eun-jung and Yoon Go-eun for the enlightening experience and the chance to talk about journalism.

You can find all of our Korea Joa 2015 coverage on this page.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

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