The problem is straight from Greek mythology: maintain a boulder aloft so long as potential. Korean automotive seller Jo Jin-hyeong lasted over two hours, fascinating international audiences in a actuality present that might sign a brand new Okay-culture export success.
After movies corresponding to Oscar-winning “Parasite” and TV sequence together with Golden Globe-bedecked “Squid Game” helped popularise Okay-content abroad, trade figures have stated South Korea’s high-quality actuality reveals could also be subsequent in line for domination.
“Physical: 100”, the brand new Netflix present that fitness center buff Jo competed in, featured 100 women and men in prime bodily situation, together with South Korea’s ex-Olympians and former particular forces troopers, performing absurdly tough challenges.
It is the primary unscripted sequence to prime the streaming big’s non-English chart, constructing on the recognition of “Singles Inferno”, a Korean relationship present that turned a sleeper hit worldwide final 12 months.
Part of the attraction of such reveals is the contestants: Jo, who began hitting the fitness center as a weedy teenager and has by no means been an expert athlete, discovered he might maintain his personal in opposition to a few of South Korea’s strongest individuals.
The 41-year-old gained one of many present’s most brutal contests, the Greek myth-inspired “Punishment of Atlas” problem, the place contestants needed to raise and maintain a boulder that bodybuilder contestant Kim Kang-min estimated was a minimum of 50 kilograms.
Jo managed two hours and 14 minutes.
“When I lifted it I thought it was going to end in about 30 minutes,” he instructed AFP, saying he saved telling himself: “hang in there for just 10 more minutes, then 10 more minutes…”
He got here fourth total within the present — an achievement he stated was as soon as unthinkable.
“I started exercising in middle school because I was too puny. I wanted to be stronger,” he stated, getting emotional when he considered his youthful self, who he thanked “for not giving up”.
Over the previous few years, South Korean content material has taken the world by storm, with over 60 % of Netflix viewers watching a present from the East Asian nation in 2022, firm knowledge confirmed.
Netflix, which spent greater than 1 trillion gained ($759 million) growing Korean content material from 2015 to 2021, stated it was increasing its South Korean actuality present output this 12 months.
“Korean nonfiction shows didn’t travel before Netflix started taking them global,” stated Don Kang, the corporate’s vice chairman of Korean content material.
“There are some things we did to make shows more easily understandable to the global audience,” he stated, corresponding to simplifying subtitles.
Car seller Jo stated he thought the present was proving a success overseas because of the real sense of camaraderie in South Korea’s sports activities neighborhood.
“We cheered each other on in every contest, comforted each other when someone lost,” he instructed AFP.
The “relative wholesomeness” of South Korean actuality reveals is a core a part of their attraction to overseas audiences, stated Regina Kim, an leisure author and professional on Okay-content based mostly in New York City.
“It’s like a breath of fresh air for American viewers who might be tired of watching reality stars hook up or fight all the time,” she instructed AFP.
“There could definitely be more Korean reality shows that become popular overseas, including in the U.S.,” she stated, pointing to profitable Korean actuality codecs which have turn into international franchises.
“There are U.S. remakes of Korean reality shows like ‘The Masked Singer’ and ‘I Can See Your Voice’ that have been super popular here,” she stated, referring to the hit South Korean music reveals later produced in English by Fox.
“Physical: 100” brought about some controversy by pitting contestants of various genders in opposition to one another, prompting questions on whether or not it was honest. Ultimately, the highest 5 contestants had been males.
But Jang Eun-sil, considered one of 23 girls competing within the present, instructed AFP she discovered the format “original and fresh”, and that it helped to encourage her all through the challenges.
“I just gave my best every moment, so I have no regrets and never thought it was unfair,” stated the 32-year-old wrestler, who was broadly praised for the management she demonstrated on the present.
Although she did not win, she stated competing allowed her to carry her beloved sport to a broader viewers.
“To be honest, wrestling is an unpopular sport in South Korea,” she stated, including it was a “huge honor” that, because of her, extra South Koreans had turn into conscious that ladies wrestlers existed.
She’s additionally seen an inflow of worldwide followers flooding her social media accounts. “I now plan to add English subtitles (to my YouTube channel),” she stated.
© 2023 AFP