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Korean soap opera gets CNMI funding
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Posted on Sep 02 2005
A new Korean television drama series that will feature the Northern Marianas has received funding from the CNMI government.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed House Bill 14-358, which appropriates $800,000 from the Managaha landing and user fee collections to the Marianas Visitors Authority’s promotions and advertisements.
MVA marketing manager Wayne Pangelinan said the funds would be used for the CNMI’s sponsorship of a 20-episode drama series that is expected to be shown all throughout Asia.
Seoul-based production firm Castle in the Sky Entertainment will film 16 of the 20 episodes in the Northern Marianas.
Pangelinan said representatives from the production outfit would be coming to Saipan this month to discuss details of the project with MVA.
Castle in the Sky Entertainment has asked MVA for a sponsorship cost of $1 million. But the tourism agency is negotiating with the media company to lower the amount to $750,000.
Members of the local tourism industry have pledged to provide in-kind support. Asiana Airlines has agreed to provide round-trip air transportation, while the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands has offered hotel accommodations to TV program’s cast and crew during production.
According to MVA, the project will provide the CNMI an opportunity to promote the destination not only in the Korean market, but also throughout Asia.
MVA reports that Korean TV drama programs are heavily exported to the Northern Marianas’ tourist markets in Asia countries. About 19 percent of the programs are syndicated in Japan, 24.5 percent in Taiwan, 18.6 percent in China, and 3.3 percent in Hong Kong.
There is also demand for Korean TV drama from other countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. (Agnes E. Donato)
