Spackman Media Group Artist Wi Ha-jun Stars in New Romance K-Drama Graduation & Reprises Role in SQUID GAME SEASON 2
- Written by Telegraph Magazine
- Spackman Media Group artist Wi Ha-jun will headline a new romance K-drama, GRADUATION, directed by Ahn Pan-seok, who previously collaborated with him in the hit love series SOMETHING IN THE RAIN (2018)
- Represented by Spackman Media Group, Wi Ha-jun currently stars in the ongoing original crime action-drama series, THE WORST OF EVIL, which ranked #1 in Korea and Top 10 in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Turkey according to FlixPatrol as of October 22
- The emerging international star will also reprise his role in the highly anticipated second season of the global breakout hit, SQUID GAME, alongside the original cast comprising Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun and Gong Yoo
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 24 October 2023 - Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the "Group"), one of Korea's leading entertainment production groups founded in 2011 by global media & technology investor Charles Spackman, wishes to announce that Wi Ha-jun of MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. ("MSteam"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group's associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited ("Spackman Media Group"), will headline one of the most anticipated K-drama series in 2024, GRADUATION.
GRADUATION is directed by Ahn Pan-seok, who previously collaborated with Wi Ha-jun in the hit love series SOMETHING IN THE RAIN (2018), which starred iconic Korean actress Son Ye-jin of Spackman Media Group. In March 2022, SOMETHING IN THE RAIN (2018) landed in the top 10 on China's streaming platform, iQIYI, during the first few days of its release. The romance drama was also selected as the Drama of the Year 2018 at the Brand of the Year ceremony hosted by the Korea Consumer Brand Committee. In addition to SOMETHING IN THE RAIN (2018), Ahn Pan-seok is known for his work on the K-drama series, MBC's ONE SPRING NIGHT (2019) and JTBC's SECRET AFFAIR (2014).
Wi Ha-jun of Spackman Media Group will portray Lee Joon-ho, a cheeky student who gains admission into a prestigious university with the help of a seasoned private academy instructor Seo Hye-jin (played by Jung Ryeo-won). As he studies under her guidance, Lee Joon-ho develops deep feelings for her, and she becomes his enduring first love. A decade later, Lee Joon-ho quits his job at a large company that guarantees him a solid career and returns to the academy, where a secret romance rekindles between the two.
Filming has commenced for GRADUATION and the K-drama is scheduled to be released on tvN and Tving in 2024.
Wi Ha-jun's latest original crime action drama series THE WORST OF EVIL premiered exclusively on Disney+ on September 27 and was ranked #1 in Korea and Top 10 in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Turkey as of yesterday based on FlixPatrol[1], which monitors streaming ratings worldwide. Notably, THE WORST OF EVIL took the second place in Singapore.
Set in the 1990s Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea, THE WORST OF EVIL follows undercover police investigators who infiltrate the Gangnam Alliance, a massive criminal organization responsible for the illegal drug trade between Korea, China and Japan. Wi Ha-jun takes on the role of the charismatic leader of the Gangnam Alliance. Alongside Wi Ha-jun, Ji Chang-wook portrays a police officer while Lim Se-mi plays his wife. Created by Kakao Entertainment, THE WORST OF EVIL is directed by Han Dong-wook and written by Jang Min-suk.
Wi Ha-jun of Spackman Media Group became a worldwide sensation with his role as Hwang Jun-ho, a policeman in the first season of SQUID GAME. He is set to return in the highly anticipated second season of the international breakout hit alongside the original cast comprising Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun and Gong Yoo.
In December last year, Wi Ha-jun won the rising star award in the 2023 Korea First Brand Awards, following his chart-topping Netflix drama, LITTLE WOMEN (2022), which was filmed in Singapore and Korea. According to Flixpatrol.com, the drama took the top spot in Taiwan, Indonesia and Japan and ranked 8th globally on Netflix as of October 8, 2022. The series featured iconic landmarks in Singapore such as Marina Bay Sands and The Fullerton Hotel.
In February 2022, he was selected as the South Korea ambassador for Swiss luxury watchmaker, TAG Heuer. He was also appointed as the ambassador for his hometown, Wando-gun of South Korea in January 2022.
Wi Ha-jun starred in highly popular K-drama BAD AND CRAZY (2021), which reached first place in viewership ratings for consecutive weekends after its release on 17 December 2021.
Wi Ha-jun was also selected as the brand ambassador for the American premium casual brand BEENTRILL and released a beauty pictorial with YSL beauty in December 2021. Notably, he headlined the Korean crime thriller film, MIDNIGHT (2021), which received the Best Feature Award at the 13th UK Grimmfest Film Festival.
In addition to Wi Ha-jun, MSteam represents iconic Korean actress Son Ye-jin, who starred in the hit romance drama CRASH LANDING ON YOU (2020) and SOMETHING IN THE RAIN (2018), and top actress Lee Min-jung, who won the Top Excellence Award at the 2020 APAN Star Awards.
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About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited
Spackman Entertainment Group Limited ("SEGL" or the "Company"), and together with its subsidiaries, (the "Group"), is one of Korea's leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea.
The Company was founded in 2011 by renowned media and technology investor Charles Spackman who served as the Company's Executive Chairman until 2017. For the past two decades, Mr. Charles Spackman has been a powerhouse in the Korean entertainment industry starting in the early 2000's with the pioneering success of Sidus Pictures, the largest movie production company at the time and the first to be listed in Korea. Mr. Spackman is also the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the global investment firm, Spackman Group. For more information, please visit charlesspackman.com and spackman-group.com/charles-spackman.
Since its founding, SEGL had produced more than 30 major motion pictures including a number of the highest grossing and award-winning films in Korea, namely #ALIVE (2020), CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER (2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), SNOWPIERCER (2013), COLD EYES (2013) and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012).
Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. Generally, we release our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.
The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.
Production Labels
SEGL owns a 100% equity interest in Studio Take Co., Ltd. ("Studio Take") which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021). Its latest film, A MAN OF REASON, premiered in the US at the 42nd Hawaii International Film Festival. The film was also invited to the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, the largest film festival in North America, and the 55th Sitges Film Festival, one of the world's top three genre film festivals. Studio Take shall also release an upcoming film, THE GUEST (working title), which is at the post-production stage and scheduled to be released in the second half of 2023 or first half of 2024.
SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. ("Novus Mediacorp"), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 80 films (59 Korean and 21 foreign) including OKAY MADAM (2020), LONG LIVE THE KING (2019), MY FIRST CLIENT (2019), ROSE OF BETRAYAL (2018), THE OUTLAWS (2017) and SECRETLY, GREATLY (2013), which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS (2013), as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY (2013). In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012), a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand ("VOD") sales records in Korea. For more information, please visit novusmediacorp.com.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited ("Greenlight Content") which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group's first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited ("Simplex Films") which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).
The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST'S WAIL, a comedy horror film.
Talent Representation
The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited ("SMGL"). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee, Lee Cho-hee), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Han Ji-hyun, Park Keun-rok), UAA&CO Inc. (Kim Sang-kyung) and Play Content Co., Ltd. (Hwang-hwi). Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company. For more information, please visit spackmanmediagroup.com.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. ("Constellation Agency"). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. ("The P Factory") and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. ("PMG"), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency, which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.
Strategic Businesses
The Company also operates a café-restaurant, Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.
For more details, please visit spackmanentertainmentgroup.com.
