By Mandy Day, AsAmNews Staff Writer
In recent years, Korean pop culture has made a mark on American media. From the rise in popularity of BTS to American spin-offs of hit Korean variety shows like The Masked Singer, Korean entertainment is making a mark in the American mainstream. While some platforms for viewing Asian television and cinema have folded, like the sudden shut down of popular streaming service, Dramafever, others have begun to fill the void created for subtitle reliant viewers. Last year, Hallypop launched in the United States as a digital-first network for Korean entertainment on JungoTV. Recently, Hallypop has been added to the growing list of channels offered by Samsung TV Plus Video Service.
Hallypop began as a partnership between JungoTV and Korean network, SBS, bringing hit shows like Inkigayo and Running Man to American audiences. Running Man, a variety show featuring Korean celebrities competing against one another to accomplish goals, results in hilarity that has captivated fans worldwide. After more than 400 episodes, filmed in countries across the globe, Running Man has proven it has the staying power to draw a wider American audience into the zany antics of the show’s cast and guest celebrities.
Similarly, In Inkigayo , the long-running musical performance show has maintained a dedicated viewership for more than twenty-five years providing audiences with weekly performances by the hottest singers in Korean music. Also included in Hallypop’s lineup, After School Club and I’m Live, both programs that connect audiences to their favorites singers in cozy and informal settings.
Currently, Samsung TV Video Plus offers cord cutters more than forty channels. As the Korean wave, also known as hallyu, continues to gain new fans across the United States, options for watching Korean television, films, and music performances will become more abundant.
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