Kyu C. Lee: Up Close and Personal
“We were pretty confident that we would do OK in Korea, but we did not expect to be so well received worldwide,” says Kyu, one of the pioneers of globalizing Korean content
Photo: Courtesy of Kyu C. Lee
Kyu C. Lee, often known as ‘Q’, is a producer, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Kino 33 Entertainment, which connects A-list Korean artists with the global community. He’s worked with Korean content on a global scale, attempting to foster collaborations between mainstream content from Europe, the Us, and Asia, particularly Korea. In this interview, Q gets up close and personal, offering some extremely interesting insights about his upcoming projects, his thoughts on Korean entertainment’s success, and his ongoing efforts to develop more diversified content across a variety of genres.
The industry’s insight into consumer preferences for content generation is directly proportional to the popularity of Korean entertainment. Your take on this
That’s a tough question. It’s really difficult to guess what consumers like at any given time, but since Korean content has become more global and a lot of eyes are on us with expectations it is imperative that we continue to create higher quality content that translates authentically across all cultures.
You’re the frontman behind Psy’s “Gangnam Style” going global. How did this even happen, and how did it influence you as an industry expert?
Well, that was already so long ago -10 years ago now? Long story short, simply it was a very unexpected, spontaneous chance we took – the power of YouTube, friends in the right place at the right time, and the influence of the fans that made it a viral hit is really how it happened.
From brokering the Korean remake of the superhit Criminal Minds to producing the Korean war film Operation Chromite featuring Liam Neeson, what’s next? The bigger picture
I am producing a couple of projects now with Sony Pictures Television and NBC Universal – one is a family drama and the other a documentary series focusing on Korean Entertainment. I will definitely share those with you when we are ready! As for now, I am very focused on the talent and productions we are developing at Artist Company and Artist Studio that I operate in Korea with Lee Jung-Jae and Jung Woo-Sung
As they say, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown”, your company represents Lee Jungjae, Cho Yihyun, and others; artists who have contributed to the success of K-dramas and K-culture. What are the challenges you face to maintain this reputation?
We’ve been attached to a few series that have had unimaginable, incredible global success. We were pretty confident that we would do OK in Korea, but we did not expect to be so well received worldwide. It is sincerely a surreal and humbling experience. As I mentioned before, the challenge is to continue to produce even stronger and higher quality content here in Korea that we can share with our global audience and fulfill our fans’ expectations – films that they will love now and 50 years from now just the same.
There’s no doubt that Squid Game and the recent All of Us Are Dead were catalysts for K-dramas’ meteoric success. Do you think this will finally change people’s perceptions of K-dramas, given that many still label them as saccharine-cringy-melodramatic romances?
I sure hope so! Don’t forget to mention, THE SILENT SEA, produced by Jung Woo-Sung! We are putting in a lot of effort to offer more diverse and a variety of genres moving forward so stay tuned – Lee Jung-Jae will make his directorial debut this year through our espionage film, HUNT and you will see Jung Woo-Sung appear in this film as well.
What are some of your favorite K-dramas? Also, mention one amongst them that has left an impression on you and why?
I’ve been watching Korean dramas for a very long time – All In, Winter Sonata, Stairway to Heaven, Sandglass are some of my favorites. Most recently I saw a lot of dramas my wife was watching and organically got into them that way – Crash Landing on You, Hotel Del Luna, Itaewon Class, Misty, and I am currently watching Thirty-Nine .
Please share a few anecdotes about the phenomenal success of Squid Game at the ‘SAG Awards’ this year
When Jung-Jae’s name was announced by Faith Hill, my heart stopped. The ballroom went radio silent and it felt that time took a three-second pause. It was one of the craziest feelings I have ever experienced and then all of a sudden the room erupted with cheers and hugs. It was amazing, definitely lots of tears of joy and laughter.
K-pop and K-drama have a strong fan base in India. Do you believe India can be a conducive market for promotions? Have you ever considered making a Korean adaptation of an Indian film or drama?
Absolutely. India has a deep and long history in the arts and entertainment world. Not just in Korea, but around the world, Indian content from film, TV, music, dance, art, and culture are a huge influence and inspiration for many people. It would be an honor to find ways to collaborate. One of my good friends was the former Ambassador to India in Korea for many years and we had discussed finding ways before he returned home.
You strive to build synergy between Korean and Hollywood talent in all of the music or films you produce. Would you consider Bollywood artists as well?
Of course, my door is always open.
Message for all the Indian fans, aspirants who love Korean content, K-pop, K-drama, especially those who dream to be a part of the industry.
I am filled with joy and gratitude that the hard work that we have put in for many years is now being recognized outside of Korea, all the way across to our friends in India. It was always just a dream and now that it has become a reality, it’s hard to express in just words my excitement and appreciation. It’s an even greater honor to be featured by Rolling Stone India which is so legendary. Thank you for showcasing our talent to your amazing subscribers and I promise to produce even more content for you to love and criticize for as long as I am allowed! Thank you!!
