Boom of Korean TV series grips Argentina

SEOUL, March 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean TV dramas are captivating viewers in Argentina, another sign that the popularity of "hallyu" is rising in Latin America.

"Stairway to Heaven" starring Kwon Sang-woo and Choi Ji-woo has recently been hovering around fifth in the local viewership ranking, according to the Korean Cultural Center in the South American country, with the SBS drama first hitting the air on Argentina's largest private television network Telefe on Feb. 10.

Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, refers to the popularity of Korean television shows and pop songs around the world.

Boosted by the drama's success, Telefe will soon broadcast two more Korean TV series -- "My Love from the Star" and "Angel Eyes" -- the center said in a release Thursday.

"My Love from the Star," starring actor Kim Soo-hyun and actress Jun Ji-hyun, became a huge sensation across Asia in 2014. The SBS drama tells the story of an alien from outer space who falls in love with a top actress.

"Angel Eyes," broadcast in 2014 on the same channel, is about two former lovers, who were forced to separate due to painful family issues, meeting each other again 12 years later.

The center said another SBS series, "Secret Garden," also captivated Argentine viewers when it was shown on the country's cable channel Magazine last year. It was the first Korean drama to be shown in Argentina.

Reflecting this trend, the country's most influential daily Clarin on Wednesday allocated two pages to cover the recent wind of Korean TV dramas blowing into the country.

The newspaper said the overseas success of Korean dramas is in large part attributable to Seoul's aggressive cultural policy, and this has generated a synergy effect in various fields of pop culture, such as films, K-pop and dramas, according to the center.

sshim@yna.co.kr
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