NEWS RELEASE
SPACKMAN MEDIA GROUP ARTIST SON SUK-KU RANKS #1 IN THE MOVIE STAR REPUTATION AMONG ALL ACTORS IN KOREA
- Spackman Media Group artist, Son Suk-ku, took first place in the movie star reputation among all actors in Korea for January 2023, according to the Korea Corporation Reputation Research Institute
- The ranking underscores the popularity and recognition of Son Suk-ku, who also won the JTBC Grand Prize at the 2022 TV Drama Acting Awards in Korea
- Son Suk-ku’s latest Disney+ original drama, BIG BET, achieved the highest rating on IMDb among Korean OTT series released at the same time and ranked first in the Top 10 TV Shows on Disney+ Korea as of January 11, 2023
Singapore, 13 Jan 2023 – Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group”), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups founded in 2011 by media & technology investor Charles Spackman, wishes to announce that Son Suk-ku of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group”), ranked first in the movie star reputation among all actors in Korea, according to the Korea Corporation Reputation Research Institute (“KCRRI”).
The movie star reputation score for Korean actors was derived from big data analysis conducted by KCRRI using almost 200 million points of data from consumers’ reception, communication and social media branding. Achieving the top place in the movie star reputation ranking underscores the popularity and recognition of Son Suk-ku as Korea’s top actor.
Spackman Media Group flagship artist Son Suk-ku’s latest Disney+ original drama, BIG BET, scored 8.4 on IMDb, the world’s largest content rating site. BIG BET was also ranked first in the Top 10 TV Shows on Disney+ Korea as of January 11, 2023.[1]
BIG BET is an 8-episode drama series which premiered exclusively on Disney+ on December 21, 2022 and airs every Wednesday. Headlined by Son Suk-ku, Choi Min Shik, Heo Sung Tae, Kim Joo Ryung, Lee Dong Hwi and Jo Jae Yoon, the drama relates the eventful life of a man who gains success through the casino industry. Directed by Kang Yoon Sung of the 2017 box office hit THE OUTLAWS, which was co-presented and distributed by the Group’s subsidiary, Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd., BIG BET was produced by BA Entertainment, C-Jes Entertainment and Arc Media. The second season of BIG BET is set to be released this year.
On 31 December 2022, Son Suk-ku won the JTBC Grand Prize at the 2022 TV Drama Acting Awards held by Good Data Corporation, an online competitive analysis agency for K-content in Korea.
Looking ahead, Son Suk-ku is also scheduled to star in two upcoming highly anticipated Netflix original K-dramas, D.P. SEASON 2 and MURDEROUS TOY. He is represented by SBD Entertainment Inc. (“SBD Entertainment”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spackman Media Group that represents and manages the careers of 12 artists. In addition to Son Suk-ku, SBD Entertainment also represents one of Korea’s rapidly rising young actors, Han Ji-hyun of popular K-drama THE PENTHOUSE 3, who won the Best Rookie Female Actor in the 2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards in Korea and endorsed luxury brand Gucci in April 2021.
– End –
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 http://www.charlesspackman.com and https://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, is set to be screened theatrically and digitally in North America in the first quarter of 2023 and at theatres in Korea in the fourth quarter of 2022 or first quarter of 2023. 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, in 2023 tentatively.
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 http://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 SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-hyun, Park Keun-rok), MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee, Lee Cho-hee), 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 http://www.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 http://www.spackmanentertainmentgroup.com/
Investor & Media Contact
Spackman Entertainment Group Limited
Ms Jasmine Leong
Email: info@spackmanentertainment.com
[1] FlixPatrol, https://flixpatrol.com/top10/streaming/south-korea/2023-01-11/, TOP 10 on Disney+ in South Korea on January 11, 2023