| Park Seong-hye | |||||||||||||
| Native Name Lang: | ko | ||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | South Korea | ||||||||||||
| Alma Mater: |
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| Years Active: | 1994–present | ||||||||||||
| Employer: | Keyeast | ||||||||||||
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Park Seong-hye, (; born 1970) is a South Korean entertainment executive, planner, and producer. She began her career as an actor manager and subsequently became the CEO of Keyeast, a prominent entertainment company. She is sometimes referred to as the "godmother of the entertainment industry."[1] [2]
In the early 1990s, Park began her career as the manager of actresses Yum Jung-ah, Kim Hye-soo, and Jeon Do-yeon.[3] Her talent for discovering and nurturing stars earned her the title of entertainment industry star manager. Park is credited with discovering and fostering the careers of notable actors such as Ji Jin-hee, Hwang Jung-min, Im Soo-jung, Gong Hyo-jin, Ha Jung-woo, and Gong Yoo.[4] She was a founding member of the entertainment agency Sidus HQ. During her tenure, Park led Sidus to become the most successful and largest entertainment company in the industry. However, she abruptly retired at the age of 38 due to health issues. Additionally, from 2005 to 2008, she held the position of Director at the Korea Entertainment Management Association.[5]
She founded the drama production company "Oh Boy Project" in 2012 and served as its CEO from 2012 to 2015. In 2016, she became the CEO of Monster Union, a production company jointly established by KBS and KBS affiliates. Subsequently, she served as CEO of KeyEast from 2018 to 2023.[6]
Park Seong-hye was born in in Seoul. Park Sung-hye was a pop culture enthusiast from a young age. She developed a fondness for pop music starting in the third grade of elementary school and dedicated her time to watching various dramas and award ceremonies on AFKN. As a child, she delighted in witnessing the emergence of new stars and immersed herself in reading numerous books related to the subject.[7]
"I was more interested in popular culture than studying," she said with a laugh. "Loving to read books has been a great help in managing actors. In high school, I was part of the broadcasting club, and in college, I was part of the film club. In middle school, I loved shows and attended many performances. Sometimes, there were dancers behind the singers, and there was one person who stood out as a great dancer. That person gradually became even better and started dancing right next to the singers. I thought, 'Wow, they finally succeeded. I had my eye on them...' There were people I admired like that, and that person was none other than Mi-ae of Chuli and Miae."After retaking the exam in 1990, Park was accepted into Myongji University's Department of English Literature. During her college years, she developed a keen interest in photography and actively participated in a film club. Additionally, she joined a model agency and model center, where she worked part-time while capturing images of models. Furthermore, prior to graduating from college, she held a position at the Sanulrim theater company. Park believes that her diverse experiences have greatly contributed to her pursuit of a career in management.[8]
In 2006, Park Seong-hye took the comprehensive exam for Hongik University's graduate school cultural content course. She was taking time out of her busy schedule to pursue a master's degree in cultural contents at a graduate school. In contrast to the United States, where management and agency functions are legally distinct, in Korean management, the two roles are often combined. The government was considering licensing agents as a potential solution, along with the possibility of separating this function. Changes were occurring at both the internal and external levels of management.[9]
In 2011, Park started pursuing a doctorate degree after completing a master's program in Advertising and Public Relations at Hongik University Graduate School.[10] [11]
After graduating, Park Seong-hye started her career at Nonno fashion company as a marketer. The company went bankrupt six months later, leaving her jobless. She then opened a bar called "Alcohol Tank" in Hannam-dong. The bar did not succeed, and was on the brink of bankruptcy. She was later recruited by Star Search, a management company under Saehan Media (Samsung Group), through a recommendation from her former Nonno team leader. In 1994, Park was selected in the second round of open recruitment for Star Search, which represented actors such as Kim Hye-soo, Shin Eun-kyung, Lee Jae-ryong, Yoo Ho-jeong, Choi Min-sik, and Yum Jung-ah.[12]
Star Search typically hired graduates from top universities for their management team, but Park was an exception. Park's path as a manager didn't start out easy. Her first impressions from the actresses she managed were often unfavorable. Park started as a female manager for Yum Jung-ah before becoming Kim Hye-soo's manager. Kim Hye-soo, a veteran actress who started her career at a young age, was known for frequently changing managers due to dissatisfaction.[13] [14] [15] Park's appearance, surprised Kim Hye-soo, who described it in an interview: "Wearing a studded leather jumper and a leather skirt, her hair was like Tina Turner's, and her makeup was like a chimera. Since this woman was my manager, I thought the company had lost its mind."[16]
Kim Hye-soo was already a star, and Park served as a 'rookie road manager' with a modest monthly salary of 500,000 won. Her responsibilities as a manager involved answering calls and accompanying Kim on film sets from early morning until the following dawn. However, Park couldn't drive, so Kim had to drive herself. Park only found out later that Kim initially didn't like her style or vibe at all, after she gave her a month-long silent treatment. Their relationship improved when they bonded over an alternative band playing on the radio. The mutual understanding that developed while talking about music brought the two closer.
An incident occurred when Park made a mistake with the plane tickets, causing a delay in the CF filming team's departure due to a delayed flight. Kim Hye-soo responded positively, expressing her desire for some rest despite the expected financial damages. Park learned valuable managerial skills from Kim Hye-soo, who provided her with opportunities and a supportive work environment where she could thrive.
There is something heartbreaking about us. Because we started out together. At a time when we were lacking in each other, we relied on each other a lot and even fought, going through our youth together. It's still special to me.[17]She also managed Jeon Do-yeon. Jeon Do-yeon's first impression of Park was as "a weird woman who looked cocky, a little bit bitchy, and seemed like a coddler, but kept insisting that she wasn't." Jeon Do-yeon was very particular about the time her manager would come to her house to deliver scripts, and she would argue about money down to the penny. However, the two soon became best friends after getting to know each other better. Park Seong-hye noted that, "[Jeon] Do-yeon is not good at interpersonal relationships, so she does not enjoy gatherings with a lot of people. Instead, she builds deep relationships with the few people she likes."[18] While watching the selection of works, Park thought that Jeon Do-yeon tends to be attracted to characters that can be liked on a human level.[19]
Star Search closed down after a few years. Park continued to work as Kim Hye-soo's personal manager and took on the additional role of managing three new actors. She later joined IS 201, a company founded by shoemaker Esquire, which eventually went bankrupt.[20] Park then became Jeon Do-yeon's personal manager and eventually reunited with Kim Hye-soo.
In 1999, as the manager for Kim Hye-soo and Jeon Do-yeon, Park coincidentally encountered Ji Jin-hee, a photographer. She persuaded him to change careers, and after a year of persuasion, he contacted her. When Ji Jin-hee's studio downsized due to a recession, he became an actor apprentice. Park supported him for a year and launched him as an actor. He later achieved success, particularly after MBC's Jewel in the Palace.
In April 1999, producer established management agency EBM Production Co. In 2000, EBM merged with Uno Film (currently known as Sidus Pictures), resulting in the formation of Sidus HQ Co., Ltd.[21] [22] In the early 2000s, Sidus HQ managed the popular K-pop group g.o.d in collaboration with Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment. Sidus HQ also focused on managing several prominent actors who gained fame during that time period, such as Kim Ji-ho, Jung Woo-sung, and Park Shin-yang. As well as rookies such as Jang Hyuk,[23] Cha Tae-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun.[24]
In 2000, after resigning from Sambu Finance, Park joined Sidus HQ, as the head of Team Management 3. Her team members included top stars Kim Hye-soo and Jeon Do-yeon, as well as promising newcomer Ji Jin-hee. Subsequently, she began working with actors who were renowned for their acting skills. This included Hwang Jung-min, Lim Soo-jeong, Gong Hyo-jin, Yoon Jin-seo, Ha Jung-woo, Kim Seong-soo, Gong Yoo, and Yeom Jeong-ah.[25] Park is an accurate person when it comes to work. She is very quick to understand how the market is going as a whole, and She knows clearly what position each actor is in and how to move from that position. Above all, She has an accurate eye for the work.[26] Her natural habit of reading a lot of books helped her develop an eye for scenarios when She became a manager.
In 2002, Sidus HQ was established as an independent entertainment company, separating the management division and record division from Sidus FnH (now known as Sidus Pictures), a film production company. Park remained at Sidus HQ and was promoted multiple times, becoming the head of the management business division and later the head of the content business division. During her tenure as the director of the content division, IHQ, the parent company, had a market capitalization exceeding 300 billion won.[27]
It is currently listed on the stock market as IHQ, a comprehensive entertainment company, and is working to diversify its business into film production, game development, and mobile business.[28]
In 2002, notable actors such as Sol Kyeong-gu, Kim Seung-woo, Son Chang-min, Shin Min-a, Zo In-sung, Choi Ji-woo, Lee Eun-joo, and Han Jae-suk joined the company. In 2004, Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Sun-a, Kim Soo-ro, Yeom Jeong-ah, Kim Seong-soo, and Gong Yoo also became part of the agency.[29] [30] Other actors who joined the company include Gye Seong-yong, Kim Gwang-il, Kim Min-kyo, Kim Ji-hye, Kim Hyo-joo, Park Yoon-hee, Park Jeong-hak, Son Tae-young, Danny Ahn, Yang Jin-woo, Ye Ji-won, Oh Joo-eun, Yoo Mi, Yoo Seon, Yoon Kye-sang, Yoon Jin-seo, Lee Hoon, Lee Ki-woo, Lee Mi-yeon, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Sa-bi, Lee Jong-hyuk, Lee Chung-ah, Im Soo-jung, Lim Jeong-eun, Lim Hyun-kyung, Lim Hyeong-jun, Jeon Jae-hyung, Jeong Lee-min, Jo Sang-ki, Jo Young-gyu, Jo Hanna, Choi Yun-young, Hong Kyung-in, and Hwang Jung-min. With over 50 members, it is the largest management company in Korea.[31]
In 2003, Jeon Do-yeon made a comeback to television after a five-year hiatus with the SBS drama 'Shoot for the Stars'. This marked a shift in her approach, particularly towards engaging with a younger audience. "I used to worry that any TV appearances might negatively impact stock prices. However, audience preferences evolve rapidly, and if you're not visible, you can easily be forgotten," shared Park Seong-hye.[32]
In 2005, Sidus HQ boasted a lineup of top stars in their talent roster and actively sought to add more to their agency, such as Cho Seung-woo.[33] In April 8, they welcomed Song Hye-kyo. Sidus HQ have signed an exclusive contract with Song Hye-kyo for a period of 3 years, and her contract amount is 300 million won.[34] [35] Sidus HQ, announced on May 20 that it signed exclusive three-year contracts with talent Han Go-eun and Jo Yoon-hee.[36] [37] [38] Sung Yu-ri joined in June.[39] Kim Jung-hwa became a part of the agency in July as her contract with the former agency Dream Factory ended in June. As a result, Sidus HQ has become the biggest beneficiary of free agent by accepting almost all the famous celebrities who appeared in the entertainment free agent market in 2005.[40] Additionally, in December, Kim Seo-hyung signed a three-year contract with Sidus HQ.[41] In 2005, Kim Sung-hoon, who made his debut with feature film debut in the 2003 film Madeleine, signed with talent agency SidusHQ and on their recommendation adopted the stage name "Ha Jung-woo."[42] In August, About 70 stars, including top stars such as Jeon Ji-hyun, Song Hye-kyo, Sung Yu-ri, Kim Hye-soo, Jeon Do-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, Jang Hyuk, and Jo In-seong, belong to SidusHQ.[43] Kim Sun-ah, Jeon Do-yeon, and Hwang Jung-min, who shined at the 2005 year-end awards ceremony, are all actors from SidusHQ, the largest entertainment company in Korea.[44]
Voices of concern are also growing due to the rapid and aggressive expansion of the management industry in 2005. One of them is the voice of dissatisfaction coming from Chungmuro producers.[45] Sidus HQ has demonstrated powerful negotiating power with top stars. Since there were so many good actors, producers and broadcasters had no choice but to pay attention in many ways. Because of this, Sidus HQ has been criticized by producers for “using actors to infinitely increase the power of the management company.” On the other hand, Sidus HQ is positioned as a business model for latecomer management companies to follow.[46]
In 2005, Park Seong-hye participated in a public hearing on the Personal Information Protection Act, noting the incident was a case of false celebrity information leakage that highlighted societal insensitivity towards information and human rights.[47]
In 2006, one of Park's job was to read scripts. Her desk always piled high with scripts. "There are so many scripts that it's hard to read. These are the ones I'll read today. 80% of the management work is rejection."[48]
In 2006, IHQ's celebrity management company, Sidus HQ has emerged as the largest management company in Korea, managing over 90 stars and newcomers. This is because many stars who are shaping the topography of Korean entertainment culture are affiliated with the company and are engaged in various businesses. Considering the size of the popular culture market, SidusHQ has grown to a level comparable to that of CAA (Creative Artists Agency), the largest celebrity agency in the United States, and Yoshimoto Kogyo, the largest celebrity management agency in Japan.[49]
Sidus HQ director, Park Seong-hye, expressed her thoughts on her actors' appearances, stating, "When we talk about a 'good face,' it may typically imply someone who is conventionally pretty or handsome. However, an actor's face is somewhat different. Take Cho Seung-woo and Ji Jin-hee, for example. Their faces may not be conventionally handsome, but the more depth and character they possess, the more they captivate. Their expressive eyes convey a wealth of emotions. I believe an actor's face should have room to breathe and emanate its unique emotions. It could be the charisma of Choi Min-soo or the naturalness and confidence of Park Hae-il."[50]
From 2008 to 2009, she was listed as an advisory member of the Busan International Film Festival and a director of the Korea Entertainment Management Association.
Park resigned from her position as manager at Sidus HQ in 2008 to pursue a sabbatical in the United States.[<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=박성혜 "전도연은 불, 김혜수는 물" |trans-title=Park Sung-hye "Jeon Do-yeon is fire, Kim Hye-soo is water" |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002072370 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=entertain.naver.com |language=ko}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=김혜수 15년 매니저 박성혜, 그가 바라본 스타의 세계는? |trans-title=Kim Hye-soo's 15-year manager, Park Sung-hye, what is the world of stars he looked at? |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0002055374 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=entertain.naver.com |language=ko}}</ref> During her tenure at Sidus HQ, she answered hundreds of calls per day, organized her schedule, and dealt with a lineup of dozens of actors, holding meetings with officials. She said the hardest part was 'rejecting' people. After leaving for the United States, she declared, "I will never be a manager again!"<ref name=":7" /> She cited several reasons for her departure. Dissatisfaction with the industry's focus on money - Park felt the management industry had become too focused on financial gain, leading to a lack of balance and ethical concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yoon |first=Go-eun |date=2010-01-08 |title=김혜수.전도연.지진희가 사랑한 매니저 |trans-title=The manager loved by Kim Hye-soo, Jeon Do-yeon, and Ji Jin-hee |url=https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0003063249?sid=102 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}</ref> A personal setback also played a role - a breakup with an actor she managed deeply affected her, causing her to question her career path. "Out of the 150 actors I worked with, he was the only one who left me and went to another company," she said. "My pride was greatly shocked, and I began to doubt my life as a manager."<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-08-03 |title='스타 메이커'에서 '뮤지션 메이커'로… 박성혜의 '스타와 나' |trans-title=From 'Star Maker' to 'Musician Maker'... Park Sung-hye's 'Star and Me' |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/01/20/2010012001849.html |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=조선일보 |language=ko}}</ref> Additionally, Park wanted to explore new opportunities and learn about herself outside of the demanding world of talent management. During her time in New York, Park embraced new experiences, including learning to ride a bicycle, writing a blog, and pursuing bartending certification. She also discovered a passion for dancing. Her time abroad allowed her to gain a fresh perspective on life and explore her own interests beyond the pressures of her former career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=tenasia.hankyung.com |first=Digital |date=2010-01-26 |title=박성혜│나와 함께 했던 배우들이 더욱 빛난 드라마 {{!}} 텐아시아 |url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/article/2020012161824 |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=텐아시아 연예뉴스 |language=ko}}</ref> === Stars Don't Shine on Their Own - Please Take Care of a Star === Park returned after spending about a year in Manhattan, New York.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baek |first=Eun-ha |date=2012-03-04 |title=지진희·황정민의 그녀, 이젠 '꽃미남'에 꽂혔다 |trans-title=Ji Jin-hee and Hwang Jung-min's girlfriend is now infatuated with a 'flower boy'. |url=https://www.khan.co.kr/culture/tv/article/201203042108145 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=경향신문 |language=ko}}</ref> In 2010, Park Seong-hye published a book titled 'Stars Don't Shine on Their Own: Please Take Care of the Star.' The book chronicles the joys, sorrows, challenges, and vivid experiences she encountered during her 15-year journey in the industry.<ref name=":0" /> The book provides insights of her career in Sidus, from the early days of joining the company until her departure from Sidus. It summarizes her 15 years of managerial experience.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-01-08 |title=김혜수 전 매니저 '스타를 부탁해' 출간 |trans-title=Former manager Kim Hye-soo published 'Take Care of the Star' |url=https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0002981957 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Kookmin Ilbo |language=ko}}</ref> Park stated, "During my time as a manager, I had the confidence that if I couldn't persuade the actor, I couldn't persuade anyone else. Managers often use the phrase 'between coldness and passion' when advising their juniors, but they tend to either be influenced by the actor or solely represent the actor's perspective. It's a delicate balance that must be struck. That's where the excitement lies, but being a manager also presents the greatest challenge," she explained.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Hyun-jin |title=박성혜 키이스트 대표 "콘텐츠 제작은 디테일에 승부 갈려···피곤하리만치 집착해야"[CEO&STORY] |trans-title=Park Sung-hye, CEO of Key East, "Content production is a match for details···You have to be tired and obsessed" [CEO&STORY] |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=011&aid=0003710388 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=entertain.naver.com |language=ko}}
In the book, Park emphasizes the importance of the partnership between stars and managers. She highlights her long-term tenures as the manager for actors Kim Hye-soo and Jeon Do-yeon, 15 and 12 years respectively. Park advises that as business partners, both sides must enter the relationship with the understanding that development and dissolution are possible depending on the intended purpose. She stresses the need to establish a win-win structure that generates profits for both parties.[51] [52]
Park discusses the rewards and challenges of being a manager. She expresses her joy when people recognized the new talents she managed, and the difficulties when her thoughts were misunderstood or distorted. Park states that in her field, 99% of the jobs involve rejection, and she confesses that it pained her to turn away from the sincere eyes of people she knew.[53]
Park responded to public praise for actress Kim Hye-soo's romantic relationship, stating she was unsure if the praise was warranted, as it reflects a prejudice that all actresses prioritize careers over relationships. Park explained this is not the case, as "There are more actresses who don't have that" preference.[54]
Upon her return to Seoul a year later, Park was pleased to find that the situation had improved. She embarked on two new ventures. During the day, she studied advertising and public relations at the Hongik University campus. At night, she socialized at clubs near Hongik University. Her time in New York had fostered a love for band music, leading her to frequent smaller band performances. Back in Seoul, she sold her Gangnam property and opened a bar in Hongdae, featuring performances in the basement and a café on the first floor. She sought to connect with indie bands, such as Hanryang.[55]
Despite dedicating herself to her studies, earning a scholarship for the first time, Park soon realized that indie music wasn't her path. She felt her initial view of the culture was overly optimistic, and struggled to find a suitable business model within the Hongdae indie scene.
Shifting her focus, she started weekly gatherings with friends in her basement, dubbed "B1," where they enjoyed drinks. Feeling that simply drinking wasn't engaging enough, she suggested brainstorming original ideas and sharing them anonymously on YouTube. This was well received. It was during one of these gatherings that Park proposed the "Oh Boy" concept, which ultimately evolved into the "Flower Boy Project." She was motivated by a sense of envy towards companies like SM Entertainment and a lingering regret from her time at Sidus HQ. Furthermore, she was struck by the lack of aspiring actors, particularly young male actors, in an era where singers were globally recognized. There seemed to be a dearth of talent below the caliber of Song Joong-ki and Yoo Ah-in, with a particular lack of female representation.
In April 2011, she established a production company called Oh! Boy Project and began pioneering a new world called the Handsome Boy Project.[56] Flower Boy Ramyun Shop in 2011 is the first installment of tvN's "Oh! Boy" series of Flower Boy programming targeted at the teenage demographic, and was followed by Flower Band in 2012, Flower Boys Next Door in 2013 and in 2014.[57] [58] She produced the "Oh! Boy" series of Flower Boy through the Oh! Boy Project. Having created the image of a glamorous celebrity, she expanded her scope a little and started a drama project that contained her own thoughts. Park Seong-hye said, "Korea's Flower Boy series was loved and called the 'Ikemen (Pretty Boy) Series' in Japan and the 'Huameinan Series' in China. I wanted to try something new," she explained, "It was a moment where I focused on creating a lovable character in my own way, so I didn't just look at his appearance because he was a 'handsome guy'."
I had a desire to train ‘acting idols’ under the brand Oh Boy. The reaction of the B1 family, which consists of advertisers, writers, and filmmakers, was ambiguous. Two months after coming up with the idea, I started my first company. Another winning move. Terrestrial broadcasters knocked on cable's door without paying attention. “It’s a pretty boy project, but we decided that if we wanted to capture something rough and vivid, we couldn’t do it properly on terrestrial television. CJ happened to be hosting Superstar so it seemed like they knew the importance of discovering human content. “I was confident that there was no way they would reject the Oh Boy project because it was a young broadcasting station.”[59]Park developed a proposal for a project based on a romance novel she researched by buying and reading 20 novels. She signed a copyright contract for the novel "Flower Boy Ramyun Shop" and faced challenges during the project's development. The project initially struggled with an unsuccessful audition reality program but gained viewership after the early ending of another show. Another project called "Doc Van!" was delayed due to negative feedback. Park had the idea of rebellious children from Tower Palace for a band story. The initial script was rejected for being too niche, but Park persisted and rewrote it. The show recruited inexperienced staff for a fresh look. Park emphasized the importance of approaching the project with passion and fun for its success.
In December 2013, around 50 prominent managers met at the Nonhyeon-dong cafe 'bar·2', the office and hangout of Oh! Boy Project Park Seong-hye. The gathering included members from Oh! Boy Project, Sidus HQ, Management Soop, and King Kong Entertainment, representing a significant portion of the Korean actor corps. Park, a respected female manager in Korea, reflected on the success of her former colleagues from Sidus HQ with pride.[60]
Kim Hye-soo made a cameo appearance in the first episode of the tvN drama Flower Boy Ramen Shop. The cameo was made possible due to Kim Hye-soo's special relationship with Park Seong-hye, the CEO of Oh Boy Project, the production company of the drama. The episode aired on Monday-Tuesday at 11 PM. Kim Hye-soo played a tarot fortuneteller who worked with Lee Cheong-ah's character, Yang Eun-bi, a student preparing for an entrance exam.[61]
She seemed to be creating interesting content with a project related to 'Pretty Boys', and this time she came forward under the name of Park Seong-hye, the CEO of 'Monster Union', a subsidiary of KBS. Monster Union’, launched in August 2016, is a content company that produces entertainment and dramas. As a 'subsidiary of public broadcaster KBS', it has recruited a large number of star PDs from within KBS. While most of the personnel are from KBS, the recruitment of CEO Park Sung-hye, who has worked as a top star manager and produced numerous trendy dramas, was a very refreshing breeze.
In 2016, Park joined KBS production company Monster Union as its CEO. Ahead of the company's August launch, Park revealed her aspirations in an interview featured in the 621st issue of the KBS newsletter. She explained that the name "Monster Union" represented a union of monster-like producers and emphasized the company's role as a bridge between inside and outside KBS. The office for Monster Union was being set up in the KBS Media building in Sangam-dong, and discussions for investment and co-production with an industry-recognized outsourced production company were underway. The company was actively preparing to release its first work under the name "Monster Union" early next year.[62]
The Monster Union recruited star directors from within KBS.[63] Former KBS drama director Moon Bo-hyun was appointed as the head of the drama department, while Seo Soo-min was chosen as the head of the entertainment department. The drama department included director Lee Jeong-seop from (Bread, Love and Dreams and Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho), director Yoo Hyeon-ki from (Seoyoung, My Daughter and Brain), and Han Seok-won, the head of production for (Descendants of the Sun). Yoo Ho-jin, who had previously served as the director of KBS's 2 Days & 1 Night Season 3, joined as an entertainment director.[64]
Three outsourced production company associations issued a statement condemning KBS's establishment of an outsourced production company, sparking controversy. Regarding this, Park said, "Some people misunderstood that KBS would monopolize the market by creating an outsourced production company. However, 'Monster Union' would coexist with outsourced production companies based on KBS's experience and know-how." She emphasized, "We would move in the direction of cooperation together." Park stated that the goal of 'Monster Union' was to "create representative global content and expand the cultural content intellectual property (IP) business." She expressed her expectations by saying, "Basically, KBS would be the main channel, but we planned to supply content to various platforms such as the web and apps. I believed we could sell good content to other broadcasters."
2017. Queen for 7 Days.[65]
There is a drama that recently gave Park an opportunity to reflect on herself. This is her self-produced drama, KBS2's 'Suits'. Since careful monitoring is basic, I watch dramas with a sharp mind. Then, at one point, there was a scene where she compared herself to herself. It was in the scene where Jang Dong-gun, the representative lawyer of a law firm, meets Jeon No-min, who was his mentor during his time as a prosecutor. He said, “What I felt while watching the drama ‘Suits’ was, ‘Who was my mentor?’ When I thought about it, the answer came right away. She was Kim Hye-su. She was already a top actress when she started working with him. She was the same age. “I think he showed me management through his actions,” he said with a smile. She added: “She was lucky and happy to have a good person and first partner. Her life as a manager wasn't easy, but it was possible because of Kim Hye-soo. “He was my mentor,” she explained.[66] [67]
In November 2018, Park Seong-hye was appointed to lead Keyeast's content business. She shared her reflections at the Keyeast office in Gangnam-gu, mentioning, "Since taking office, we have diligently prepared and created an environment to showcase our works in the coming years." She added, "It feels like we have worked hard over the past year to achieve this."[68] [69]
In her fifth year as CEO of Keyeast, Park Seong-hye reorganized the company's actor roster and established it as a content studio focused on production capabilities. The company's roster includes rising young actresses like Moon Ga-young and Han Seon-hwa. Keyeast's track record of showcasing actors in impactful roles, such as in Hyena, The School Nurse Files, and Inspector Koo, reflects Park Seong-hye's management expertise. Kim Hye-soo, Ju Ji-hoon, and director Jang Tae-yu collaborated for the drama Hyena, marking Kim's return to drama after four years and Jang's comeback since "My Love from the Star." Park Seong-hye expressed confidence in the success of the project, highlighting the strength of this collaboration.[70]
Keyeast was planning to release a major new drama called Ask the Stars. It was also developing plans to adapt a novel into a film called From the Gaze and produce an original series called 1 in N is a Secret. Additionally, Keyeast was expanding by preparing a new original work called Ring My Bell.[71]
Keyeast announced on January 31, 2020, that it had transitioned from the existing co-CEO system of Park Sung-hye and Shin Pil-soon to having CEO Park Sung-hye as the sole CEO. This change followed the resignation of co-CEO Shin Pil-soon.[72]
In 2022, Keyeast appointed Park Seong-hye and Nam So-young as co-CEOs to strengthen its content production and artist management businesses. Park, the former CEO, continued to lead the company alongside Nam, who previously managed artists at SM Entertainment. In that same year, KeyEast, a comprehensive entertainment company sold the Chinese broadcasting rights license for the drama Inspector Koo, starring Lee Young-ae, to video platform Youku, a video sharing service platform under the Alibaba Group.[73]
In 2023, Park Seong-hye retired from Keyeast. The extraordinary general shareholders' meeting on November 30, 2023, resulted in a complete change of all board members. Former CEO Park Seong-hye has been replaced by Vice President Jo Ji-hoon as the new CEO. Additionally, CFO Jang has transitioned to an executive director role at Keyeast.[74]
| Title | Network | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||||
| 2011 | Cool Guys, Hot Ramen | 꽃미남 라면가게 | tvN | Oh | Boy Project CJ E&M | |
| 2012 | Flower Band | 닥치고 꽃미남 밴드 | [75] | |||
| 2013 | My Cute Guys | 이웃집 꽃미남 | ||||
| 2014 | 연애조작단; 시라노 | |||||
| 2016–2017 | 화랑 | KBS2 | Hwarang SPC Oh!Boy Project | [76] | ||
| 2017 | Queen for Seven Days | 7일의 왕비 | Monster Union OH!BROTHERS Production | [77] | ||
| Hit the Top | 최고의 한방 | Monster Union Chorokbaem Media | [78] | |||
| Meloholic | 멜로홀릭 | OCN | Monster Union | [79] | ||
| 2018 | Suits | 슈츠 | KBS2 | Monster Union EnterMedia Pictures NBCUniversal Global Distribution | [80] | |
| Are You Human? | 너도 인간이니? | Monster Union | [81] | |||
| Matrimonial Chaos | 최고의 이혼 | Monster Union The I Entertainment | [82] | |||
| 2019 | At Eighteen | 열여덟의 순간 | JTBC | [83] | ||
| Psychopath Diary | 싸이코패스 다이어리 | tvN | KeyEast | [84] | ||
| 2020 | Hyena | 하이에나 | SBS TV | KeyEast | [85] | |
| My Dangerous Wife | 나의 위험한 아내 | MBN | KeyEast | |||
| Hush | 허쉬 | JTBC | KeyEast JTBC Studios | |||
| 2020–2021 | Live On | 라이브온 | [86] | |||
| 2021 | Inspector Koo | 구경이 | ||||
| 2021–2022 | The One and Only | 한 사람만 | [87] | |||
| 2024 | There is No Secret | 비밀은 없어 | [88] | |||
| Ask the Stars | 별들에게 물어봐를 시작으로 | TBA | [89] |
| Year | Title | Role | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Hangul | |||
| 2020 | The School Nurse Files | 보건교사 안은영 | Netflix | [90] |
| 2024 | Unmask | 트리거 | Disney+ | [91] |
| Illumination | 일루미네이션 | TBA | ||
| One in N is a Secret | N분의 1은 비밀로 | |||
| Ring My Bell | 링마벨 | |||
| From the gaze | 시선으로부터 | |||
| Published Date | Title | Korean | Author | Number of pages, weight, size | ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cine21 | January 10, 2010 | The star doesn't shine by itself Take care of the star | 별은 스스로 빛나지 않는다 스타를 부탁해 | Park | Page 396 | 593g | 153*224*30mm | ||
| September 23, 2011 | learned woman: 17 warm life stories of wonderful women who loved ‘us’ as much as ‘me’ | 배운 녀자: '나'만큼 '우리'를 사랑한 멋진 여자들의 따뜻한 인생 이야기 17) |
| Page 279 | 396g | 148*210*20mm |
| Year | Nominated work | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st The Women of Time Award | 2007 | Park Seong-hye | [92] |
| Year | List | Placement | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cine21 | 2007 | Chungmuro Power Filmmaker | [93] [94] |
| Ceremony | Year | Honor Or Award | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards | 2012 | Presidential Commendation | [95] |